Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

When 61° Feels Coolish -  

The water temperature was 61° today and after Saturday's 65°+/- the water felt cool as I waded in.  Of course 61° was very comfortable but the 3 to 4 degree drop was very noticeable.  Avila was overcast and 56°, there was no wind, knee high surf and a SE swell that would give some variation to my swimming.   

I felt really good. I relaxed and just enjoyed myself 

and had a nice float at the finish. 

I'll be back at 7 on Thursday and Saturday.

niel

Saturday, September 12th, 2026

Very Warm Water - 

Before we got in I measured 63° water temperature off of the Avila Pier, the water was a degree or two warmer most everywhere we swam today. When we were at the  Poly Pier the water temperature reading was 65°.  (I checked this on their website after the swim at  https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/realtime2/CPXC1.ocean).    

Jodi, Avery, Tom and Niel

at the Poly Pier

The surf was 2 to 3 foot, the water is was nice and clean with good visibility, it was overcast and 60° on the beach.  January's mid to low 50's water temperatures seem a faint memory now, but in November the ocean will begin changing to winter conditions.  I'll be happy if the water temperature stays in the mid 50's this winter, instead of the low to below 50° of previous winters.     

We swam a tour of the water between the Avila and Poly Piers, finishing up with the 1000M leg from the end of the Poly Pier to the beach. 

For this coming week I'll swim Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.

niel 

Tuesday, September 8th, 2026

A Quick Start Followed By Great Swimming - 

When I arrived in Avila at 6:40 it was calm, sunny, 55°, and looked like the start of a beautiful summer day. I had checked the surf report and a large south swell was predicted but the water in Avila was pretty flat with 2 to 3 foot waves. When I walked in the water felt warm, I'd measure a 63° water temperature while I was swimming. When I was chest high a 3+ foot wave came through and the next one had a face that was taller than I am. I swam under it, surfaced and found that that one had a bunch of friends.  I think there were 5 or 6 5 to 6  footers before the waves went down and I got out to the buoy line.  Today's waves were not packing the energy typical of waves from winter storms so it was easier to swim under them.

I swam down the buoy line to the east. When I was at the 4th buoy Jim swam up next to me. We swam to the end of the Poly Pier. Jim swam in to the beach and I went to the end of the Avila Pier, to the second crossbars on the Poly Pier, to the 4th buoy on the west side and along the buoys to the #1 buoy on the east side.         

Niel and Jim at the Poly Pier

Sunny skies and 63° water was a very nice way to start my day. 

I'll not swim on Thursday morning but I will be back at 7 on Saturday. 

niel 

Saturday, September 5th, 2026

Summer Isn't Over Yet - 

There were eight people in the water this morning; Paula, Claire (Paula's daughter), Tom I., Illiene, Jodi, Niel, Jim and Hillary.  We are still enjoying summer swimming conditions; low clouds, no wind, a 55° air temperature and 61° water that is nice and clean. The swell from tropical storm Marie had pushed up the surf in Avila Beach to 4 to 5 feet. There was a long period between the sets and the waves were not carrying a lot of energy so getting out was just a matter of timing.

From the left is Jim, Claire, Niel, Tom L. with Paula and Eileen behind him, 

Jodi in the background and Hillary on the right at Buoy #1

Tom and Eileen went bareback and were planning on going short. After we got out through the surf and grouped up at Buoy #1. We swam to Fossil Point and came back to the #2 buoy, not getting too close to the pier to avoid the fishing lines. Clare, Eileen, Paula and Tom went in while Niel, Hillary, Jodi and Jim swam to the end of the Avila Pier, to the #2 crossbars on the Poly Pier, to the #2 Buoy on the right side of the Avila Pier and came in.   

