Wednesday Evening, July 8, 2015

Mark, Kurtis and I swam Wednesday evening. I think that this was the first Wednesday evening swim of the summer. Mark and I have been too busy to get out but we found a window this week. 

The water felt warm, it was 62+ over at the port.  There was a 12 to 19 mph wind from the WSW that was making white caps all the way to shore. None of us had been out in water that was this choppy in some time so this was going to be a special swim. Nether Mark or Kurtis had been swimming in the ocean much so we decided to do half of a triangle, figuring that a route with three different exposures to the chop and wind would be enough.

Kurtis and Mark at the first buoy

The first leg was a slog into the current and chop. It was hard work and I had to breath only on my right, the downwind side. 

When we grouped up at the last buoy at the creek Mark decided that he had already swallowed enough water so he returned back along the buoy line while Kurtis and I headed to the end of the pier.   

This leg was across the chop. My body was getting twisted and torqued around and occasionally swamped by the biggest of the wind waves. The plot doesn't show it but I made three major course corrections to counter how far to the left I had been pushed.   

Kurtis at the end of the Avila Pier. 

Coming in along the pier was special in its own way. The pier pilings were knocking down the chop some but it was still rough and now coming in over my left shoulder.
It felt great to finish after doing all of that work and it was good to swim and to have to work the conditions.

Another swim on next Wednesday evening is a real possibility. Watch the open water swim group posts to see who is coming out next week.

niel

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Our swim today was a clockwise turn of the triangle. I fat fingered a button on my GPS and got the route correct but the time and distance are wrong.

This swim is about 1.1 miles and should have taken about 25 to 30 minutes. 

Sylvia, John Hampsey, Amy Hewes and Niel swam. The water was 63 degrees. With the pier closed I got my water temperature number by standing in the foam. The lifeguards are taking the temperature by paddling out in a kayak to the buoy line. They also got a 63. It was a sunny and very clear day. The wind came up out of the SW and pushed up enough chop to make things interesting.  

John

Amy

John and Amy are going to do a Single Martini Swim on Sunday, August 2nd. This is a 2.2 mile swim and requires that each swimmer have their own support paddler.  The second leg is .94 miles and parallels the beach a 1/2 mile offshore. This is not a course for someone who is new to open water swimming or not comfortable in the open ocean.  This route is also susceptible to rapidly changing conditions due to wind.  More paddlers and swimmers are welcome.
Respond the this blog or directly to Amy or John if you are interested in participating.

niel

A 4th of July and Almost Duke's Birthday Swim

We had a great swim.  A large number of swimmers and support people turned out, the conditions were just about perfect and everyone had a good time.
There was high overcast, no wind and 60 degree water that was as flat and current free as it gets.
I counted 12 swimmers and 7 support people on SUP's and kayaks. I sorry but I did not get photos or names for everyone.

Swimmering were Chad 1, Rick, Duke, Rob, Niel, Amy Hewes, Tom Lorish, Amy Perposky, Hank, who joined us and swims with the South End Rowing Club/San Francisco Dolphins, Casey and more friends from the N. County tri community.

The support crew was Rhonda, Mark, Bryce, Brittany, Chad 2, Danilu,Cindy and Sharron.

The route was 1.84 miles. Mark was the lead on his SUP with the main pack. Bryce and I were several minutes back and Amy Hewes and Rob were a few minutes behind me. Thank you to Rob and a number of support people for hanging with Amy Hewes to keep her company. 

The start at the Harford Pier. The gulls chowing down on rock 

fish bones on the beach was a nice touch. 

Rob and Hank were our only 'naked' swimmers. 

That's Bryce. We are halfway between the Harford and Cal Poly piers. 

Lovely swimming conditions.

This is why having plenty of support people is important. I've just come around the end of the pier. During the leg to the Avila Pier a fishing trawler came in and began working both sides of the pier. I had Bryce stay close so they would give us plenty of room.

