Saturday, April 11th, 2026

We had an odd mix of conditions today. It was 57° with rain showers and low storm clouds, the ocean's surface was like a washing machine and the wind was out of the SE and was pushing the chop and swells onto the beach. Along with the waves and chop the wind had pushed a large number of velella velella, the small purple wind sailors, onto the beach.  I measured a surprisingly warm water temperature of 60° off of the pier.

Velella velella and kelp at the high tide line. 

Niel, Jodi and Tom Israel got in at 7, swam out to the #1 buoy and turned left.  It was plenty bouncy swimming across the chop and to the end of the Avila Pier.   

                          
From the end of the Avila Pier, to the third crossbars on the Poly Pier, in along the pier to the second crossbars where we split up with Jodi and Tom going to the end of the Avila Pier before going in and me going to the #1 buoy where we began. 

Niel, Jodi and Tom at the end of the Avila Pier

I'm swimming on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday next week at 7.

niel