Tuesday, February, 4th, 2025

 No Rain But Plenty Bumpy -

San Luis Obispo received just 3/100" of rain last night so I wasn't concerned about the water quality this morning. 

Today's swim number was 103.  At 7 the air temp was 51° and the water felt warmer than it has been, maybe 52° +/-  with no shock to bare skin. The ocean was in storm mode with a strong, steady wind out of the SE that was pushing a one foot chop on top of the 4' waves. The waves were close together without much of a break between them.    

This photo was taken after I got out when the light was better.

To get out I pushed my way out through the breakers until I couldn't touch the bottom to jump over them, and then started swimming and ducking under the waves until I was outside the break.  Coming back in the waves had laid down and I was able to swim directly to where I could stand up. 

The first leg from the #1 to #4 buoys was the most difficult. It took me a while to figure out the tempo of the water and to figure out how to time my stroke.  Each leg was different. Today swimming across the swell was the best because it made the swells seem flatter.     

Near the end of the Avila Pier. 

Between now and Thursday enough rain is predicted that I do not expect to swim Thursday morning. The Surfrider Blue Water Task Force will collect water samples at Avila Thursday morning and will have results posted mid-day Friday. If the bacteria counts are OK I'll swim Saturday and Sunday.

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

niel

Monday, February 3rd, 2025

Tom Lorish's Monday Wake Up Swim - 

It was a beautiful morning at Avila when I arrived at 9:10 AM. Blue skies and wispy clouds scattered across the sky. There was a cool breeze blowing south west and a bump on the water with a crumbly 2 to 3 foot wave.  The combined temperature number was 103 today.  The water clarity was excellent and the swimming was good.  I finally met the kid who I've been seeing swimming for the past few weeks. Turns out he swims on the same days as I do, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. His name is Camden and he is training to try out for the Pismo lifeguards. I am rooting for him. 

Saturday, February 1st., 2025

Today's swim number was 97.  It was clear, calm, flat with the air much warmer that earlier in the week. I think I need to stop expecting that the water temperature will move much until April or May.    

At the 4th buoy. 

Niel, Jodi and Tom Israel got in the water at 7:30 and swam to the fourth buoy and on to Fossil Point. There we voted to change our route and instead of swimming to the end of the Avila Pier we swam out to and around the Avila Rock and then back to the end of the pier. The swimming was great, smooth and the water was very clear. I could see details in the sand on the bottom when the water was 8 feet deep.       

It was starting to cloud up when we were at the showers. If predictions hold one or two swims could be rained out next week. 

I'll swim tomorrow at 11. 

niel