The third was Duke's birthday. Leslie made a batch of delicious carrot cake cupcakes for him. There was a bit of partying the night before so Duke is trying to count the cupcakes to help him remember what age group he is now in. 

niel

  

Plans for the 4th of July Swim

The plans for the 4th of July Swim are as follows;

At this point we have 7 swimmers and 4 support people with kayaks or SUPs.  We will meet at our usual spot in Avila at 8 and carpool to the port, aiming for a swim start at 9.  We will be back in Avila about 10. Pot luck brunch on the beach after and finish up by shuttling people back to the port to pick up their cars.

If I don't like the conditions near the Harford Pier (too many seals or dirty water) I'll either swing farther to the west of the pier or start 100 M to the east at the dry dock ramp. You are all free to make your own call on this.

The current water temperature at the Harford Pier is 59.7 degrees.  :-)

You can see real time conditions at www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=pslc1 

Jon - Would you let the other lifeguards know about our plans and schedule.  Thanks!

niel

Sunday, July 28, 2015

I was out of town and missed the swim around the rock. This weeks post is provided by John Hampsey.

Our plan to swim to Avila rock worked out today! There were no mammals or networks of birds out on the water. In the words of the lifeguard-- “you picked a perfect day to go to the rock.” The sea was calm and about 62 degrees, the sky partially cloudy with just a light breeze. We had hoped for two paddlers but were fortunate to have three—Mark on paddle board, Jim in his kayak, and Cindy in her outrigger. Big thanks to them! The swimmers were Duke, Rick, Dave, Amy Hewes, Amy 2, Bridget, Brandon, Tom, and I (Sylvia swam the buoy line). Sighting was easy because Mark led the way, his tall figure in line with Avila Rock. There was one mass of kelp, but a canal gave us passage through it. Once we reached the other side of the rock we languished for a minute listening and watching the sea swells break and froth down the low side of the white iconic rock. The journey back seemed to pass more quickly and with less effort. It was a great swim overall, a little over a mile and half, and, within our Avila world, somewhat mystical.

4th of July Swim -

The Pier to Pier to Pier Swim - 1.75 miles from the Harford Pier over at Port San Luis back to Avila Beach passing the ends of the Cal Poly and Avila Piers. Meet at our usual spot in Avila at 8AM, Saturday, 7/4. Carpool to the start. Shuttle back afterwards to pick up cars. Pot luck on the beach afterwards. 

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Avila was a hole in the fog so it was sunny but coolish with a light breeze from the SE. The port has closed the pier because of safety concerns due to the large numbers of people on the pier looking at the whales so I wa not able to measure a water temperature, but the consensus between the port and the lifeguards put the water temp at about 60. 
There were no whales, pelicans or bait balls to be seen. Swimming today were Niel, Sylvia, Duke, Dave Van Mouwerik, Amy P. and John Hampsey.  Sylvia was going to do the buoy line, the rest of us were looking to do about a mile and a half, so we laid out a course down the west side of the buoy line, over to the Poly Pier, back to the end of the Avila Pier and on to the east end of the buoy line, finishing by coming back to the Avila Pier. We covered 1.48 miles. This was one of the best swims we have had. The water conditions were very nice with just a bit of current and small chop from the breeze. Everyone had a great time. 
There will be a 1.5 mile swim to Avila Rock next Sunday. John has two people to paddle. 

Duke, Amy and Dave at the Poly Pier

Amy, Dave and John at the Poly Pier

Duke, Amy and Dave at the Avila Pier

Dave, Amy, and Duke at the east end of the buoy line. 

The lifeguards had seen whales over by the Poly Pier earlier in the day but we did not encounter anything while we were in the water.  About 1 PM John saw a whale over by the Poly Pier, close to where we had been 90 minutes earlier.

The Duke Parmley Memorial 4th of July Swim;

Meet at our usual spot at 8 AM. We'll organize shuttling swimmers and kayaks over to the port.  We should be in the water by 9 and back at Avila before 10. This swim is 1.75 miles.