This coming week I'll swim Tuesday and Saturday at 7 and maybe slip in one more as a make up for not swimming on Thursday because of a 9AM appointment. 

niel

Saturday, August 29th, 2026

Swimming With Silly People - 

The conditions this morning were favorable for a swim to the Avila Rock, so Hillary, Tom and Niel took the tour.  I measured a water temp of 62° from the Avila Pier. It was 58° under low clouds with a chance of sunshine.  The surf was 2 to 3 feet and there was a small chop on the water.   

Niel, Hillary and Tom with the Avila Rock in the background 

Hillary's party boat with Niel, Hillary and Tom

The party boat has flags, a GoPro camera, a hula doll, a shark hula doll, 

a figure of Jesus that was found on the  beach and a yellow ducky to tow behind. 

The swell was hiding the smaller Avila Rock so I was swimming

 towards the much larger Bird Rock which is another mile further.   

I'll be swimming on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7 this coming week.

niel 

Friday, August 28th, 2026

Tom's Friday Swim - 

Beautiful tropical cloud cover, glassy water, and a 3 foot wave rolling through. The air temperature was low 70s and the water temperature was low 60s. Swimming was excellent. 

Thursday, August 27th, 2026

Tropical Conditions - 

On my way to Avila Beach I saw lightning in the clouds over Pismo Beach and outside of the car it felt like thunderstorm weather. At 8 when I was getting ready to get in there was light rain. The air temp was 70°, there was a gusty wind, and the ocean had a small swell running. The water temp was 62°. The clouds looked stormy but there was no lighting or thunder so I got in.

   

I swam a couple of triangles. The swell was out of the SE so each direction had different conditions.

When I was heading to my car I saw Tom Lorish, standing in the rain, getting ready to get in. 

I'm swimming with the group on Saturday morning at 7.

niel 

Tuesday, August 25th, 2026

Is Swimming Art or Just Fun?

I was hoping that there would be some art in today's plot. I'd hoped that the plot would look more like an arrow. It's OK but could use a tweak. I swam from the beach to the end of the Poly Pier, which at 1,064M it is a favorite, starting a swim with a long leg to sort myself out and set the tone for the swim, then to the end of the Avila Pier, to the third crossbars on the P. Pier and back to the beach.  Going to the second crossbars nextime would square up the arrowhead and make this route about 4K.      

Summer swimming conditions continue; in the east towards Shell Beach the sun was trying to break through the overcast, at 7 o'clock it was 56°, the water was 62°, and this photo taken at the end of the Poly Pier tells the rest of the story. 

I'll swim at 8 on Thursday and at 7 on Saturday.

niel 

Sunday, August 23rd, 2026

Avila to Pismo, Pier to Pier Swim - 

Eileen, Paula, Tom, Jodi, Avery and Hillary swam from the Avila Pier to the Pismo Pier. They got in at about 7AM and finished in 3:42  to 4:08.  The water temp was 60° - 62°, the water was flat, there was no wind but patchy fog that was dense at times. 

Avery, Eileen, Paula, Tom, Jodi, Hillary

Jodi

Avery

Hillary

Paula

Tom

Eileen

There was a well earned post swim carb loading at Old West Cinnamon Rolls.

Congratulations to all of you!  

niel 

Saturday, August 22nd, 2026

Back to the 60's -

A nice surprise today. The water temp was up to 63° after a flirtation with 59° on Thursday so I had a very relaxing and enjoyable swim. Out beyond the end of the Avila Pier there was a small swell but there was flat, clean water everywhere.

As I was walking to the water I met Chris, who was here for the day from LA. He swims in a pool and the ocean and wanted to get in and swim at Avila Beach. I suggested that he would enjoy swimming the buoy line. He liked the idea, I didn't see him after I got out.  I swam over and back to the Poly Pier from the end of the Avila Pier hitting the end of the p. pier, the mooring and the third and second crossbars.      

While I was at the showers Duke rode by and stopped to chat. Then Phil Toriello joined us and he filled us in on his recent participation in a lifeguard competition in Florida. His experience included placing in the top 3 in his age group in some of the events and a major GI meltdown. Pro Tip: when in Florida don't drink the energy drink that is provided by the local race organizers.

