Monday, February 23rd, 2026

Finding My Rythim - 

I have been sitting out because of the high bacteria levels in the water due to the rain and had not been in the water for 8 days. The weather has cleared so today was first my chance to get back in. 

At 7AM it was 40° in Avila with scattered high clouds, no wind, a calm orean and 3 foot waves with an occasional 4 footer. The water temperature was 57°. Eight days is long enough to loose some of my ocean mojo and the water felt more like 55° to me when I was getting in. I got more comfortable as I swam and it felt like 57° for the last half of my swim.

I decided to stay offshore, just in case the water near the shore was still high in bacteria from the creek.       

The sunrise at Fossil Point 

I swam down to Fossil Point, over to the Poly Pier and back to the Avila Pier and in. The water was pretty smooth with some small chop when the wind guested. It was just what I needed to get back into doing this. 

There were some pieces of pier pilings on the beacch but I did not see any debris in the water. There is a large track hoe parked on the beach near where the location for the #2 lifeguard station. I do not know what the Harbor District is planning to use the track hoe for but it would be handy to clear any additional parts of the pier that wind up on the beach. 

I'll swim Thursday and be out of town this weekend. 

This QR code will open a page with the latest local water quality results from the Surfrider Blue Water Task Force. 

niel 

Sunday, February 15th, 2026

Swimming Without Lane Lines - 

Tom, Eileen, Paula and Niel swam this morning to slip a swim in before a week of rain. We got in at 8:10. It was 51°, cloudy with a swell and wind out of the SE. The surf was peaking at 3+ foot, the tide was high and the water outside was stormy and 57°.   

There wasn't much of a plan other than to get out to the buoy line, get a feel for the conditions and to figure out what we'd do from there. We swam east along the beach, around the reef buoy and to the end of the Avila Pier. 

Niel, Eileen, Paula and Tom 

near the reef buoy.

Danding pilings at the end of the Avila Pier

Look at the second row in from the end.

Paula and Eileen swam part of the second triangle and then headed in. Niel and Tom swam the triangle and then out along the pier to the end, and then retraced our beginning route back to our starting place.  The ocean was laying down a bit during the second half of our swim and the sun came out while we were at the showers. 

1 to 2 inches of rain is predicted for Monday with more to follow during the week, so I do not know when I'll be swimming. Saturday looks like to be the most likely chance.

niel 

Friday, Februray 13th, 2026

Tom Roll's The Dice and Swims on Friday the 13th. 

Gorgeous winter morning at Avila – blue skies, a chilly breeze blowing offshore, and dimple water. When I was at the end of the Avila pier, the harbor patrol pulled up lassoed one of those broken pylons and dragged it off…  the water was clear and 54°. The swimming was excellent. 

Thursday, February 12th, 2026

Tom Lorish's Thursday Morning Swim Report - 

Lovely morning Swim at Avila. Toes in the water at 945 AM. 50° air temperature and 55° water temperature.  There was an asynchronous roll on the water creating a mixed up wave pattern. I had a beautiful swim out to Avila Rock.  On my return, I saw the three pylons torn off the end of the Avila pier - still attached somewhere under the water.  It'll be curious to see how long they stay attached. 

Tuesday, February 10th, 2026

Swimming Before The Storm - 

The surf was down to 3 feet, the air and water were 58°, there was a strong wind out of the SE and it looked bumpy outside of the surf line. I would do two triangles knowing that some of the legs would be harder than others.

I pushed out through the surf and into stormy water conditions. There was a strong push towards the shore. The first lap was tough with chop breaking over my head and twisting me around.  You can see in the plot how the chop and wind pushed me all over the ocean. During the second lap the wilnd dropped, the water smoothed out and I had a nice finish. It was calm at the showers which was nice but before I left Avila the wind came back stronger than before.     

At the end of the Avila Pier

I do not think that we will get enough rain to keep me out of the water Thursday. Im busy Saturday morning so I'll swim at 8 on Sunday.

niel 

Monday, February 9th, 2026

Tom Lorish's Monday Morning Swim Report -

Heavy cloud cover, smooth water and the last of the swell. Most of the energy was gone from the swell of last week, but it was still rolling in producing 3 foot waves. The water was beautiful and about 54°. It was a good start of the week Monday morning Swim. 

Saturday, February 7th, 2026

Surf's Up! -

I could hear the surf when I was stil a block and a half up the hill.  From Front St. the waves looked like 6 foot plus. 

It was just Tom Israel and I this morning. There were scattered high clouds, 46° air and 57° water.      

We agreeded that we'd wait until we were beyond the surf line to decide on a route. Tom timed it better than I did and got out ahead of me. I waited out the next big set, found myself looking up at a 7+ foot face at one point, got under it and caught up with Tom. 

