Sunday, March 25, 2018

Today's post is by Amy

We swam a kilometer today instead of a mile in honor of the Halifaxan contingent: Jonny, his dad Gerard, who accompanied the swimmers on surfboard, and brother Evan, who stalwartly guarded our stuff on the beach.

The rest of the motley crew of swimmers included Amy and John. We entered at low tide; the water temp was 49 to 50 degrees, tops. Jonny, John and Gerard all got tossed by a series of waves going in, which gave Amy a rare advantage in getting ahead of the pack. That first leg to the end of the pier was chilly, but we motored briskly. We swung toward the point, going wide of the reef buoy, and returned to a point high on the pier, at least midway or higher between the imaginary buoy line and the end.

The wind and swells between the pier and reef buoy (plus the temperature) made a challenging passage, as did the swim to the beach against a strong tide current. But we had the sun and clear water to cheer us. After we could feel our feet again on the beach, we agreed it was an altogether wonderful day.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

A drive by by this parasailer made it feel like summer. 

Niel, Heidi, Karen, Amy and Jonny swam today. Jonny's friend Shawn accompanied us in his kayak. Avila weas sunny and calm. The water temperature was 52 degrees, with small surf and no wind at the start of the swim. This was the first weekend that the lifeguards were on duty. The buoys are not in yet but I did get to say hello to Jon Harmse.

The route was out to the end of the Avila Pier, to the mouth of San Luis Obispo Creek, parallel to the beach to the approximate location of the most easterly buoy, back to the end of the pier and in. I clocked 1.61 miles with a wet to dry time of 58 minutes. We got split up getting everyone in the water. Amy, Karen and I stuck together and it was cold enough that we didn't wait for Jonny and Amy. 

Heidi and Karen at the end of the pier the first time. 

The same spot, just a selfie with Heidi and Karen in the background

 Amy has not been swimming in the ocean lately so she got out when she came under the pier. I'm not sure what Jonny did at that point.

Karen when we came under the pier. 

Heidi at the same spot.

Karen, Heidi and I swam to the approximate location of the most easterly buoy. Heidi returned along our route parallel to the beach. Karen and I swam to the end of the Avila Pier and came in along the pier. On the way to the pier it had clouded over and I began feeling colder. The wind had come up out of the SW so there was some chop to push into on this leg before ducking behind the pier so we had flat water for the last leg.

We are predicted to receive 4 to 6 inches of rain Tuesday through Thursday, so water quality conditions on the coming Sunday are iffy at this point. 

I will be out of town Thursday through Sunday, so I not only won't be swimming Sunday but I will not be able to collect water samples from the creek on Thursday, so anybody who is thinking about swimming on Sunday will have to fall back on licking a finger and sniffing the air to determine what the bug count is.

Heidi and Karen will also not be swimming this coming Sunday. 

Kris saw Sylvia Glenn at the Health Fair yesterday. She had a bad time with her asthma during the fires and then was down for a month with the flu. She is doing much better and we hope to see her back at the beach soon so we can celebrate a late 80th birthday with her in the ocean.

niel

Hiding From Bugs

It was raining Sat afternoon and on and off that night leaving everyone doubtful about the water quality. With no consensus, nobody swam.  


Back next Sunday.

niel

Sunday, March 4th, 2018

 Avila Beach stepped up with another beautiful day to swim, offering clear skys, small surf, a building wind out of the SW and cold water temperatures. I measured 52 degrees in the suds from the pier. Out past the surf line it felt like 50 -51 based on how long it took my face to freeze up sufficiently to no longer feel the cold. 

I was by myself and getting ready to get in when I noticed a woman putting on a swim cap. He name was Lindsey and she is a member of the Dolphin Club in San Francisco. We decided to swim parallel to the beach to Fossil Point and back. 

This is me where we began out return back to the pier. The water was nice and clean. The wind had come up enough to make a one foot ish breaking chop that made gave some character to the swim back.  

Lindsey 

Jonny had arrived after we had gotten in and was trying to chase us down but we managed to swim past each other and never see each other in the chop.

There is no rain in the forecast in the next week so we should have warmer air and water next Sunday.

niel