Saturday, April 30, 2016 - Escape to Smith Rock Swim

Tom and Brian and Niel and Russell's Fabulous Adventure

This morning Tom and Niel swam from the base of the Avila Pier to and around Smith Rock and got out at the base of the Harford Pier. 

The route was 2.43 miles. It was sunny and calm with very good swimming conditions.

The water temperature was 51 degrees. Niel was accompanied by Russell on his paddleboard and Tom had Brain with him in a kayak.  Tom finished in one hour, Niel finished in 1:17:39.

Russell, Niel, Brian and Tom

Our destination.  Smith Rock is to the west of the Harford Pier, inside of the breakwater. It is the white poop covered rock. The larger rock in the background that is part of the breakwater is Whaler's Rock.
                                              

Around 1900 there were 3 or 4 families living on Smith Rock

 Getting started just before 9 o'clock. 

 Tom and Brian

Tom Says 'The water feels just like Maui!'

Russell and Brian

I'm at the end of the Cal Poly Pier

Russell

 Leslie took this one from the Harford Pier. That is Brian having just passed a buoy. 

Tom is there somewhere. 

Russell and I at Smith Rock.

 Tom bringing it home. 

 Russell and Niel at the finish

The swimming conditions were flat and windless with clean but cold water.  I didn't notice any change in the water temperature during the swim.  During the last leg from Smith Rock to the get out we had some counter currents, surge and swell from the waves that were rebounding off of the cliff face to our left. The wind started to pick up shortly after we got out.

Thanks go to Tom for mothering this swim into reality and to Leslie for shlepping our stuff over to the port and for taking a bunch of pictures.

niel

Sunday, April 24, 2016

I was out of town so here is today's swim report from Tom Lorish;

Niel, here is my blog report for Sunday April 24th:

Blog report from TOM:

Apparently The Man in the Gray Suit was in town… Saturday… a credible sighting. (I could not find this in the Tribune Tom, what was your source?   niel),   Of course, The Man in the Gray Suit lives out there, right?  Hmm.  Food for thought… or more precisely, thought about being food.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day at Avila – a little bit of a breeze, a few scattered clouds, warm, but not hot.  Swimming today was Duke, Jim, Roberto, Nicole (? – I may have this wrong), John Hampsey, and Tom.  The group swam out to the first buoy and went left towards the point.  We met up at the last buoy on that side and back down the line to the creek mouth buoy on the other side of the pier and back in.  The traditional buoy line mile.  A metric mile if Duke’s wrist device is accurate.  A good swim on a nice day. 

Thanks Tom.

NOTE: 
Beginning Wednesday, April 27th, Dave Van Mouwerik will be competing in the 2016 SCAR swim in Arizona, swimming forty miles in four lakes in four days.   
http://www.scarswim.com/home.html
Besides the event website there should be event posts on social media, but I do not know which forum.

Dave - Best of luck and success and have fun.  


niel

Sunday, April 17, 2016

We had a beautiful spring day today; a hot and crowded beach like summer but cold water temperatures. I measured 54 degrees in the surf but we agreed that it was more like 52 once you were outside the surf line.  The water temperature varied by 2 or 3 degrees during the swim. We do have buoys and lifeguards now.  Swimming today were Pete, Sylvia, Tom Lorish, Jim, Niel, Amy and John. There were four different routs today. Pete and Sylvia, the non wetsuit swimmers, swam their own route. Tom Lorish was on call so he swam his own route along the buoy line, popping up to check with Leslie by hand signals every 10 minutes to see if he needed to call in. Niel, Jim, Amy and John swam over to the Cal Poly Pier. Amy and John returned along the same route while Niel and Jim swam to the end of the Avila Pier and in. Our route was 1 - 1/4 miles. 

Jim and John at the creek mouth

Jim at the Poly Pier

                             

Summer in April at Avila today.

niel

Sunday, April 10, 2016

I had a meeting and was unable to swim so todays report is by Tom Lorish. . 

“The Port San Luis buoy was 56.5 this morning.  Niel would say it it’s 54.5 though.”  That was Pete before we got in the water. 

It was a cooler spring day at Avila today.  Mostly overcast with the sun peeking through every now and again.  As the lifeguard pushed the “No Dogs” sign into the sand, the water temperature conversation continued with the arrival of another swimmer. 

“I heard it was cold last week, what is it today?”  It was cold last week. 

Swimming today was Rick, Duke, John Hampsey, Tom and Pete.  The group headed out along the pier to about the halfway point and turned left towards the reef buoy.  Pete did his own thing. 

“This is definitely warmer than last week.  I’d say 54-55.”  That’s probably right. 

After gathering at the reef buoy, the group swam to the end of the pier and around to the creek mouth.  At the various gathering spots, Rick told a story of a serial cheating Iron Woman.  “Why would she do that?” someone asked philosophically. 

“She claims her dog ate her chip on two of the occasions, and that her race number fell off on the other.”  Hmm.  Seems like a stretch. 

“Let’s keep swimming; I’m getting cold.” 

From the creek mouth, we swam back under the pier and in.  I’m not sure of the time or the distance – probably about 40 minutes and 1.15 miles. 