We swam to the end of the Avila Pier, keeping clear of a part of a pier piling that was bobing in the water, and decided to swim to the second crossbars on the Poly Pier and then go to the end of the pier, back to #2 and back to the Yacht Club.   

Tom and Niel at the end of the P Pier. 

When we arrived back at the surf line the tide had turned and while there were still large swells the waves had gone down and getting back in through the surf was much easier than getting out had been.   

Next week I'm planing on swimming on Tuesday and Thursday at 7 and Sunday at maybe 8 or 9.

niel

Friday, February 6th, 2026

Tom's Friday Swim Report - 

Blue skies, scattered wild clouds, and a big bumpy swell. 6 foot straight up and down set waves were pounding the sand and the water was moving fast.  The air temperature was high 50s and the water temperature was mid 50s. It was a fun swim. 

Thutrsday, February 5th, 2026

Niel's Thursday Morning Swim Report - 

Niel and Hillary swam at 7 this morning. It was clear with a light offshore breeze and 41°. The waves were a weak 4 foot plus and the water was still 55°. 

I felt like swimming back and forth between the Avila and Poly piers so I plotted a 3,200M +/- route that would take us from the buoy line to the second crossbars on the Poly Pier, to the third crossbars, over to the end of the Avila Pier, then to the end of the Poly Pier, back in along the P Pier to the second crossbars and back to our starting point. 

As we were swimming to the Avila Pier the wind picked up. On the leg to the end of the Poly Pier the wind was on our back quarter and the water was choppy. Coming in along the P Pier was into the chop which was more physical but 'easier' for me because I wasn't being twisted like I was when swimming across the chop at an angle. The finish was nice because as we approached the beach the chop went down and the water was almost smooth along the bouy line. 

My guestmate about the length of this route was off by 800M.

I had not seen Hillary in a while, it was nice to have a bit of an adventure swim with her.  

The Saturday group will swim at 7. 

Jodi will not be with us because she is doing a 50K CC run Saturday morning in the Laguna Seca hills.  Send thoughts of strong legs to her!  🏃

niel

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026

Tom Lorish's Wednesday Morning Swim Report - 

Around the rock Wednesday. Beautiful morning at Avila. Blue skies, a little hazy, and glassy water with a mellow roll to it.  The air temperature was high 50s and the water temperature was about 55°.  An excellent morning Swim.

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026

Niel's Tuesday Morning Swim Report - 

At 7AM in Avila Beach the conditions were familiar: it was clear and 42° with a light offshore breeze. The surf was 5'+, the water temperature was 56° with nice (for Avila) clarity. 

A swimmer with good wave sense and timing could get out and back in without having to duck dive under a wave. I was either lucky or good and got out with just the slight drama of the lip of the largest wave taking a grab at my feet as I swam over the crest.      

I did my two clockwise triangles today instead of my usual around and back route. It is interesting how this slight change messed with my head, making me think that two laps in the same direction would be longer than swimming around and back.  I was in the second lap before things fell into place and the distance felt right. 

On my first lap the big swell pushed me in towards the beach and I found myself almost in the surf line. 

I'll swim Thursday and Saturday at 7. On Thursday it will be 82°in town and the surf should be down. On Saturday we will see our morning fog return. 

niel

Monday, February 2nd, 2026

Tom L's Monday Morning Swim Report - 

Big swell, big high tide, blue skies, and rock 'n' roll swimming. The waves were straight up and down, big and powerful. They were pushing the water up and over the berm and all the way up to the stairs on the east side. The air temperature is 67, and the water temperature was about 55. Excellent morning vitamin. 

Saturday, January 31st., 2026

Niel's Saturday Swim Report - 

The Central Coast can have some of its best weather in January and today continued the tradition with a clear and cool sunrise with a predicted the high temp of 80°.  At the beach it was 41° at 7AM with an offshore breeze. The water was 56° with 5' sets of waves. Niel, Tom Israel, Jodi and Paula went for a swim.       

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

We swam out through the surf, met up at the end of the Avila Pier then decided on a route.  We swam to the second crossbars on the Poly Pier, to the end of the pier and finished with a 1000M swim to the beach. A few birds was all there was to see out there.

Warm and sunny weather is predicted for the coming week so I'll swim at 7 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Jodi is doing a 50K trail run at Fort Ord next Saturday so think happy thoughts about her feet on Saturday morning.  

niel

Friday, January 30th, 2026

Tom's Friday Morning Swim Report - 

Clear blue skies, a very slight breeze and a nice swell rolling through.  There were 4 to 5 foot sets of waves when I got in a 945am. The water was about 55° and very clear. It was an excellent Friday morning Swim. 

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

Niel's Thursday Morning Swim - 

Compared to Tuesday it was warmer and windy this morning. It was 57°, which was up 20°, and there was a strong NE wind. The surf was up to 5 feet, the tide was high and falling and the water temperature was 55° with the wind making it feel colder. 

