Sunday, March 24, 2019

Avila Beach was sunny, about 70 degrees with no wind and occasional 4 to 5 foot waves. I measured 53 degrees off of the pier in the surf line, it was 2 to 3 degrees colder past the break.

On the beach today were, John, Jonny, Amy, Niel, Tom and Jim.  Tom, Niel and Jim got in first and swam to the end of the pier, over to where the last buoy would be and retraced our route back for a total of just over a mile. Getting in and out through the waves required some timing to avoid getting washing machined. John, Amy and Jonny swam out to the end of the pier, about 300 yards toward the last buoy's location and in to the beach. The water was cold everywhere but noticeably colder next to the pier.

Tom getting in

Tom and Jim at the end of the Avila Pier

Tom's water temperature estimate

I agree

Tom's turn with the camera

niel

Sunday, March 17th, 2019

I was swimming in Santa Cruz (see previous post) so Sunday's Avila Dolphins blog is by John Hampsey 

Sunday   March 17, 2019

After being mostly empty for months, the beach was crowded as if it were a June day. The lifeguards were back. The air was warm, with full sun and a light breeze. The ocean rolled in with steady sets of 3 foot waves. Beyond the surf line, the sea was generally flat, but with hypnotic undulating swells. The lifeguard said the ocean temp was 51, but farther out it dipped toward 49. The water was remarkably clear and pristine, and we all sensed the swim was going to be fantastico.

13 entered the water and eventually broke into two groups. Group A swam to the end of the pier, then back-tracked before heading south to Fossil Point. That group included Duke, Phil, and seven others. Group B—Amy, Maria, Jonny, and myself—headed to the end of the pier then swam diagonally SE to the reef buoy. Short of the buoy, for no particular reason, Jonny and Maria and I relaxed on our backs in a Buddha float. Toes in the air, face in the sun, eyes closed, we forgot where we were and who we were. Amy, unwittingly at first, swam into the Buddha halo and joined in our mesmeric back float. Time passed without measure... ... before we finished our swim back to the pier and the beach where it was hot water funneled down the wetsuits for all, followed by coffee and camaraderie on the noon beach.

Swim A – 1.2 miles   Swim B – .9 miles

--John Hampsey

Sunday, March 17th, 2019

2019 Will Swim For Food

Stephanie Roberson and I did our Will Swim For Food swim today. We were swimming with the Sunday Morning Santa Cruz Pier Open Water Swim Group. The route was a 1/2 mile out and back for a mile total. It was a beautiful morning. The air temperature was 49 degrees at 9 AM with a water temperature of 51 degrees. There was no wind, a slight swell and small waves breaking on the beach. The water looked nice and clean. The Sunday group has a paddler who accompanies the swimmers and sets the turnaround point.  After a 3 hour drive getting in the water was especially nice. 

Stephanie, arrived and parked on the pier.

Getting out the thermometer

About to read the water temperature.

On our way to the get in. Stephanie brought one of her ducks from a previous WSFF

The group and Michael, the swims organizer and paddler is in the yellow shirt.
You can't tell from the photo but about 4 or 5 of the dozen swimmers went bareback.  

Stephanie at the start with her orange buoy.

Michael on his way to the turnaround.

Stephanie

 

At the turnaround. 

 

Stephanie, buoy and her gold duck.

Selfie coming in with Stephanie in the background.

Getting out. What a beautiful day.

Done, money raised for food banks and a lot of fun had.

niel

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Hi, I'm Niel, I'm an ocean swimmer and I haven't been in the ocean in six weeks.

Yikes! That what it felt like today, the first Sunday in a month and a half when I was both in town and it wasn't raining. The rain itself in not a problem but every time we have had a storm it has pushed the bacteria levels in San Luis Obispo Creek and Avila Beach out of the comfort zone. We had rain this past week on Wednesday/Thursday and Saturday night.  104 is the State of California's upper limit for safe contact with the water and this past Thursdays samples tested in the 1000 to 1100 range.  10X over the safe limit is too risky for me. 

It was dry(ish) this morning so went to the beach just to sit in the pale sun and to listen to the ocean. The water temperature was 53.5 and the water was silty.