All together, a very nice start to my Saturday.

At the showers.

This coming week will swim at 7 on Tuesday, 8 on Thursday and 7 on Saturday. 

niel
 

Thursday, August 20th, 2026

Back to the 50's -

No, not Happy Days, the water temperature this morning was 59°, still very nice but it could be just an early hint of fall......... will the water go back up to 60°+? I'd expect it to but this may be the beginning of a Yo-Yoing water temperature until we have the fall drop. 

The waves were up to 3 foot and there there was a small swell on the water, otherwise the water was clean with very nice swimming.   

At the second crossbars on the Poly Pier with a heron 

on a crossbar looking for breakfast. 

I think that I will be the only one swimming Saturday morning at 7, everyone else is swimming 10K Sunday morning from Avila to Pismo, and then a post swim cinnamon roll carb loading.

niel   

Tuesday, August 18th, 2026

Sunshine! - 

I was surprised this morning to have the same swimming conditions as I've had the past month but without the overcast and a sunrise to brighten up my swim.

The numbers were 61° and 61°, calm, flat clean water, 2 foot waves. There were a lot more seabirds around except there were no pelicans.  The sharkyness signs were covered.  It was a very nice swim this morning. 

I'll be back on Saturday at 7. I'll probably be by myself as just about everybody will be swimming from Avila to Pismo on Sunday.

niel    

 

Saturday, August 15th, 2026

A Pre Pier to Pier Tune Up - 

Jodi

Avery

Tom

Jodi, Avery and Tom did a tune-up swim today before next Sunday's Pier to Pier 10K Swim from Avila Beach to Pismo Beach. They will be joined by Paula, Hillary.

The swimming conditions are stable with overcast skies, no wind and flat water that is 60 to 62 degrees. 

They all swam the same double Yo-Yo this morning. The 800 yard spread between their plots is a Garmin mystery, perhaps Tom is starting his watch while he is still driving to the beach.  😄

I'm giving my shoulder a rest and will not do the 10K. I'll will swim this coming Thursday and Saturday at 7. 

niel 

  

Thursday, August 13th, 2026

An Easy Thursday Morning -  

This morning was just like Tuesday and many before; overcast, calm, 60°, 62° flat and clean water with 2 foot surf.  I'll be trying to remember these mornings in January when the water is 51° and stormy. 

I swam something familiar and easy today. The only question is which way to go around the sailboat that has been anchored near the end of the Avila Pier. I did see some pelicans. They have not been around for 6 weeks or so. 

We should have a nice group for the Saturday morning swim at 7.

niel 

Tuesday, August 11th, 2026

Four Fingers - 

I had this idea about swimming a plot that looked like a glove by swimming to and back from points along the Poly Pier. I made the four fingers and decided that the thumb, which would have been to the western #4  buoy and back, would be left for a later day. The conditions were excellent with a 60° air temperature, a 63° water temperature, thick overcast but no fog, no wind, a smooth glassy surface and nice clean water. 

I towed a 24 oz. bottle of maltodextrin and electrolytes and worked on it at each return to the Avila Pier.  In order the legs were to the end of the Poly Pier, to the second crossbars, to the mooring tripod thing and to the third crossbars. I was trying to leave the shortest legs for last.     

My plot weirded out again. 6,396M is about the correct distance and the swim stats were complete for the entire swim. Google suggested switching the data recording setting from Smart to Every Second, so I'll see if that helps.

At the Second Crossbars

At the mooring thingy. 

On my last trip back to the Avila Pier I crossed paths with three members of the Poly Water Polo Club on their way to the Poly Pier. They are training for an Alcatraz swim and the upcoming season. 

Walking up the beach I saw Tom Lorish as he was getting in and spoke to him for a bit. 

I'll b be back on Thursday at 8. I want to enjoy these conditions while they last. 

niel