Wednesday, April 30th, 2025

Tom's Toes Tell The Story -

Super low tide, glassy flat water, and a slight drizzle falling from the sky. Toes in the water at 855 AM.  The tide was so low I was in waist high water out to the fifth blue light on the pier.  The water temperature was 52° and the water clarity was excellent. I could see to the bottom at the buoy line.  Beautiful morning Swim. 

Sounds a lot like my Tuesday morning swim.   niel

Tuesday, April 29th, 2025

 

I waded in at 6:45. The sun was already above Fossil Point and it was clear and sunny. There was a light wind and the water was rippled, the surf was 2 foot except for an occasional 3 footer. There had been a minus tide at 6:09 so there was acers of beach to cross before I got to the water and the waves were starting to break out at the buoy line.  The air temperature was 47° and the water was 52°. 

I swam a Yo-yo today. This variation began at the end of the Avila Pier. I began with the 4th buoy and swam from he end of the pier to the buoy and back and then did the the shorter legs for #3 to #1 and finished up swimming from the end of the pier in to the beach. I like swimming the longest leg first.

Returning to the end of the Avila Pier for the first time the haze on the horizon in the top photo had become a solid fog bank that was in close and moving onshore. It looked like I might finish my swim in the fog but it moved back out and over towards the port so I got to finish and shower in the sunshine. 

I'll swim Thursday morning at 7.

niel  

Monday, April 28th, 2025

Tom's Monday Swim -

Sunny, clear blue skies, and breezy.  945 AM toes in the water.  There was a consistent breeze blowing from east to west that was hollowing out the 2-3 foot waves. The dimpled water was 53 degrees.  Beautiful day and an excellent Monday morning vitamin. 

Saturday, April 26th, 2025

 Tom and Niel Swim In The Rain -  

Tom and Niel at the end of the Poly Pier 

At 7:30 it was 47° in Avila Beach with a steady light rain. The surface of the water was a stormy mix of chop and swell. There was not much wind and the surf was 2 to 3 foot. Yesterday Tom Lorish had estimated the water temperature at 52° so we decided to swim to the end of the Avila Pier, see what we thought of the conditions and then make a swim plan.

At the end of the pier 52° water seemed about right. We decided to swim to the end of the Poly Pier and then decide on our way back. 

On the way to the Poly Pier we were pushing into the swell and chop so it was uphill all of the way.  At the  end of the P Pier the water had warmed up a degree or so and encouraged us to take a longer route back by going in along the length of the pier to the the first crossbars and then east to the buoy line and the Avila Pier.

Before we were a quarter of the way in along the pier the water temp dropped to about 50° so so much for out plan. We pushed on to the first crossbars where the water was even colder and we had 700 M to swim to the Avila Pier. There was a very welcome warm(er) spot near the creek mouth which felt nice but it was just a tease. We soon swam out of it and pushed on to the first buoy on the east side of the Avila Pier. At that point I came in. Tom wanted to do 3200M so he continued on to the second buoy and back.

When we were getting out the sun was breaking through and the chop and swell had flattened to almost glassy conditions.  

At the showers I was feeling chilled and hurried into my wool and fleece. On occasions like today emptying my jug of hot water over me can seem like the best part of the swim.  However, today there were Morning Bums for the Bread Bike to help with our recovery. Since Jodi couldn't join us today Tom and I had to split her treat between us. Thanks Jodi!

I will not swim tomorrow because I have guys coming to trim out trees so my next swim will be Tuesday at 7. 

niel 

Friday, April 25th, 2025

Tom Lorish - 

Glassy water, a little bit of rain, and a good morning Swim.  There was a heavy marine layer and some rain filled clouds at Avila when I arrived at 9 am. About 20 minutes into my swim the rain clouds opened up and it rained for about 20 minutes before giving way to a few spots of blue sky.  The water temperature was about 52°. 

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

 Niel's Thursday Morning Swim -

This morning I did a clockwise lap around the reef buoy and the end of the Poly Pier. I came in along the P Pier to the first crossbars before turning to the Avila Pier because I could not remember if I had ever gone that way in that direction.  I got in the water at 7:15. The conditions were grey and overcast which made navigation difficult.  The kink in by leg to the end of the Poly Pier is because it was difficult to see the pier against the hills beyond.  The air and water were 54°, it was calm, the surf small and the water glassy and clean except for some wind chop near the mouth of San Luis Obispo Creek.  