Next Sunday is looking like a swimable day. If it is, I won't be at Avila. Stephanie Robenson and I will travel to Santa Cruz to do the Will Swim For Food around the Santa Cruz pier. This fundraiser for local food banks was scheduled for Sundays in January and February and this is the first opportunity that the water could be clean enough to get it done.

niel

Sunday, February 24, 2019

I was out of town for the first swim at Avila Beach in many weeks, so this post is a combined effort by John, Heidi and Amy.

On Mon, Feb 25, 2019 at 2:06 AM John C. Hampsey <jhampsey@calpoly.edu> wrote:

Sunday Feb. 24, 2019

The Avila Dolphins had not been back in the sea for four weeks due to the constant rains and subsequent high bacteria count. But today was gorgeous in every way—sunny sky, air temp of 66, the water clear and pristine. The surface was choppy in places and there was a curious rip current swirling like a sea-creek from the middle of the pier to the midpoint of the beach.

Swimming today were Theresa, Paul, Duke, Maria, Heidi, Jonny, Pete, Amy, and myself. There was a comic element to our entry into the sea because the winter storms had reconstituted the ocean floor and, after wading in about fifty yards, we were shocked to be on a sandbar standing ankle-deep. Folks from the shore believed we were walking on water.

Our swim route took us 1/3 of the way along the Avila Pier before we turned south. Eventually, we split into two groups. The larger group continued to fossil point, followed by a return to the middle of the pier and back to shore.  (see Heidi’s gps map)

Group two—Jonny, Amy, and I—pivoted near the reef buoy and headed out to the end of Avila Pier. Although the water was a manageable 54 degrees near shore, farther out to sea the temp was a chilling 51 degrees, which meant we were all a bit jaw-frozen and claw-handed by the last leg of the swim. No matter, we were ecstatic to be back in the water and have our souls renewed. Swim distance—one mile. Swim time—45 minutes.
 
Afterward, lollygagging with our coffee in the bright sunlight, our hands and bodies warmed up quickly. It was a fantastico swim and day.
 ---John Hampsey

Perfect recap, John! You didn’t mention that you mistook Jonny for me and thought, in dismay, that I had “gone on.” Nor that I was so cold I had trouble ordering coffee! But you captured the stunning essence. 

Conversation between Jonny & Heidi near the pier, clearly representing how hypothermia impacts brain function:

Jonny:  Where’s Ed?

Heidi:  What?

Jonny:  Were’s Ed?

Heidi:  Who’s Ed?

Jonny:  Edmond.

Heidi:  Hmmm. I don’t know what Jonny is talking about.  I think I will put my face back into this frigid water.

Jonny:  I think I will dog paddle.:

January 27th, 2019

We're Back!

After a month of rain induced dirty water (yuk to the bacteria laden water from San Luis Obispo Creek but thank you for the rain!) we had a beautiful, dry week and were able to get back in the water this Sunday.

We had a nice group today: Niel, Sara and Ben, Heidi, Loren,Tom, Emily, Jeannine, Teresa, John and Maria . 

Niel, Tom, Emily, Jeannine, Teresa this pot of a fortune cookie route for a 1.33 mile swim. 

Ben, Sara, Heidi, Loren, John and Maria swam a triangle on the east side of the pier for a distance of about 3/4 mile.

The conditions were wonderful. It was sunny and calm. The water was flat and about 54 degrees, which is seasonable but felt cold after a month out.

The next week hold just a chance of rain Thursday or Friday so we should be good for another swim next Sunday.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Rain and questionable water quality kept most of us on the beach today.

But Tom showed up and got in on his own.

His report:

Wild skies; Wild seas.  It was a beautiful and turbulent day at Avila.  There were all kinds of scattered clouds -- some looking gray and ominous, others thin and innocent.  Beams of sunlight were breaking through in places making for a beautiful January day.  There was a nice swell kicking up some decent sized waves, along with some wind chop.  Swimming today was Tom.  Pete stood sentry.  After messing around in the waves, I had casual swim just outside the breaking waves down the line enjoying the wild conditions.  Water temp was around 52.

niel

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Brilliant sunny early winter morning at Avila... uncrowded beach, easy parking, and the vibe was solid. We were six—Tom, Heidi, Maria, Amy, Jonny, and myself. Tom went in at 11 sharp; the other intrepid five dawdled in a few minutes later.

