Saturday, January 10th, 2026

Niel's Saturday Morning Swim Report -

Tom taking before photos

January is when the Central Coast gets it clear and cold days. This morning in Avila Beach the air temperature was 33°, the water was 58° to 59° and there was talk between Niel, Jodi, Tom and Paula about the advantages of putting on your wetsuit at home (Jodi and Niel) instead of changing at the beach (Tom and Paula). We were all hoping that we'd feel warmer in the water.  The ocean was pretty flat, there was an offshore wind and the surf was 1 to 3 foot. Water samples collected athe the SL Creek Mouth and at the beach by the Blue Water Task Force on Thursday tested at low levels for bacteria so the water had cleaned up since the last rainstorm and we would not need to worry about bringing something extra home.

Getting in, the water felt comfortable. We grouped up about where the buoy line would be and waited for a Harbor Patrol boat to cruise down the beach towards us and to head out to sea before continuing to the end of the pier. 

Niel, Tom, Paula and Jodi meeting the sunrise the the 'buoy line'. 

We decided to swim to the end of the Poly Pier and to come in along the pier.  At the second crossbars we swam to the end of the Avila Pier and came in to the beach from there. 

The area around the showers was all in shadow. The concrete was the same temperature as the air and not kind to bare feet so changing was done as quickly as possible.

Tom's birthday is Monday so there were brownies after the swim. Tom will be 66, but there was only one candle in the package of two so he may get to negotiate a do over next year. 

I'll swim Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday next week.

niel