I'll swim with Jodi and Tom Israel on Saturday at 7:30AM., rain or shine. 

niel

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025

Tom Lorish's Wednesday Morning Swim - 

Glassy calm water, heavy marine layer and excellent swimming. Toes in the water at 9 AM.  The water temperature was 53°. There were 2 to 3 foot waves rolling in slowly and the water clarity was crystal. 

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025

 

I enjoyed a really nice swim this morning. The water was in the mid 50's, there was solid overcast and a light wind out of the south. The surf was 2 feet +/- and the water was glassy with a small ripple.

I got in at about 7:10 AM and planned to do a couple of triangles. I'd picked up a mild cold and wanted a route that would give me opportunities to bail out if I hit my limit before I was done.

The swimming went really well. I said quick hi to a couple of other swimmers near the #4 buoy on the west side.  The water did feel colder than 55° but that may have been my virus.

Other than two egrets who were stalking the kelp at the reef buoy I saw no other birds, seals, otters or other sea life.

I'll swim Thursday morning at 7 and Saturday at 7:30.

niel    

Monday, April 21st, 2025

Sunday Tom Lorish took 6 members of the CP woman's water polo team out to the Avila Rock.

That sounds like great fun!

For Monday 

Overcast, gray, and incredibly glassy flat water. I arrived at Avila at 845 AM to gray skies and mirror like glassy water. The water temperature was 54°. It was a lovely morning Swim.  

Saturday, April 19th, 2025

Jodi, Tom Israel and Niel didn't plan on doing a Martini Swim today but the swimming conditions were so nice we changed our route after we were at the Avila Rock.  

At 7:30 the air and water temperatures were 54°. It was overcast and very calm with a glassy ocean, a small swell and small waves. Outside the buoy line the water was 54°, it was colder near the beach and 52° +/- between the Avila and Poly Piers. Clean water everywhere. I didn't see any seals and few birds.  

The swim out to the Avila Rock was so nice that when we grouped up at the rock we were all thinking of doing a Martini Swim instead of heading back to the Avila Pier.   

The water has been unusually clear 

Tom and Jodi at the Avila Rock

Jodi Tom and Niel at the Avila Rock

Niel, Jodi and Tom at the end of the Poly Pier.

After 1:49 in the water we're back on the beach.

Some sunshine would have been nice to help us warm up at the showers but the swimming was wonderful. 

It is Kris's birthday tomorrow so I'll not be swimming until Tuesday. 

niel  

Friday, April 18th, 2025

Tom Lorish's Friday Morning Swim -

Overcast, a slight breeze, and dimpled water. I arrived at Avila at 920 AM. There was a super low tide and the water was mostly flat with dimpled water from the slight breeze. The water temperature was 52 and the swimming was excellent. 

Wednesday, April 16th, 2025

Tom Lorish's Wednesday Swim -

Solid cloud cover and glassy water.  I arrived at Avila at 855 AM. There was a solid cloud cover, and a lazy 1–3 foot wave rolling in.  The water was glassy, clear, and 52°.  Beautiful morning Swim. 

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025

I was in the water at 6:50 this morning. The air temperature was 46°, it was calm and overcast with a glassy ocean and 2 waves with an occasional 3+ footer. The water was very clear and  green. The breaking waves were very pretty. The water temperature was 52° but felt colder to me. 

I had planned to do this swim today if the conditions were friendly. I swam the route counterclockwise.  I was over the initial chill by the time I reached the 4th buoy near the creek mouth and headed for the first crossbars.  

Swimming the length of the P Pier seemed longer than usual but the view from the end of the pier was spectacular. 

The leg to the reef buoy is much longer but then there is the 'sprint' down the buoy line to #1 and heading to the beach. I kept looking for the waves but ended up swimming in until I touched the sand.       

I have an early and busy morning on Thursday so fitting in my swim is iffy. 

