Sunday, August 31st. 2025

At the second crossbars on the Poly Pier 

   

I didn't crop this photo because I hope you will be able to see how glass like the water was this morning. 

I was on my own and got in a bit before 10 this morning. Edward and two other swimmers were looking for me but we didn't find each other until we were at the showers.  Tom Lorish was getting in just as I got to the beach. I saw him swim out to the end of the pier and turn right towards the Poly Pier.  

I measured a water temperature off 63° off of the pier. The water under the pier was a degree or more colder so Tom's toes estimate of 64° - 65° wasn't far off. The surf was one foot with an occasional 2+ footer. In spite of the current warning to not eat Central Coast shellfish there is little sign of plankton and the water is very clean for this water temperature and time of the year, but still don't eat those clams or mussels. 

I was looking for something easy this morning, probably because after yesterday's swim I spent the afternoon in our yard bending the handle on a shovel and using a manual hedge trimmer. 

I wonder if I could develop the concept of the cross training benefits of home ownership?

The swimming was really nice, the sun was warm and I the first 1000M got the kinks out of my shoulders.

I'll swim at 7 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and at 11 next Sunday.

I have a list of people who get an email when the blog is updated. If you would like to be added to the list email me at avilaswimming@gmail.com and I'll include you on the list. 

AND a bunch of positive thoughts to Paula and Eileen who will be swimming the Horsetooth Reservoir 10K next Sunday in Fort Collins, CO.

   

niel  

          

        

Saturday, August 30th, 2035

63° Water and Chased By The Fog - 

OK, on last Thursday I said we wouldn't have much better swimming conditions than we had that day, but, today the conditions were the same except the water was three degrees warmer.  

At 7 it was sunny, clear and 53° with no wind and a slight ripple on the water. I measured a water temperature of 63° from the pier.  There were a few otters in the waves and a few birds but no pelicans, dolphins, whales or ships with black sales. Swimming this morning were Jodi, Eileen, Paula, Tom Israel and Niel. We wanted to do about 3,000M and Jodi needed to drop off early to go to work.  We decided to do the same route I did Thursday so Jodi could drop off at the end of the Avila Pier.  

Me in front of Jodi Tom, Paula and Eline, getting 

started at the #1 buoy.

 

Tom, Jodi, Paula and Eileen and a Blue Heron at the first crossbars on the Poly Pier

You can see the fog in the background of the photo. The weather was closing in. When we arrived at the end of the Avila Pier it was getting thick and at the third crossbars we couldn't see the Avila Pier.  We swam i along the pier to the second crossbars, took a bearing on where the fourth buoy would be and kept on that line by keeping the sun on our right shoulder. We all arrived at the 4th buoy and swam along the buoys to our starting point and in to the beach for 3,582M.

Paula and I will swim early tomorrow at 10. Company is welcome.

niel     

Thursday, August 28th, 2025

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This -

I was toes in the water at 8:20 today.  In Avila Beach it was sunny, 60+ degrees, and calm, with clean 60° water and 1 to 2 foot waves. The lack of plankton in the water this summer will have been hard many of the aquatic critters but the clean water and good visibility has provided great swimming conditions. I grown accustomed to seeing my shadow down in the water, following me as I swim. 

I swam back and forth between the Avila and Poly Piers

We may have the whole group on Saturday morning at 7.

I'll swim at 10 instead of 11 on Sunday so I can make it to a BBQ at 1.

niel 

 

Wednesday, August 27th, 2025

Despite what the calendar might say, it was a gorgeous fall day at Avila this morning. I arrived at 830am to Clear blue skies, 59° air temperature, a slight breeze and dimpled water.  There was a 2 foot wave rolling in with a long period between. The water temperature was variable ranging from 58 on the east side, to 61° on the east side by the CPP. It was an excellent morning Swim. 

Tuesday, August 26th, 2025

 Backsliden - 

Avila Beach has slid back to 'normal' weather conditions. This morning it was 55°, overcast and calm with one foot surf, no swell and smooth water. The temperature was 59° - 60°. 

I got in just before 7 and did a Yo-Yo on the west side.

