Saturday, March 22nd, 2025

Colder and Shorter - 

There was a nice sunrise through some thin clouds this morning. It was 54° with a steady offshore breeze that made a chop on the water and pushed the aroma of bacon from the Custom House kitchen out over the water. The surf was 2 to 3 feet and easy to walk out through. We planned on swimming to the end of the Avila Pier and over to the end of the Poly Pier and to then come back by some route. 

Tom and Jodi getting in

 

The offshore wind had done what it will so there was a quick stop at the first buoy for us to agree that the water temp was sub 50° and that we would meet at the end of the Avila Pier and revise the route. 

(L to R) Jodi, Niel and Tom reconsidering their route 

after arriving at the end of the Avila Pier.   

We agreed to swim to the second crossbars on the Poly Pier and to recalculate the route at that point.  Once there the third plan was to swim to the 4th buoy on the west side, along the buoys to the 1st buoy and then out and in along the Avila Pier. Coming up to the 1st buoy I was wondering if anyone was thinking about bagging going around the pier and just going in, but I saw Tom start towards the end of the pier, so Jodi and I followed. It turns out that Jodi was thinking about going in so Tom dragged us both around the pier.

Coming in we swam past the 8 o'clock cold water immersion group bobbing in the wind and the surf. I believe that we both think that the other group is kind of nuts. 

Even with the wind it was comfortable in the sun at the showers and we warmed up quickly. 

I'll be back to swim tomorrow at 11. 

niel