There will be a potluck on the beach afterwards.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

It was gray and calm at Avila at 10:30. The town was already jammed with people who came to see the whales. There were two between the Avila and Cal Poly piers out about even with the end of the Cal Poly Pier. They were still in the same general area feeding when I left at 1:30.  Swimming today were Niel, Sylvia, Rick, Leslie, Tom, Dave Van Mouwerik, Casey (back for her second swim with us after last Sunday) and Cliff and his son Gene, who live in Colorado. Cliff had joined us once before a couple of years ago.  We also had Dave's friend Jim in his kayak. The whales and the bait fish were far offshore so we swam the triangle clockwise.  The water temperature was 59 degrees (!) and flat until the wind picked up. With the wind came the sun so we finished in very nice conditions.  Dave, Niel, Tom, Leslie and Cliff did an additional left half of the buoy line for 1.43 miles.

Jim and Dave

niel

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Whale!

The whale turning left after passing offshore of us. The end of the Avila Pier on on the left.

 Camera photo from one of the people on the pier. That is Leslie, Amy 2 and I closest to the whale and Dave, Casey, John and Tom  

 Having passed between us and the pier now heading back to the west. If you can enlarge the photo you can see the blowhole.

That is not my thumb on the right of the photos. There was Salp in the water (they look like small sea jellies) and one appears to have gotten stuck to the lense of my camera.   

More Photos; Tom and Leslie contacted some of the people who had been on the end of the pier and several agreed to share their photos.  I'll post them here when I receive them. 

These were taken by a person on the pier.

This is before Dave knows the whale is behind him, but he had heard us yelling
and thinks the worst is about to happen.

Amy and Leslie up close.

From L to R; Niel, Amy, Leslie, Dave, Casey and John. Tom is just out of the picture. 

The Story;

Sylvia and Pete were swimming the buoy line while Niel, Leslie, Tom, Dave Van Mouwerik, Amy 2, John Hampsey and Casey (who just moved here from the Bay Area) intended to swim to the end of the Avila Pier, over to the Poly Pier and back. When I joined up with the group at the end of the pier Leslie was yelling WHALE and pointing out to sea. I looked around and saw Dave 50' from me swimming west with a humpback whale another 10' farther out from him swimming east. Dave herd Leslie yelling, assumed the worst, and swam towards us with his body about 2' above the water.  Sorry Dave. He was scared and pissed off initially but once he knew that he was not about to be eaten and calmed down he was able to enjoy what we were seeing. Our group was about 50' off of the end of the pier with the whale initially swimming east, towards Pismo offshore from us. It turned 180 degrees left and swam back west between us and the pier!   We shared our excitement for a bit and then started to swim towards the Poly Pier.  I went three strokes when I heard Leslie yell again. I popped up my head up and saw the whale swimming towards me crossing 20' to my left.  At this point we decided to bail on swimming across the open water between the two piers, swam to the last buoy at the creek and on in to our starting point. Amy 2, Dave and Tom did another 1/2 mile down the buoy line and back. The whale continued to cruise back and forth parallel the beach for another hour.

Casey has been swimming in the Aquatic Park and is looking for a local tri team to hook up with.  I think we made her feel welcome and she had a good time.  :-)

The water temp was 56. It was sunny and felt much warmer than last week.

niel

May 31, 2015

We had 10 swimmers do the buoy line today.  There were thick gray clouds down to the horizon, no wind, 2' surf and 55 degree water.  It did not look warm and everybody was feeling cold before we got in. Swimming to day were Sylvia, Niel, Amy, Rick, Tom, Leslie, their friend Brian, Stephanie, John Hampsey and Jess. Jess was visiting the area, lives in Oakland and swims in the northern part of San Francisco Bay and at the Aquatic Park.  IF felt colder than 55 to me getting in and it wasn't until I got to the end of the buoy line that I began to feel comfortable. The water was flat and clean and made for great swimming.  

The buoys have not been moved but my Garmin 910 read only .72 miles at the end, which is about .3 miles short of usual......... The only thing that was different was that I was stopping the tracking when we stopped in order to  time only my swimming.  It is just another mystery.