The cold(er) water gave me a push at the start. I got into it and kept up my pace with no stops until the end. 

On Thursday I have Surfrider stuff to do first so I'll swim closer to 8. I'll swim at 7 on Saturday and at 10 on Sunday so I can attend a club BBQ.

niel
 

Monday, August 25th, 2025

Tom Remembers What Warm Water in Avila Beach Feels Like -  

Marine layer, a slight breeze blowing offshore, and glassy calm tropical water.  The conditions evolved over the course of my swim to blue skies, a steady breeze, and bumpy water. What did not change was the tropical water. It was at least 62°… As warm as I have felt in at least a year or two. Excellent Monday morning Swim. 

Sunday, August 24th, 2025

 A Super Sunday - 

There was early fog but it cleared by 11. The air and water temperatures were 63° thanks to yesterdays summer monsoon weather! The surf was one foot, the water was clear, with some cormorants but no bait fish activity. The wind that had blown the fog away was going to put some chop on the water. 

Paula and Eileen got in around 8 and had finished their 5K swim when I was arriving. They were all smiles and said that there were 'millions' of Vela-Vela near the end of the Poly Pier.

It was Tom Israel and myself today.  We decided to go the other way and swim to the Avila Rock.     

The chop was waiting for us when we cleared the end of the Avila Pier and we would be heading across it on the way to the Avila Rock. It was a bunch of extra work but had a predictable tempo so we just slogged along.  It was beautiful at the Avila Rock with sunny skis and warm water.   

Niel and Tom with the Avila Rock in the background.

Tom suggested that instead of returning the way we had come we should swim in towards the 4th buoy on the east side of the Avila Pier. I was already thinking about doing that because it would be easier than the way we had come.

Next week I'll be swimming at 7 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and at 11 on Sunday.

niel   

Saturday, August 23rd, 2025

The Weather Changes - 

This morning the morning fog was thick all of the way from San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach. I could see the first two buoys on the east side of the pier.  Paula arrived at the same time and in the time it took for us to walk out on the pier and measure a 61° water temperature the fog had lifted enough so that we could see the Poly Pier. It was 57° and calm. The surf was one foot plus and the water was smooth and glassy.

Jodi arrived and we decided to start out with Tom's Fog Route, which is back and forth along both sides of the the buoy line with a loop around the pier in the middle.  Paula was looking for 3,000M and so we would do laps until we had our distance. 

We began by going and east. When we arrived at the end of the Avila Pier it had cleared enough that we decided to swim to the end of the Poly Pier, in to the second crossbars, back to the end of the Avila Pier and in to the beach.  

Jodi, Paula and Niel but no whale at the end of the Poly Pier 

I was the last to arrive at the end of the P Pier. Paula and Jodi asked if I had seen the whale that was off of the end of the pier.  I'd been keeping my head down and missed seeing the leviathan.  

Paula will swim at 8 tomorrow with a goal of 5K before tapering to her 10K swim on 9/7.  That is too early and long for me. I'll swim about 3K at 11. 

niel  

Friday, August 22nd, 2025

Warm air, glass water, a curious seal, and a rocket launch. . For the second time in a week, I happen to catch the rocket launch from Vandenberg while I was rolled over on my back swimming.  An interesting sight to go along with a pleasant morning Swim. In the picture if you look closely at the end of the pier, you might be able to see the hundred or so birds out there… It was an inner species flotilla deciding on whether or not to rally and form a bait ball and if so, whether to go clockwise or counterclockwise.  They were still deliberating when I got out an hour later. It was a good Friday morning swim. 

Thursday, August 21st, 2025

It was 57° in Avila Beach at 6:50 when I got in and 71° at 8:30. The whether report says that it will be 100° in Avila today.  

The surf was 1 foot +/-, there was a slight wind and while I was swimming the water went from flat to small ripples. The water temperature at the 4th buoy was 61° and was colder by a degree or so in spots. Four or five swimmers in wetsuits had just gotten in before me. They went east along the buoy so I went west and over to the Poly Pier.    