The plan was to swim to the left down the imaginary buoy line, though Tom and others claim they can still see the buoys even after they have been removed.

Four to five foot waves were coming in sets and we waited for a moment of calmness to swim out into seawater that was definitely colder than the previous Sunday. Heidi’s aqua-watch read 52 degrees, 11 Celsius for those from the far north. The water was clean and clear and we swam to where we imagined the fourth buoy used to be, which was different for me and Heidi and Maria. Once we were confident the water was not too cold for a longer swim, we headed out to the end of Avila Pier. Approaching the pier Jonny, who had run 8 miles prior to our swim, broke out into full-on giddiness, and attempted a manic butterfly stroke. Perhaps a Canadian thing, sans a leg kick. Amy showed him how to perform the butterfly correctly, California style.

Then we headed to the white mooring buoy about a hundred yards north of the pier, circled it, and back to the beach. Swim length—1.1 miles. We all got a bit cold and claw-handed during the last leg of the swim. But the sun and our new-found, somewhat suspicious, technique of pouring hot water inside the back neck of our wetsuits, as well as hot chocolates furnished by Maria, had us all warmed up, copasetic, and gathered around the bench above the stairs. And the craic was good.

--John Hampsey         Sunday Dec 30, 2018      Avila Beach 

Sunday, December 23, 2018

There was not much sun at Avila Beach today with high clouds keeping it cool and somewhat dim on the beach. The water temperature in the surf line was 55 degrees and
53 to 54 beyond the surf. The tide was past full, the waves were laying down, there was a small chop but no wind.  There would be over 8 feet of tidal change today and you could feel the suck as the waves ran out. 
We had visits by Byron Briley, Sharley Simpson and Rob Dumouchel. 
Niel, Tom and Phil swam our to the end of the pier, towards the point and back along the beach. John, Maria, Bo, Maria, Sydney and Sam did a long lap around the pier. Brian and Peter did their own swims.
The water was clear and the swimming was very nice but the lack of sun cut the post swim socializing short.

niel 

Sunday, December 16, 2018

We had beautiful weather and nice swimming conditions today.  The air temperature was 60ish, I measured 55 degrees in the surf line but the water swam like 53. Thin high clouds and rain predicted that night. There was a one foot wind chop out of the SW and the water was clean. 
Sylvia Glenn rejoined us today  which was a great pleasure. She has not been able to swim with us for more than a year. She didn't get in the water but maybe next week. The rest of the group was Niel, Peter, Maria, Heidi, John, Jonny, Brian, Tom and Amy. Peter and Brian did their own individual swims. The rest of us went out to the end of the Avila Pier, then pounded our way through the chop to the Cal Poly Pier and had a surprisingly tough swim back even though the chop was now coming from behind resulting in a well earned mile and a quarter.


niel

Sunday, December 9th, 2018

Tom's Birthday Swim

Yes, a 'T' for Tom. 

We have seen the last of our lingering summer water temperatures and had beautiful winter conditions today; thin clouds, 65 to 70 degrees on the beach, nice clean 55 degree water, small waves, no wind and flat conditions.

Niel and Tom swam the 'T'
John, Johnny and Amy swam a parallelogram of a little over a mile.
Peter did his usual individual swim.
Jeannine, Brandon and Emily started late, I'm not sure what they did.

niel

Sunday November 25, 2018

Summer Conditions at the Wrong Time of the Year

Beautiful clear skies, an air temperature in the 70's, a water temperature of 60 degrees and great swimming conditions. This is not a normal description of Avila Beach in late November but it was what we enjoyed today. 