After I got through the surf I turned left and swam parallel to the beach, thinking that I would do two triangles, take it easy and get the kinks out after Tuesday's swim. As I was rounding the reef buoy I decided swim to the end of the Poly Pier.

It was more bumpy out there than I had realized with the chop not quite breaking over my head and pushing me around.  No matter which leg I was on it was all work and I never felt like I was swimming in the same direction that the ocean was going.       

 

The conditions at the end of the Poly Pier.

I'll swim on Saturday morning at 7 and I'm ready for a more relaxing swim with a bit less drama.

niel

Tuesday, January 27th, 2026

Niel's Tuesday Morning Swim - 

Today was my birthday so I wanted to do a special swim. I didn't think I was ready to do the full birthday distance of 7,600M so I decided to do three triangles which would be about 4,800M.  It was a chilly morning with an air temperature of 34°, clear skies, a light offshore wind putting a ripple on the 54° water, and waves between 2 and 4 feet. The tide was high and going out.  

I began with a clockwise triangle. It was a bit chilly on any exposed skin but I was feeling good and the ripple on the water was a interesting texture that added some character to the swimming.  At the start of the third triangle I was still feeling strong and when I was past the end of the Avila Pier I began thinking about the possibility of doing four triangles and the full birthday swim.  I have swum 5K before without any nutrition so I had not brought any with me.  For 7,600M I would have two 24 oz. bottles of Fluid hydration drink with 6 Gu's added to each bottle to keep me going, so trying 7,600M would be a real stretch, but the idea of doing that distance today was exciting. I decided that when I got to the pier at the end of the third triangle I'd check my distance and if I was at 6,000M and I was still feeling good I'd try for the full distance.  Well, when I was swimming along the 'buoy line' to finish the third triangle I began to feel a bit tired and when I arrived at the pier I had covered 5,400M. I did a honest appraisal of how I was feeling and headed in. 

I'm happy with how this swim worked out.  I did my planned distance and I'm confident that with some nutrition along I could have done 7,600M.

As I was walking out I saw Tom Lorish getting in on the other side of the pier and when he was getting out he saw Duke getting in.  It was a beautiful morning for swimming, and there was plenty of warm sunshine at the showers.  

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

niel    

 

Sunday, January 25th, 2026

Tom Lorish's Sunday Swim Report - 

Sublime conditions at Avila this morning. Following Niel's Saturday Swim I had an wonderful swim around the rock.  Gorgeous conditions: Beautiful high clouds, spots of blue sky showing, crisp Winter air and glassy water with a 3 to 4 foot wave rolling in.  The air temperature was low 50s, and the water temperature was mid 50s. The water clarity was excellent as was the swimming. 

Saturday. January 24th, 2026

Niel' Saturday Swim Report - 

Tom wading in at 7 AM

Saturday served up another great Avila morning with excellent swimming conditions; clear skies, a slight offshore breeze, an air temperature of 49° and a water temp. of 56°. The surf was 3 to 4 foot and the water was nice and clean.

Tom and Niel decided that it was a good day to swim to the Avila Rock. 

Navigation on the way to the rock was easily accomplished by swimming directly into the sun. It was a little bumpy out there. We swam around the rock, past Fossil Point towards the beach, and parallel to the shore to the Avila Pier.

     

It was nice having some sunshine at the showers to help warm us up. 

I'm planning on swimming on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7. 

Jodi will join us on Saturday for a tapering swim before her 50K CC race at Ft. Ord on 2/7.

niel 

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

Niel's Thursday Morning Swim Report - 

This morning I swam four crossings between the Avila and Poly Piers. I may have done this route before but I'm not sure. The swimming conditions were wonderful: The sky was full of rain clouds but only a light sprinkle fell. The surf was 2 to 3 feet, there was no wind and the water was smooth. The air temperature was 53° and the water was 58°.  

Twice I had a flock of seagulls straff me. I guess the gulls were checking to see if I was stirring up something for breakfast.  At the showers I saw a few birds diving on bait fish between the piers, I have not seen that activity in more than a month. 

It was nice to not have the wind blowing while I was changing.  There is a lot of bamboo on the beach that must have come from someplace up the creek.

I'll swim Saturday at 7 AM with the group.

niel 

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

Niel's Tuesday Morning Swim Report - 

It was sunny in Avila with thin high clouds and a steady offshore wind. The numbers were 39° and 57° but the water felt colder than that to me.  The surf was 3 to 4 foot. The largest ones were forming a nice short left near the pier.

      

I did a counterclockwise tour of the Poly Pier and the Reef Buoy. The wind chop made leg from the P. Pier to the Reef interesting.   No drama getting in or out. 

