Saturday, March 8th, 2025

 

Jodi, Paula, Tom Israel and Niel 

I was back in the water with my friends this morning after a two week break. At 7:30 it was beautiful in Avila, 38°, sunny and calm, a small wind chop on the water and 3 foot waves. We were going to stick on the left side of the pier, well away from the creek mouth. We agreed on swimming down to the point and back. 

Getting in was easy but when my hands hit the water alarm bells went off. I'd been out of the ocean and my have lost some of my acclamation but it felt COLD.  At the first buoy there was agreement about the water temperature, which was some small comfort but it was still going to be a cold swim.  I measured a water temperature of 49°.        

At 1830M and 48 minutes today's swim was shorter than usual but we were ready to get out and into the sunshine. 

The lifeguard towers are back in place and the guards were there in mass doing some training.

Poly dropping their swimming and diving program just plain stinks.

I learned this morning that Aqua Sphere has pulled out of North America, so if you are a fan of their swimming goggles you can check out the similar styles that gh sports has and they are still available online.

I'll swim tomorrow at 11.

niel

Friday, March 7th, 2025

I arrived at Avila at 930 AM.  Super low tide and a Strong cool breeze blowing from the southwest.  Blue skies and scattered clouds. The number was 103.  There water was choppy but no whitecaps while I was swimming. It was a good swim but chilly. 

Strange Goop Report -

The green brown goop that was on Old Port Beach yesterday tested as safe for levels of bacteria. I've been told that it may be from kelp that had gotten churned up by wave action.

niel  

Thursday, March 6th, 2025

A Run On Olde Port Beach -

I'm in the full body ache point in my cold and I wasn't loving the idea of swimming, but a run on the beach sounded like something I could do. 

It was a nice morning at Olde Port Beach. The tide was way out, it was not windy and the sun was peaking out. The tide was low so there was a long beach to run on. I enjoy finding the point between dry and wet sand where my feet sink in enough to cushion my steps and give my feet a nice massage. 

The high water line along the beach was full of this mystery yuck.

It was green brown, bubbly and did not look nice. It was most common towards the east end of the beach, where the drainage from Wild Cherry Canyon empties onto the beach. I've seen it here before, also immediately after a heavy rain.     

I had my Blue Water Task Force water sampling kit with me so I collected a sample of the goo and processed it at our lab in the Central Coast Aquarium in Avila Beach. I'll have the results late Friday morning and we'll learn if this stuff is full of bacteria. 

niel  

Wednesday, March 5th, 2025

Gray skies, on and off rain, and flat calm water. That was Avila at 900 a.m.  It was a super low high tide this morning. At the Waters edge looking up to the berm, it was about 10 foot overhead. Amazing to think how much water gets displaced from the tides.  The combined number was 103. The picture was looking out towards Avila Rock. I was tempted to swim out there it looks so calm and nice, but ended up going the other direction to the CPP. The water clarity was incredibly clear and the swimming was beautiful.  In the category of housekeeping, Port Authority hauled all the driftwood away which in my mind is kind of a bummer. I like the driftwood. 

Monday, March 3rd, 2025

 Tom's Monday Morning Swim -  

It was a beautiful morning at Avila when I arrived at 920 AM. Blue skies and scattered clouds with a gusty breeze blowing on shore. The combine number was 105. The water had a bump along with a 4 foot plus wave. It was a good Monday morning swim. 

Tom and Jodi's Saturday Morning Swim

Another version of the Yo-Yo swim route.