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 

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Duke, Niel, Lee, Eric (now spelled correctly), Amy 1, Tom Lorish, Drina and Ali all had a real ocean swim experience today.  It was sunny and comfortable but the wind was out of the SW and picking up. The water was 54 degrees and we the swim zone buoys are back.  At 11 o'clock the water was white capped in past the end of the pier. We decided to swim out to the end of the pier, to Fossil Point and then back along the shore to where we started.  The swim out to the end of the pier was much bumpier that I had anticipated.  When I looked up to spot the group at the end of the pier I was looking right into a breaking whitecap.  This was only the first mouthful of water I was going to get on this swim. We grouped up at the end of the pier and headed towards the point.  We were swimming across the chop at an angle, getting tossed and bent by the waves. The chop was high enough that finding the other swimmers required stopping and getting on top of a swell, so there were a lot of course corrections. We swam into a strong current  on the way back to the pier that did lay down as we got close to the pier.  This swim was more work and real ocean fun that I have had in some time.  1.2 miles in 42 minutes from start to finish.

4th of July Swim
Saturday, the 4th of July we are planning a 1.75 mile adventure swim.  The route will be out along the Harford Pier (at the port) to its end, to the end of the Cal Poly Pier, to the end of the Avila Pier and in along the pier to the beach. 

There will be a potluck lunch afterwards. We will need paddlers. Three or four kayaks, paddleboards or SUP's would be a nice level of support and give us a good profile in the water.  The majority of the route is a half mile offshore so you should be an experienced open water swimmer to consider this swim.
This will be a great way to start the holiday.  
You can post your interest on the Central Coast Open Water Google Group, respond on this  site or talk to me at the beach. 

niel

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Thanks to Amy 1 for writing up the swim blog;  niel

Sunday, April 19

When we arrived pier-side, we were greeted by dolphins cavorting well inside the buoy line. Both the reappearance of the buoys and the dolphins gave us cheer as harbingers of spring and safe waters. The morning was overcast, cool, with little swell, although the swell increased by the time we put in. Without Neil, we had no confirmation of water temp, so, by fiat, I’ll put it at 54 degrees.

Suiting up were Duke, Amy1, Casey, Erik, Drina and Amy2. The non-suited included Pete and Sylvia, who took their own ever-hardy ocean paths. The rest of us made our entry, met up at the first buoy and turned toward the point. We converged at the last (fourth) buoy, did some bobbing and headed back to the first buoy. This was Amy 2’s first trip under the pier, so we discussed do’s and don’ts, as in: “do watch where you’re going,” “don’t go under near a fishing line,” “don’t swim into a piling.” We will review the list when John Hampsey again joins us, since he has been known to be pier-challenged. All succeeded the passage and we were on to the creek buoy, back to and under the pier. Duke announced that this event required a loop back around the first buoy (buoy on the left shoulder) and into shore. Those who did not make the required loop were disqualified. I had no competition for last place in this event.

Although the dolphins neglected to ceremoniously lead us back to shore, the sun was out by the time we beached. Great swim. I have no idea how long it took.

Amy 

Sunday, April 12, 2015

We had spring conditions today; 52.5 degree water, a strong offshore breeze, warm air temperatures and small waves.  Niel, Duke, Jeff and Erik were joined by Amy and Michael who were looking to do some open water swimming.  We decided to stay on the left side of the pier because Wednesday's storm had really dirtied up the water and there was no way to know if the water around the creek mouth had cleaned up.
We went farther out along the pier the usual, grouped up and then swam parallel to the beach towards Fossil Point. We regrouped where the jog is in my route and continued on to the point, returning along the same route. The wind had pushed up a current and small wind chop that we had to work into on the way back. We covered 1.18 miles.

 Amy, Michael, Duke, Erik and Jeff  

Duke describing the route back from Fossil Point. 

niel

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Surprise, surprise, we had a 'normal' spring day today with springtime conditions.  All of the wind earlier in the week had helped push that water temperature down to 51.5 degrees, which is not unusual for this time of the year, in a normal year.  According to my records if the water had held its unnatural warm temperature until the end of April we would have done an entire year of swims without seeing a water temperature below 55 degrees.  Well, it is still some kind of a record.  We had 6 swimmers today; Sylvia, Niel, Pete, Drina, Amy and Tom. Since Sylvia and Pete decline to wear wetsuits they got in and did what they could.

Pete getting in

The rest of us swam down towards Fossil Point and back.  Tom thought that we should all do bunny ears for the photos.

Tom

Niel

Drina

Amy did her ears with her feet.

The water was pretty clear so I was able to get a fish eye view of Tom.

It definitely felt colder than last week but everyone, Peter included, didn't think that it was as cold as they expected.

The weather is going to change this week so the water temperatures may pop back up before next Sunday.

niel

 

Sunday, March 29, 2015

It was full summer at Avila Beach today.

It was sunny and warm, actually too hot by 1 PM. There was a fog bank far offshore that wrapped around towards Pismo Beach and lots of families on the beach.  We had three new swimmers, Brandon, Chris and Breanna, joined Niel, Eric and Jeff. Sylvia did her own swim and Mark was with us to paddle. We did the triangle clockwise, cutting it a bit short and and covering .89 miles.  At the end of the Avila Pier Breanna headed in parallel to the pier while the rest of us swam towards the creek mouth and parallel to the shore back to the pier.
The water was 56.5 degrees with an occasional head high wave and only a slight breeze from the east. It felt like weak offshore breeze conditions.
There is no plot today because Garmin downloaded the data and then flung it somewhere, but not to my account. I'll post it if it shows up later.

Here we are at the end of the first leg.

and at the end of the Avila Pier

niel