Between the ends of the Poly and the Avila Piers I was had a large flock of cormorants for company. I wondered if they were thinking that I would scare up some fish for them. It was spooky and they stayed with me until I was near the Avila Pier. When I was at the showers there was a large ball of bait fish off of the end of the Avila Pier where I had been swimming, so the bait fish are back in town along with all of their flying and swimming fans. I'll start checking the water for more feeding time action before getting in the water.    

Swim on Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 11.

niel

Wednesday, August 20th, 2025

Tom Lorish Does Summer - 

Warm day, warm water, a dolphin, lots of bird activity and me.  It was a breezy morning when I arrived at Avila at 845 AM. The air was 70° with gusts blowing from east to west. The water temperature was 60 and had that curious roll to it.  There was a lot of bird activity, with the occasional dive bomb frenzy for sushi, but they couldn't quite get organized well enough for a full-fledged bait ball.  Excellent mid week morning Swim. 

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025

 Could I have Some More of This Please? -

Finally, at 6:45 this morning, it felt like summer in Avila Beach for the first time this year. The overcast was gone leaving us with clear sunny sky's, the air was 53° and rising, there was no wind, small waves and that same small swell and 60° water.   

Jim and I swam out on the east side of the pier and Yo-Yoed to buoys 4 to 1 on the west side.  The 60° water and sunshine made the swimming very comfortable.

The water looked more cloudy than it has been, possibly because it was sunny or maybe some plankton is showing up.    

Niel and Jim at the end of the Avila Pier. 

I'll swim Thursday and Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 11.

niel  

Monday, August 18th, 2025

Tom Sees Sunshine - 

What a difference a day makes… Yesterday was foggy and cool and today was clear blue skies and warm. There were four sailboats moored  on the west side that may or may not have been there yesterday because how would I have known with all that fog! The water was glassy but had a curious roll that wasn't quite as swell and wasn't quite chop. The water temperature was variable: 56, 57 on the east side and 57, 58 on the West.  Down from yesterday's 59 based on my toes. It was a beautiful morning vitamin. 

Sunday, August 17th, 2025

When I arrived at 10:10 Avila was partially sunny with fog offshore. At 10:25 the fog had moved in to the beach. In another 15 minutes it had thinned and the wind was coming up. I saw Paula and a friend get out. I spoke to them briefly. I do not know what they did for a swim. Jim was ready to swim. His plan was to swim to Fossil Point, to Avila Rock, on to the end of the Poly Pier and back to the Avila Pier for about 2.5 miles. That would be a nice one but I had another swim in mind so we each did our own plan. The water temperature taken from the pier was 61°, which is the first time this year I've measured a water temperature above 59°. It was very comfortable out there today. 

I swam the west buoy line and on to the first crossbars on the Poly Pier, out to the end of the pier and back the way I came. Once the wind came up and blew the fog away a chop got up on the water. Swimming out along the P Pier was bumpy and uphill. The swim back was bumpy and downhill.  
       

I'm at the first crossbars on the Poly Pier.

I'll swim at 7 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and at 11 on Sunday. It would be nice if the water temperature stayed above 60° for a while.

niel  

Saturday, August 16th, 2025

This morning's group was Jodi, Tom Israel, Jim, Paula and myself.  The big news was that after a week of water temps in the mid 50's I got a reading of 59° off of the Avila Pier. All of the other conditions were as they have been; overcast skies, 56° and calm with glassy water and small surf. I couldn't see it from the shore but once out in the water there was a sneaky SW swell that was felt but not seen. 

Paula will do the Horsetooth 10K on 9/9 and was looking for 5,000M. The rest of us would be happy with 3,000M.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

     Jim, Paula, Tom , Jodi and Niel at the end of the Poly Pier

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

We swam clockwise to the Poly Pier, in and over to the buoy line and to the #1 buoy on the east side. Jim and Jodi went in.  Niel, Tom and Paula swam east along the buoys, around the reef, to the end of the Avila Pier and in along the pier. Tom and Niel got out and Paula continued on until she had her 5K.

