Thursday, December 1st, 2022

Today's Tom's Toes Report (without the water temp guess) - 

Tom swim report for Thursday, December 1: cloudy and breezy at Avila this morning. Air temperature was 55 at 9:45 when I got in the water. There was a significant wind chop that was counter to the direction of the swell. It made for a good rough water worth (?), water swim!  Overhead the clouds were thick in places, and at the same time, there were several streaks and spots of blue sky showing. The air quality was amazing - I could see Point Sal like it was next door.  I'll be back on Saturday for another round.

Niel - 

I'm healed up and ready to swim, but I am going to see how much rain we get between now and Saturday morning before deciding about the water quality.  If San Luis gets the inch plus that is predicted I'd be concerned about the bacteria load.

niel 

Tuesday, November 29th, 2022

Tom's Toes Report - 

Toms, swim report: my toes were in the water at 9:45. Air temperature was 52°, water temperature 51. A slight breeze, a bit of a bump on the water, and clear blue skies. Another beautiful fall day of swimming at Avila.  

I been thinking of having some fun by dropping in a plot of one of my runs but don't see the humor is sitting out. 

Trying to swim through the rash on my neck was a mistake. I've been able to do that before but this time it was bad enough that it wasn't going to get better until I stopped. I have been planning on swimming this Saturday but it will rain Thursday/Friday, so I may have to sit out the buggy water.

niel 

Saturday, November 26th, 2022

A Tom and Niel MIA Swim Report -

Tom is in the Bay Area this weekend. I expect he will be swimming at Avila on Tuesday. 

Me, I'm waiting out the wetsuit rash on my neck to not be scabby before I get back in the water.

I did my part trying to emulate Duke and Jodi by swimming through the injury to my neck but the solution was to just stop and let it heal.  I'm estimating next Saturday for my return.

A Black Friday Deal On a Patagonia Wetsuit -

I'm selling my almost new Patagonia R3 Front Zip Wetsuit. I have used it for 6 swims and it is just not going to be for me.

The R3's are a great wetsuit. I've worn out 7 R3 back zip's. They are 3.5/4.5. They got me through the coldest water temperatures and kept me in the water through every winter. I decided to try the front zip version this time and getting it on and off is too difficult because of an old injury to my right shoulder.  I can do it but it feels too risky. 

So,  It is a Medium Tall. $489 new. Yours for $225.

Call or TEXT - 805.704.1817 

niel

      

Thursday, November 24th, 2022

 Tom's Swim Report - 

Tom swim report for Thanksgiving morning: clear blue skies, air temperature was 60° when I got in at 945. There was a rolling bump on the water along with a 3 foot wave.  The water continues to be a solid 51°, although I hit some spots that I am calling 50 on the west side.  All in all, I am thankful for the beautiful water and swim! And, thankful for the brownies that Blog Master Niel brought me after my swim! Treats!  

Great to see you Tom. Kris and I had a very nice walk along the seawall. The Holiday's in the Central Coast can't be beat!

niel 

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022

The Word For Today Was:

Stimulating?  Invigorating?  Inspiring? Shocking?........or

It was obsoletely beautiful in Avila Beach this morning except at 7:30 the air temperature was 32°F Only 19 degrees less than the water.  Everything else was the same, clear water, a swell out of the SW. Getting in didn't seem too bad. I sure didn't linger once I got out of my car. I already had my wetsuit on, just grabbed my cap and goggles, kicked off my Uggs and in my haste almost locked myself out of my car. Not being able to get to my stuff and my swim and dry off would have been too much extra fun.     

I did the Big Triangle, which can be close to 2000M if you get the corners in the right places.  

I had some trouble with my wetsuit. I didn't get it on right and the inner collar kept coming out letting water in. 

Unfortunately, I've got a bad rub on the back of my neck and will need to site out for a week (?) until it heals.  

I saw Tom parking as I was leaving. He sent this swim report:  

Solid 51 in the water today! Significantly, smaller bump, though. Beautiful day, beautiful swim. Oh, whenever you make those brownies, if you're willing to share, I would love to have one. :-)

(I had a box of brownie mix on the front seat) Tom probably needs the extra calories more than I do so I'll oblige him. 

niel

 

Sunday, November 20th, 2022

 Winter At Avila Beach -

Super clear skies, light winds, no crowds, a clean ocean with no red tide and great visibility in the cold water. 

 

Tom was getting out when I arrived. I spoke with him as he was getting out. He thought the conditions were the same as yesterday. 

 

The air temperature was in the upper 60's, the water was 52° (my thermometer said 53°+ but Tom, David and I say 52°) and there was the same short period swell out of the SW that was pushy but not bothersome. It didn't look like much from shore but it grave the water a nice character.

 

David and I went out to the end of the Avila Pier and did four crossings between the Avila and Cal Poly Piers. We swam to the second crossbars, to a spot on the Avila Pier directly across from us, to the third crossbars and back to the end of the Avila Pier. It turned out to be a nice distance.  

David and Niel at the third crossbars on the CPP.

I expect to be back Tuesday morning at 8.

niel 

Saturday, November 19th, 2022

Saturday was another great day for swimming at Avila. At 7:30 the air temperature was already about 60°. It was clear and sunny with an offshore breeze and small, short period swell from the SW. The water was 11°C/51.8°F. I took a lap around the CPP on the west side and the reef buoy on the east side.   

I saw Tom arriving as I was leaving.

I'll be back tomorrow at 11.

niel

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

My schedule is all messed up this week, so here I am swimming on Wednesday morning.