I'll swim at 7 on Thursday and Saturday.

niel

Saturday, January 17th, 2026

Niel's Saturday Morning Swim Report -

Niel, Paula and Eileen

We got in the water at 7.  The air temperature was 40°, the water was 56°, there was a light offshore wind, the surf was 4'+ and the water was nice and clean. We were all interested in something shorter than usual this morning so we did a triangle and got on with our days obligations.

I'm planning on swimming this coming week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7. 

niel

Friday, January 15th, 2026

 Tom's Friday Swim Report -

Clear blue skies, slight breeze blowing offshore, and four foot + waves. The air temperature was high 50s and the water temperature was about 54°. The conditions and the swimming were excellent. 

Thursday, January 15th, 2026

Niel's Thursday Morning Swim -

Today's conditions were an air temperature of 41°, the water was 57°, the waves were 4 foot and soft, it was high tide and the ocean was lumpy. The water is clean with good visibility.

I got in at 7 and swam a couple of triangles. The bump on the water was big enough to make each leg a different kind of swim.

The shore has taken on its winter configuration; the berm is steep and the bottom is a series of trenches and plateaus.  When I was almost out of the water I was in a three foot deep hole just short of the sand. I could have crawled out but I waited for a wave to pick me up and push me over the lip and onto my knees in 6 inches of water.

The group will swim at 7 on Saturday.

niel          

Wednesday, January 14th, 2026

Tom's Wednesday Morning Swim Report - 

The beautiful winter days continue… Blue skies, low 50s air temperature, and a slight breeze blowing offshore. There was a 2 to 3 foot wave with a clean left peeling off next to the pier.  The water temperature was mid 50s. Good morning swim. 

Tuesday, January 13th, 2025

Niel's Tuesday Morning Swim Report - 

I swam a variation of the loop that touches at the reef buoy, the end of the Poly Pier, and the second crossbars on the P. Pier.  I added the end of the Avila Pier to my swim from the end of the P. Pier to the second crossbars. This would make the route longer than its usual 3,200M but I didn't know by how much. It turned out to be an additional 900M for 4,159M.

At 7 AM it was clear and brightening with the sun about to show above the hills behind Pismo Beach. There was an offshore wind that put some character on the water, the surf was 4 to 5 foot when I got in and 2 to 3 foot when I got out. The air was 53° and the water 56° to 57°.  When I got out the air temp was 71°.  Other than the choppy surface on the water it was very quiet out there. 

The choppy conditions provided some nice instructions for me about my swimming form. Twice my lower back bagan to feel tweeky and I found that the chop had caused my posture to become floppy and unpole like, getting myself back into a pole like posture made things right.     

This was a great ocean swim. 

I'll be back at 7 on Thursday.

niel 

Monday, January 12th, 2026

 Tom's Monday Morning Swim Report - 

Another gorgeous winter day at Avila.  Blue skies and thin wispy clouds, smooth water with a decent size swell kicking up 5 foot set waves.  The air temperature was low 50s and the water temperature was mid high 50s. Beautiful Monday morning vitamin. 

Saturday, January 10th, 2026

Niel's Saturday Morning Swim Report -

Tom taking before photos

January is when the Central Coast gets it clear and cold days. This morning in Avila Beach the air temperature was 33°, the water was 58° to 59° and there was talk between Niel, Jodi, Tom and Paula about the advantages of putting on your wetsuit at home (Jodi and Niel) instead of changing at the beach (Tom and Paula). We were all hoping that we'd feel warmer in the water.  The ocean was pretty flat, there was an offshore wind and the surf was 1 to 3 foot. Water samples collected athe the SL Creek Mouth and at the beach by the Blue Water Task Force on Thursday tested at low levels for bacteria so the water had cleaned up since the last rainstorm and we would not need to worry about bringing something extra home.

Getting in, the water felt comfortable. We grouped up about where the buoy line would be and waited for a Harbor Patrol boat to cruise down the beach towards us and to head out to sea before continuing to the end of the pier. 

Niel, Tom, Paula and Jodi meeting the sunrise the the 'buoy line'. 

We decided to swim to the end of the Poly Pier and to come in along the pier.  At the second crossbars we swam to the end of the Avila Pier and came in to the beach from there. 

The area around the showers was all in shadow. The concrete was the same temperature as the air and not kind to bare feet so changing was done as quickly as possible.

Tom's birthday is Monday so there were brownies after the swim. Tom will be 66, but there was only one candle in the package of two so he may get to negotiate a do over next year. 

I'll swim Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday next week.

niel
 

   

Friday, JAnuary 9th, 2026

Tom's Friday Morning Swim Report - 

Beautiful blue skies and wispy clouds, slight offshore breeze and a 3 foot plus wave rolling in. The air temperature was low 50s and the water temperature was high 50s. The swimming was excellent.