I'll swim tomorrow at 11.

niel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Friday, August 15th, 2025

Heavy marine layer, fog, and a little bit of drizzle.  In short, Avila was wet outside the ocean and in.  The water was mostly glassy with a small crumbly wave. My toes report the temperature was 54°. Four of my CP Water Polo girls swam with me...  well, they swam ahead of me. My days of being able to keep up with them seem to have passed me by…  it was an excellent Friday morning swim. 

Thursday, August 14th, 2025

Looking For The Icebergs -

What happened to summer? Today's swimming conditions were wonderful with flat glassy water, no swell, small surf and a water temperature that swung between 54° to 56°. The water was colder on the west side of the Avila Pier with a 2 degree change under the pier.  

I got in on the east side of the pier. The water on the swim to the first buoy was chilly but would be OK. I swam west under the pier and the 2° drop really got my attention and then it didn't pop back up on the other side. I came to an understanding with the temperature and when it came back up at the end of the pier I figured I'd only be in the colder water half of the time. That worked, swimming in the colder water for just the last quarter was easy enough to do.      

There is a lot of loose kelp in the water, from single strands that got snagged on my goggles to small clumps to rafts. They move around a lot and don't stay in the same spot. 

I'll swim on Saturday at 7 with the group and on Sunday at 11 with whoever else shows up.

niel  

Wednesday, August 13th, 2025

Tom Gets All of the Fun Swim - 

Scattered blue skies, kelp stew, dolphins and more dolphins. The Kelp beds must be breaking apart as there was scattered clumps of kelp all over the east and west side.  My toes are reporting the water temperature was 54 to 55°.  A definite cooling trend this week.  On the west side I swam with about six dolphins, and then as I was getting out I saw them moseying along again.  Always a good day swimming with the dolphins. 

Tuesday, August 12th, 2025

 

The swimming conditions at Avila Beach have been very reliable this summer with overcast sky's and unusually flat and clean water. For variety today we had lost three or four degrees in water temperature with 56° water everywhere except along the Poly Pier where the water was at least a degree warmer. There was no swell but the surf was up to 4 foot. It has been a while since I had to wait out the largest waves when getting out and back in.      

I swam the same route that Tom I., Jim and I did on Saturday and was feeling the difference in the water temperature when I got out. 

I'll swim Thursday and Saturday at 7. 

niel

Monday, August 11th, 2025

Tom Gets Tubed on a Monday Morning -

Overcast, glassy, water, and a 4 foot wave rolling through.  Toes in the water at 920 AM. The water temperature was 56°, 57°. The water was pristine and clear. Excellent morning vitamin. 

Sunday, August 10th, 2025

 Clouds Turn to Sunshine -

As I was getting in the clouds opened up and it became a nice summer day.  At 11 o'clock it was 62° and I had measured a water temp of 58° off of the Avila Pier. The water between the Avila and Poly Piers was about 60°. There was a slight wind with 2 foot surf with an occasional pair of 3 footers. The water is unusually clean and tasted a extra salty.  I felt like swimming for about an hour so I took a route that would be about 2,200M. 

I didn't see anything or anyone else out there.  

After it had cleared Pismo was still fogged in. In the photo I think the darker line of cloud above the white fog is smoke from the Gifford Fire.

When I got out Peter Kelley was waiting for me. We haven't spoken in some time so we did some catching up. He is swimming in a pool and has lost 35 pounds and looks good.

This coming week I will be on my regular schedule; swimming at 7 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and at 11 on Sunday.

niel      

Saturday, August 9th, 2025

The Saturday Morning Swim - 

We had nice flat water this morning, 2 to 3 foot surf, no swells, no wind, no sun.  You could call it fog or low clouds, but the visibility was a half to one mile with a solid lid. The air temperature was 55° and the water was 58°

Tom Israel, Jim and Niel swam the west buoy line and on to the Poly Pier and to the end of the pier.  Jim went in from there while Tom and Niel swam to the end of the Avila Pier, to and around the reef buoy and back along the east buoy line to the Avila Pier and in. 

        

At the second crossbars on the Cal Poly Pier

A heron wading on the kelp looking for breakfast. 

Niel, Jim and Tom at the end of the P. Pier.