I will swim Saturday and Sunday.

niel   

Monday. April 14th, 2025

Tom Lorish's Morning Swim -

It was a 51-50 day at Avila… Heavy marine layer, glassy calm water, 50° air temperature and 51° water.  There were hundreds of the little sailor jellies washed up on the beach and hundreds more out in the water - catching the currents and wind to places beyond.  Excellent morning vitamin. 

Sunday, April 13th, 2025

An April Joke form the Ocean Gods - 

The ocean gods enjoyed a good joke today: This morning the water temperature was down 5 degrees from Saturday's 55° to 50.5° this morning.  I met Wayne as I was heading out the pier to take the water temp. He had swum earlier and had measured a water temp of 50° at the end of the Avila Pier. My thermometer reading from the pier was 50.5° so I rethought what today's swim was going to be like. 

I'd arrived early and got in by myself. Getting in the water didn't feel as gold as 50° but once I was beyond the surf line the full chill set in and I decided that a mile would be enough. At the end I turned in to the beach because to the fishermen on the pier (nice to have the rebuilt part finally open) and because there had been a large otter at the buoy line next to the pier.

When I arrived back at my chair David Cheney and Stephanie Popp were getting ready to get in. They were going to swim the buoy line.

niel 
  

Saturday, April 12th, 2025

 A Super Saturday - 

It felt like a summer morning today. There were low clouds, the air temperature was 47° and the water was 55°(!).  Yes, I confirmed Toms toes number from yesterday from the Avila Pier. We have not seen that water temperature since early November so there is reason to hope that spring weather and water temperatures are here.  The surf was 2 to 3 foot and the water was flat. The Lifeguard Lap Paddleboard race was this morning and we would be sharing the water with 50 entrants competing in 4 and 8 mile races. 

We got in at 7:30, a half hour before the the race started and set out to do a Point to Pier T.    

Jodi and Tom I. 

The five degree bump up in the water temp from last Saturday was very noticeable, still nippy but not difficult.  Beyond the surf line the water was as clear as it get here. It seemed that I could see 15' down the swim buoy's anchor chain. That and the warmer temperature made the swimming great. From the end of the Avila Pier it is 830 M to Fossil Point and 670 M to the Poly Pier so this route had four long legs where you could stretch out and just swim.   

Paula sent us a video of her on a whale watching trip in Monterey Bay. There was oohing and ahhing at the fluke waves so Jodi and Tom I did one for her. 

I'll be back tomorrow at 11. 

niel   

Friday, April 11th, 2025

 Tom Beats The Crowds - 

A beautiful spring summer day at Avila. I arrived at 900 a.m. and it was already 62°. Clear blue skies, scattered clouds, and glassy calm water.  There was a slow moving 2 foot wave rolling in that crumbled onto the shore. The water temperature was 55, 56°. Which was surprising because it was about 51 on Wednesday. But, we've been seeing swings like that for the last couple years. It was a wonderful morning swim. 

The Lifeguard Lap paddle board race is tomorrow in Avila Beach. 4 and 8 mile courses. 

https://paddleguru.com/races/TheLifeguardLap

niel

   

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025

Tom Lorish's Wednesday Swim - 

The conditions were pretty much the same as Monday. Except for the water temperature which was down a couple degrees to 51.  Beautiful morning Swim. 

Monday, April 7th, 2025

Tom Lorish's Swim Report -

Beautiful morning at Avila. I arrived at 91 5 AM to blue skies and a hazy horizon. The swell had picked back up after a few days of flat and calm. There were 3 to 4 foot waves rolling through and the bulldozer was knocking down the berm and building up the Sand around the lifeguard towers. The water temperature was about 53° and the swimming was good.

 

Saturday, April 5th, 2025

Beautiful and Cold - 

Niel, Tom Israel and Jodi got in the water a bit after 7. It was sunny, cloudless and 51° with a light offshore breeze. The surf was one to two foot and the surface was rippled. Based on Tom Lorish's Friday report we knew that the water would be around 50°. We planned a counterclockwise loop over to the Poly Pier and back past the Avila Pier and around the reef buoy.  This route would provide opportunities to cut the swim short if the water temp made that seem like a good idea. 