Stephanie and Rick at the start

 Amy and Brian at the start

Tom and Leslie at the last buoy towards the point

Jess and Rick at the same spot 

Tom, Jess, Rick and Leslie before heading under the pier for the second half of the route

The Fourth of July Not Duke's Birthday Port to Avila Swim

Duke's birthday is not on the 4th of July but it is close enough that I'm naming this swim after him. Besides, it was his idea.  The route starts at the little beach at the foot of the Harford Pier, goes to the end of the pier, to the end of the Cal Poly Pier, to the end of the Avila Pier and in to the beach, where we will have a potluck post swim feed. This is a 1.75 mile swim with a long stretch of the course a 1/2 mile offshore.  I'd like to have three support paddlers; front (navigate), a middle rover and a sweep at the rear.  Mark has stepped up with his SUP, so we need two more.  If anyone has a friend or spouse that would like to support this swim it would be much appreciated. We also will need to organise rides over to the port or alternately rides back to pick up the cars afterwards.  Let me know if you are intending to do this swim so I can give the lifeguards a head count.  I want to start this swim (in the water) around 9:30. That will make parking easier and have us back on the beach before it gets too crazy at Avila.

Be advised, several of our swimmers have done this swim successfully but the water quality at the Harford can be kind'a 'industrial' and there are a lot of seals and sea lions there.

niel

Sunday, May 24, 2015

I was out of town so this post was written by John Hampsey.

The day was sunny but windy and cool. The strong breeze was coming out of the west/northwest, according to our magnetically challenged compass. The water was choppy and rough; the water temp around 53. Six entered the water—Amy, Amy Hewes, her brother Bo, John Hampsey, Sylvia, and Aly. Sylvia and Aly did a shorter swim and the other four swam south toward Fossil point. We all took in some water along the way because of the choppy water. After meeting at the last buoy, we decided to take on the quest of swimming to the end of the pier right into the current, wind, and white capped water. It was an edgy and adventurous swim. Hard to stay together and know where the other swimmers were because it was difficult to see over the choppy waves. And our heads kept crashing down against the water between waves. It took a while, but we all made it to the end of the pier, Amy H creatively coming in from the southwest. We then headed to the second buoy north of the pier and from there diagonal into shore. We were all a bit chilled, but it was a great and exhilarating swim into the Avila blue.

Thanks John!
niel

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Avila was grey, overcast and cool. There was a light breeze out of the SW which was just enough to mess up the surface of the water and 1 to 2 foot surf.  The water temperature was 54 degrees. Amy 1, Niel, Shawn Turner, Drina and John Hampsey were going to swim. Sylvia, Rick and Rhonda were on the beach.  Shawn is from Carmichael, does most of his swimming in Folsom Lake and swam with us about 3 years ago when he was last in the area.  We did a simple buoy line swim. We all thought that the water felt cold when we got in and it took 10 or 15 minutes of swimming to get comfortable. The sun came out while we were in the water and made things feel much warmer. We spent a total of 40 minutes in the water and covered a mile.  There is no map today because I left my watch at home.

niel

 Shawn and Drina

 Drina and Shawn

Amy and John

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Lots'a Boats Today

There was the inflatable towing a wake boarder around down by Fossil Point so we decided to swim on the other side of the pier.  It was gray and cool when 6 swimmers got in; Niel, Ali, Duke, Amy 1, Tom Lorish and John Hampsey. John was back after spending several months on a book tour in support of his new memoir.  Because of his break from the water he chose to swim the buoy line on his own.  

The water temperature was 55.5 with great visability. We decided to swim to the Poly Pier and then to the end of the Avila Pier. When we grouped up at the last buoy at the creek we had a couple of Pale Kai outriggers for company and we were joined by a strange ocean creature. 

We swam to our usual spot part way along the Poly Pier, grouped up and headed for the end of the Avila Pier. Half way there we found that a sailboat regatta was forming up at our destination so we revised our route and headed directly back to our starting point. We wound up getting in a little over a mile in about 32 minutes swimming time.

You can see in this photo how clear the water was.

 

Tom wanted to get a half water half air photo and got it done along with a couple of others   that turned out nicely.  

Next weekend Duke will be in Huntington Beach and I will be in Irvine.

Everyone have a safe and fun swim and I'll see you in two weeks.

niel