I'll swim tomorrow at 11.

niel 

Friday, August 8th, 2025

Tom Lorish's Friday Swim - 

Marine layer, a bit of a breeze, and a good morning swim.  Toes in the water at 920 a.m.  I did a route that included the rock buoy kelp bed and the end of the CPP.  I was greeted by numerous different species… a great egret standing on the kelp bed waiting for fish to jump into its mouth, pelicans overhead eyeing me up, and humans on the CPP greeting me with smiles and waves.  And finally there was a beautiful blue heron on the second cross beam of the CPP.  Always cool seeing the various species around. 

Thursday, August 7th, 2025

 

I enjoyed a nice swim this morning.  The water was smooth with just some occasional ripples to give it interest. The surf was 2 to 3 foot and a bit pushy. The fog was lighter than Tom had reported yesterday but the visibility was still iffy enough that I stayed inside the end of the Avila Pier. The air temperature was 53°. There was a change in the water temperature right at the end of the Avila Pier, from 57° on the east side to 58° on the west side.   

I'll swim with the Saturday group at 7 and at 11 on Sunday with whoever else shows up.

niel 

Tom's Three Peaks Route -

Foggy, foggy, foggy. The valley must be heating up because the fog was thick and relentless. The sun was working hard to burn through, but there was just too much fog. This meant the three peaks route. The water was glassy with a 4 foot wave occasionally rolling through.  Beautiful morning Swim. 

Monday, August 4th, 2025

Tom's Toes for a Monday Morning - 

Mostly blue skies, warm air, warm water.  It was about 65° air temperature when I arrived at 930 a.m. and the water was about 60°.  In short, it was the tropics. Our kind of tropics anyway… beautiful conditions for a Monday morning vitamin. 

Sunday, August 3rd, 2025

 Sunday -

Jim and I took a turn around the big pool today. The conditions were a bit iffy at the start but they turned out to be just fine.  It was foggy when I arrived in Avila.  As I was about to go down the stairs to the beach Tom Lorish hailed me. He was changing after his swim so we talked about swimming things. He thought the water temperature was in the high 50's and how there has not been any plankton blooms this year, so we have had nice clean water this summer instead of the nasty red brown funk that is typical for the water this time of the year.

I measured a water temperature of 60° from the pier. The air temp was 59°, the was a breeze coming and going and it looked like the fog was lifting. Jim and I talked about doing about 2000M. Jim is is working to regain his natural swimming mojo so he was going without a wetsuit and would head in when he got cold enough. The surf was 2 foot with occasional sets of 3 - 4+ footers.           

The wind came up and it cleared as we were swimming over to the Poly Pier. The water had gotten choppy and was pushing towards the beach. Jim headed directly back to the base of the Avila Pier and I came in along the p. pier and over to the buoy line.  Along the buoy line I had to  push right to stay parallel to the beach. 

The water felt like it was 60°.  We had a very nice swim.

I will not swim on Tuesday but plan to be here on Thursday and Saturday at 7 and next Sunday at 11.

niel   

Saturday, August 2nd, 2025

A Beautiful Saturday Morning Swim and a Surprise Visit -

This morning we had more of this summers best swimming conditions.  It was 56° in Avila Beach and overcast with no wind for a flat and glassy water surface, small surf, and no swells. The water temperature was 59° and it was nice and clean.

Tom Israel was in the bay area and Jodi is still in Greece, so it was Paula and I this morning.

We were both feeling like doing about 2000M.  There were three men at the barricade on the pier with 11 fishing lines in the water, so we got in on the west side and swam out well away from the pier.  We swam down the buoy line and to the number 2 and 3 crossbars on the Poly Pier, back to the end of the Avila Pier and in. The water felt really nice this morning.

That's Niel, Paula and over on the right a Great Blue Heron perched on a crossbar.  

Before we got in we had a surprise visit from Rob Dumouchel, Avila Dolphin, currently residing in Juneau, Alaska, and the only person I know of to have swum from Avila to the Pismo Pier on January first, bareback, in 51° water, and into a storm, so it took him an additional hour.

I'll swim tomorrow at 11, company welcome. 

I will be out of town on Tuesday but I will swim on Thursday and Saturday at 7.

niel