Jodi and Tom began remarking about the water temp as soon as we began wading in. With my wetsuit and booties I don't fully experience the water temp until my face and hands get wet.  When I began swimming my world was "definitly 50° or less". We didn't dally at the first buoy, swam under the pier and headed down the buoys to the west.  The water is still very clean with great visibility 

When we arrived at the second crossbars on the Poly Pier I was as comfortable as I was going to be.        

Out along the Poly Pier the water warmed up a bit so we were relatively happy at the end of the pier.  About a third of the way from there to the Avila Pier the temp dropped back down. I was the last to arrive at the Avila Pier. Jodi and Tom were all in for completing the original route so we headed off to the east and the reef buoy.     

Swimming in to the beach involved swimming until your hand hit the sand and then standing up.  The sun felt great and we were all pretty comfortable after the showers. 

I got a rub on my neck from my wetsuit on Thursday and despite taking precautions today I irritating it more, so I'll need to sit out until it is healed. I'm getting a spot on my nose zapped Thursday so I may be out for a week. 

A big note; the Avila Pier is now open out about half way to where the renovations have been completed. 

niel

April 4th, 2025

Tom Lorish Swims - 

Coolbreeze, blue sky, and a haze far off in the distance. I arrived at Avila at 910 AM. There was a cool breeze blowing from east to west that created dimpled water. The swell had completely dropped off leaving only 6 to 12 inch waves. The the water felt about 50° to me… Which means it was probably 51. I had a nice swim around the CPP. 

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

The Point to Pier T -

This morning's conditions were just as nice as Tuesday's so I swam the route I was going to do that day: the end of the Avila Pier, to Fossil Point, double back and continue over to the Poly Pier and come back to the end of the Avila Pier and in. The air temp was 44°. It was sunny with a very light breeze. The surf was 2 to 3 foot, I only needed to jump over one wave to get out and start swimming. The water was flat and glassy and had a pronounced swell near Fossil Point. The water temperature is about 51° and colder in spots. The water is also very clean and clear. 

The conditions at Fossil Point 

 

The conditions at the Poly Pier. 

After 90 minutes and 3679M I was ready to get out and warm up. 

We'll see what Jodi and Tom want to do on Saturday morning. 

niel

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025

Tom Lorish Checks out the Avila Rock - 

Clear skies, glassy water, and a super low tide.  That was Avila at 830 AM. The air temperature was 48° and the water temperature was 52°. It was a good morning to swim around Avila rock.  There was a serious bed of kelp out there with no clear channel through, so I had to do about 15 yards of kelp crawling.  It was interesting out at the Rock - with the super low tide there was actually a pretty good wave of crashing over it.  Beautiful morning swim. 

April 1st, 2025

 Avila Rock - 

It was a beautiful spring morning, 44°, sunny and clear with a light breeze. The surf was 2 to 3 feet with an occasional 4 footer. The water looked really nice.  I got in a bit after 7.

The water felt pretty cold at the start and it took me a while to get 'comfortable', but even then it was colder than Saturday. I measured 51° at the buoy line and it felt colder further offshore.  There were no bait fish or seals and very few birds about except for the pigeons roosting on the Avila Pier. 

My plan was to swim from the end of the Avila Pier to Fossil Point and back and then over to the Poly Pier and back. It wasn't long after I'd left the end of the Avila Pier that I realized how flat the water was and that this would be a great opportunity to swim to Avila Rock, so I changed my plan and headed for the rock.  

It was low tide and the swells were washing over the rock. 

It was lovely swimming out there. There were some big swells rolling through but no chop and , clean, glassy water.  Out at the rock the otters kept an eye on me. There were chunks of Styrofoam hung up in the kelp, YUCH! I grabbed as much as I could and tucked it into the collar or my wetsuit. Coming back I did a long straight line to the first buoy and timed my way in between the larger waves. 

I'll be back Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

niel

Tom Gets Wet - 

Wet and wild at Avila this morning. I arrived at 930 AM to wet streets and a wild ocean. The water temperature was about 53°. The swell had dropped off from Friday, but it was still pushing 3 foot plus waves and the storm had created bumps and currents that were pushing all different directions. It was a good morning vitamin.