We had the first rain of the season Wednesday night into Thursday so the water in San Luis Obispo Creek was full of bacteria.
You can see the numbers for the amount of enterococcus bacteria (the EPA's indicator for human waste) at https://www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force/chapter/34.  The CA state standard beyond which peopel should avoiding contact with the water is 104 organisms/100ml, so samples that clock in at 6 to 10 thousand mean you need to stay clear of the creek.
Considering the tide and lack of wind we decided that swimming on the east side of the Avila Pier would be reasonable. 
In the water today were Niel, Duke, Emily, Heidi, Peter, Theresa, John, Jonny and Maria. The wind picked up out of the SE and made the swim from the point to the end of the Avila Pier a good bit of work. With the water so comfortable we spent a lot of time waiting to pull the group back together before starting on the next leg, just hanging in the water talking. Just like August.
We had a nice pot luck snack after the swim of desert leftovers from Thanksgiving.

niel

Sunday, November 18, 2018

The Trouble With Tribbles and a Fortune Cookie Swim


The Trouble With Tribbles is one of the most famous episodes from the original Star Trek.  The Enterprise is inundated with featureless but harry and harmless creatures.

Well today there was one on the beach right there where we put our chairs. This one was kind'a quiet, it didn't move or even squeak when Duke set down his chair near it. Eventually Sue became concerned and moved it to near the trash can. It must have woken up because it was gone later.

I've come across some strange and unexpected things on the beach but never a Tribble.

It was sunny at Avila Beach today with thin high clouds, about 70 degrees with 60 degree water. There was no wind, the ocean was flat and the water was nice and clean. Not as clear as last Sunday but very good for Avila Beach. The water temperature is about 4 to 5 degrees warmer than this time last year, for which I have no explanation. 

There is no course map today because I forgot to charge my Garmin 310 GPS watch. 

Tom's Fortune Cookie Route is sort of a folded triangle: swim out along the Avila Pier to the end of the pier, then to the western end of the buoy line at the mouth of the SLO Creek, east along the entire buoy line to its eastern end on the other side of the pier, back to the end of the Avila Pier and in along the pier. Total distance is 1.25 miles.

Swimming today were Peter, Niel, Amy, Duke, Sydney, Sam, Tom, Maria, Sue (back from England for a time), Johnny, Brian (chased out of Southern California by the smoke and debris) and Jeannine. Soon after the start the group unraveled into four or more swims. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed these very unseasonable conditions. 

The rain predicted for this week should taper off on Thanksgiving Day so we should be good for the Leftovers Swim on next Sunday where we will swim long and have desert. 

niel

Sunday, November 11,2018

A Really Beautiful Day At Avila Beach

It was sunny and calm with an air temperature in the upper 60's, no clouds except for some haziness from the fires in Malibu. The water temperature was 58.5 with amazing clarity,  I could see the anchor chain on a buoy all of the way to the bottom. The beach was almost empty. The life guards are gone for the season but the swim zone buoys have not been removed yet so we still have them for course layout, so we swam the triangle counterclockwise today.

Duke, Niel, Sydney, Sam, Emily and Heidi getting in.

On the west side and off the end of the Avila Pier we swam over large schools of bait fish that were well below the surface. It was great fun. We rarely have water that is this clear so I don't know if they are usually there but out of sight.

As you can see from the recent swim maps my stopgap Garmin 310XT produces really messy plots. I'm looking forward to Christmas when Santa delivers another 910XT to replace the one that the ocean ate a few weeks ago. 

The repair or replacement of my Ricoh MG-30W waterproof camera will take a while longer, hopefully by the end of the year. 

HEY, how about a Leftovers Swim on Sunday, November 25th? Buy that pie you'd really like to have on Thanksgiving with the assurance the you can bring it to the beach on Sunday, do a long swim, and share the leftovers with friends?

niel

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Tom’s Avila Swim Report:

Deep blue skies, sunny, with wispy clouds scattered about; a beautiful day at Avila. 

Swimming today was Sydney, Sam, Tom, and Larry the harbor seal.  The water was clear and cool, about 54 degrees.  The lifeguards are gone, the buoys remain.  Tom and the sisters swam the buoy line; Larry did his own thing.

and this from Sue:


At first only Tom, Sydney and Sam came to swim- they stayed together, followed the buoy line and swam about a mile, according to Tom. The girls said the water was super clear and on the warm side

A bit later Annemarie showed up and went out by herself, then Eric and the two girls (Cal Poly) went out together
A beautiful 78 degree day in Avila!!!
We missed everyone today
 Hope you had a great weekend!!!