The conditions were great. at 7:00 it was 49°, sunny and there was an offshore breeze from the NE. The water was nice and clear and 11°C/51.8°F. Some 3 to 4 footers would sneak in amongst the smaller waves. 

The County's water samples from Avila Beach on Monday were within state standards so I swam on both sides of the pier. The wind freshened during my loop back to the start making things a bit pushy and bumpy.     

Cal Fire Pismo was there training new recruits.  

I'll be back on Saturday morning.

niel

 

Tuesday, November 15th, 2022

 Tom's Swimming Report - 

Clear blue skies, glassy calm water. 51° air temperature, 51° water temperature when I got in at 9:30.  Beautiful day of swimming. A prediction: The water will be in the 40s by early December. 

Thanks Tom

niel

Sunday, November 13th, 2022

 

Avila's numbers for Sunday: Air temp. - 60°, Clouds - 0, Wind - Light but getting gusty, Water temp. - 11.5°C/52.7°F, People to share the beach with - Less than 10, Surf - 1 foot+.  The surface of the water was picking up some texture and looked like it could get blown out later.    

I'm going to avoid the west side of the pier at least until Thursday. The county will have water samples from Monday morning to see if the funk from last week's rain has washed out.

I decided to swim to Avila Rock and to come back via Fossil Point instead of doubling back. 

On my right four pelicans on Avila Rock and on my left Fossil Point.

The water is beautiful, very clear with great visibility. It felt warmer today than yesterday morning. I think that was the warmer air and sunshine and not me feeling a .5° increase in the temperature.  On the way out I had an easier time of it than it realized. The wind was picking up and coming back was pretty bumpy and a bit of a slog.

Tom swam earlier. We both saw Duke, Tom when he was getting in and myself when I was getting out. He is planning on being back in the water to swim a U Burner on December 15th. I'll be there.

I'll swim Tuesday morning on the east side of the pier. 

niel   

Saturday, November 12th, 2022

Somebody Turned Off The Water Heater While I Was Gone 

I was back in the water this morning after a 10 day break. It was a perfect morning for swimming with clear blue skies, no wind, flat and glassy water and knee high surf. The hiccup was that in the last 10 days the water temperature has cratered into the low 50's. Off of Fossil Point I measured a water temp of 11°C/51.8°F.  Over the last week Tom toes have been reporting 51° to 52° so he is well calibrated. 

When I got in at 7:40 the air temperature was 38° but the sun felt strong and it was going to warm up nicely. It was in the 50's at 9:30 when I left. 

 

The Blue Water Task Force numbers at Avila and up San Luis Creek from Thursday morning were high to very high (50X the limit for contact with the water) for bacteria so I planned to stay well away from the creek mouth and the right side of the pier.  

https://bwtf.surfrider.org/explore/34

I swam to Fossil Point, to the end of the Avila Pier, to the reef buoy and back to the pier.

This was a nice route and one that I have never done before. 

'Normal' winter water temperatures in Avila are in the mid 50's with a drop into the low 50's in the spring when we have offshore winds. Two years ago the water went from 55° to 51° Thanksgiving weekend and didn't pull above 52° until May. Last winter was back to 'normal'. I'm guessing that we are going to have a lot of cold swimming this winter.

Tom and I will be back tomorrow. I'll get in at 11.

niel

Tuesday, November 8th, 2022

The county Health Dept. has closed the beaches for 72 hours due to the risk of bacteria in the water.

Tom and I will be in the water on Saturday.

niel

Saturday, November 5th, 2022

Tom's Swim Report - 

Another excellent fall day here at Avila. Sunny, clear blue skies and scattered clouds.  Slight breeze, and a bump on the water.  The water was 53° again.  Excellent morning of swimming.

Thanks Tom, I'll be sitting out until next Saturday so it is all yours until then.

niel 

Thursday, November 2nd, 2022

 Swim Report By Tom - 

Oh, Niel! We lost a degree this morning… My toes and teeth are telling me 53–54. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful fall day at Avila! Swimming was beautiful. 

Thanks Tom!

My Oh My. The usual winter water temps are around 55° so this is early for the water to be this cold. We may have a second extra cold winter ahead of us. 

Two years ago the water hit 51° right after Thanksgiving and didn't get above 52° until April.......

niel

November 1st, 2022

It was very fallish in Avila Beach this morning. It was getting light enough to swim at 7AM. There was a light wind. The ocean looked wintery or stormy with a small chop and a lot of swell. The waves are now 3 to 4 feet and are traveling faster and carrying a lot more energy. Even the whitewater wants to push me over.  The air temperature was 49°F and I measured a water temperature of 12.5°C/54.5°F at the end of the Avila Pier.  It didn't feel colder than last week but duck diving through the surf kept me from thinking about the water temperature. My feet are starting to stay cold for the entire swim so that is a sign of entering the lower 50's.  

I swam back and forth to the four buoys on the west side of the pier.

I'm guessing that last weekend was the end of the season for the lifeguards and that the swim line buoys will be coming out later this month.  

I have a meeting Thursday morning and will not be able to swim after. If this meeting becomes a regular thing I am going to need to find another day for my Thursday swim.

I will be back Saturday morning at 7ish. The time changes Sunday so I'll have more daylight for my early morning swims. NO, I will not be showing up at 6. 

As I was leaving I spoke to Tom as he was getting ready to jump in. If he texts' me I'll post his comments:   

Beautiful swimming this morning. Definitely fall conditions – my toes had 54°. Crisp, blue skies, scattered clouds. Decent swell, with a bump on top.  

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/31/1132768433/katie-ledecky-world-record-1500

If you missed this: Katie Ledecky broke the world record for the short course 1500M by 10 seconds. 

niel