Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

 The lighting is so beautiful this time of year…  see picture. It  was 61° air temperature when I arrived at Avila at 845 AM.  Wispy clouds streaking across blue skies.  The November light was gorgeous.  The swell had dropped off quite a bit and there was a slight breeze blowing off shore. The water temperature was colder than on Monday, checking in at about 48°.  When it gets under 50 the duration of my swims start dropping accordingly…  48°, about 48 minutes.  Nevertheless, it was a beautiful morning swim. 

Tuesday, November 5th, 2024

It is Getting Physical Out There -

In the last two weeks the water at Avila Beach has transitioned to full winter conditions. 10 days ago the water temperature dropped to the bottom of the 50's and shows no signs of warming up. In the last week the swell has increased and we now have 4+ foot waves.      

The waves don't have the power of storm surf but these were breaking in 5' of water so they looked plenty large when I was standing there working my way out.

There will be king tides the 15th, 16th and 17th.         

Paying attention to timing the surf kept me from paying thinking much about the water temperature so it wasn't until I was swimming down the buoy line that the idea of 49° to 50° water became part of today' swim.  The air temp was 43°, there was no wind and the water is very clean. I could feel the swell everywhere along my route and it was adding quite a bit of vertical to the water near the reef buoy.  

I have a new pair pf 3mm Patagonia surf booties that are the warmest ones that I've had. They also have the most durable sole of any of my previous booties and look like they will stand up to getting in and out of the surf. 

 

I'll swim Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

niel

November 4th, 2024

Tom Lorish Goes Big - 

Big high tide and a good size swell. Winter conditions have arrived at Avila.  The high tide and big swell had the water running past the lifeguard tower number one on the east side.  Air temperature was a pleasant 60° when I arrived at 845 AM.  The water temperature temperature was 49, 50°.  The air clarity and lighting were gorgeous.  Beautiful day and excellent swimming. 

Sunday, November 3rd, 2024

It was a very nice day at Avila. It was 64° with an offshore breeze. There was almost nobody on the sand. The water temp felt like it was up a degree or two to maybe 52° and the water was nice and clean. The surf was 2 to 3 foot and there was a short period SW swell.  

I saw Tom after he got out. He had swum with 5 of the CP women's water polo team. He say's it is fun getting the willing out into the big pool.  

I swam a tour of the water between the Avila and Poly piers. The bumpiness increased with how far offshore I was. On the leg to the end of the Poly Pier the swell was really trying to push me towards shore but it was nice to have the help on the next two legs.     

The Monolith  ?

The point where I turned from the Poly Pier back towards the end of the Avila Pier. 

When I passed the creek mouth on my way back to the west buoy line the water warmed up and added a bad taste/smell. The tide was falling so some yucky water from the estuary was probably being pulled out into the ocean.  Phooey.

I'll be swimming Tue., Thurs., and Sat at 7 and next Sunday at 11. 

niel

  

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024

 The water temperature was 50°, why are these people smiling?

Jodi and Niel do have a 'special' sense of what is fun.  We got in at 7:15, a bit later than usual to catch more of the sunrise, but there was heavy overcast and light rain so the sunrise didn't happen until after we got out. It was 52° with a light offshore wind, the surf was 2 to 3 feet and there was a SE swell that would put some vertical movement into our swimming.

Jodi had an idea for a route that we had not done before: from the first buoy swim along the buoys to #4, to the end of the pier, to #4 on the west side, towards the pier along the buoy line to #3, to the end of the pier, to #3 on the east side, along the line to buoy #2, etc. until we had hit all of the buoys. The swimming was nice and smooth, the water was clean and the distance and time was about as much as we wanted in 50° water. I'm glad we got this route in now. The lifeguards are done for the season so the swim zone buoys will be pulled out and stored until spring, so we will have to rely on our own sense of direction until then.  

The sun was breaking through when we were at the showers which is always welcome.

I plan on being back for more at 11 tomorrow.

niel 

Friday, November 1st.., 2024

 Cold Toes!

Beautiful first day of November at Avila.  Blue skies with wispy scattered clouds. A Chilly breeze blowing south, southwest was hollowing out the 3 to 4 foot waves rolling in. The air temperature was 59° when I arrived at 915 AM and the water was temperature was 50, maybe even 49.  Between the waves and the high tide the water was getting up close to the wall. It was an excellent morning vitamin. 

Tom