“Those guys don’t know what they’re f****ng talking about”  That was Pete again – after the swim.  He had swum by the lifeguard training boat.  They told him their thermometer read 51 degrees.  He was appalled at this ridiculous notion. 

This is what I can tell you:  The water today was in fact warmer than last week, but cooler than it’s been in the past.  That’s what I know. 

As I was leaving, a couple folks were coming down the stairs.  I overheard one say to the other, “What do you the water temperature is?”

TOM

Sunday, April 3, 2016

It was cold today; foggy/overcast and cold on the beach and cold in the water. I measured a 51 in the suds at the base of the pier and the guards had posted a 47. That is a choice between cold and really cold. 

Swimming today were Niel, Tom and Evan.  We went out along the pier and left to the buoy at the reef, then to the end of the pier. We headed towards the creek until we got to the large round mooring buoy, turned right and came under the pier and them in along the pier to the beach for .94 mile. It was tough getting my face in and I was halfway to the buoy at the reef before the sense of shocking cold left my face and feet. After that we had a very nice swim. 

 That is Tom and Evan (behind the droplet) at the reef buoy.

 In the middle of the frame is an otter that is often at this litltle reef. 

 Niel

Tom selfe

niel

Sunday, March 27, 2016

 Today's route was the same as last weeks, out to the end of the Avila pier, to the mouth of San Luis Obispo Creek and back along the same route for 1.13 miles in a total time of 34:24.  Swimming today were Rick, Duke, Amy, John Hampsey, Niel, Tom Lorish and Alex Mark who joined us from the bay area and will be doing his first tri (the HITS in Napa) in two weeks.

 The fog cleared earlier today and made our route easier. 

 Duke and Rick at the end of the pier. 

 Alex, John and Tom

Tom, Duke, Rick and Alex at the mouth of the creek

niel

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Avila Beach was foggy and cool. There was no wind and 2 to 4 foot surf. I could not get a water temperature from the pier. The water temperature over at the port was 57, however, the lifeguard said that she had taken the water temperature that morning at 10 out beyond the surf line and got a reading of 53.  I thought it felt like 55 but it was colder on the east side of the pier. Cal Fire was on the beach and in the water doing some training and the lifeguards are back. The guards started earlier this year in order to have the beach covered during spring break. 
Swimming today were Niel, Jim, Amy and John Hampsey.  We were going to swim down the beach to the left but as we were getting in the Cal Fire guys showed up with jet skis, so they went left down the beach and we changed our route to the right. We all swam out to the end of the pier and down to the mouth of the creek. From there John and Amy swam along the beach and under the pier to our starting point while Jim and I doubled back along our route. We covered 1.25 miles. 

John, Jim and Amy

niel

The Avila Dolphins are partners with GH Sports, so there is an opportunity This Sunday morning for special discounts and door prizes. 

I'm sure that you need more swim stuff.

niel

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Duke and Levi swam today.  This is Duke's plot of their 1,049 yard swim.

niel

Sunday, March 6, 2016

I'm not swimming today. After the recent heavy rain I'm staying out of the ocean to give the bacteria count a chance to come down.

I'll also miss next weekend. I'll be at the Surfrider West Coast conference meeting people from the California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii chapters who are interested in clean oceans, clean waves and clean beaches.

ALSO, Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday, March 13th, which means Wednesday evening swims could start on the 16th. If anyone is interested respond to this blog and we'll link you up.


niel  

Sunday, February, 28, 2016

We had a nice day at Avila Beach today; about 75 degrees with an offshore wind. I read  a water temperature of 57 degrees in the shallows. The water felt colder outside of the surf line. 

Every 7 to 9th wave was 4 ft plus.

Rick, Duke John and Amy getting in. Tom was already in. John Harmse got in after we had shoved off and was somewhere unseen behind us.  

We met up with Folicle (?, sorry I didn't get the spelling) when we grouped up at the mouth of the creek. He completed the swim with us.

Rick, Duke and Folicle at the end of the Avila Pier 

 Duke at the reef buoy

Rick, Folicle and Tom at the reef buoy.

I had 1.12 miles in a total time of 41 minutes.

niel

Sunday, February 21, 2016

I was out of town but Tom showed up and swam by himself.  He sent this swim report:

It was another 'summer day' in Avila: air temps in the 70s, crowds, and tight parking.  El Nino continues to behave like El Nada, and February is our new summer season.  There was a bit of a wave, maybe 3-4 foot, and the water was a nice 56-57.  Swimming today was Tom. He swam out, messed around in the waves, swam around kelp strand #38 (not to be confused with kelp strand #54 out by the reef buoy), and back to the waves where he messed around some more.  He's not sure how far he swam or how long it took.  He did report it was a good day, though.

Thanks Tom.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

 It was a super summer day at Avila Beach today. It was warm and sunny with an offshore breeze that was holding up the faces of the waves. It was low tide so I could not get an 'official' water temperature. The port was reporting 58 but our consisus was that it was 54 or 55 degrees at Avila. Niel, Duke, Tom, Leslie, Amy, John and Rick swam today. John and Amy went straight out to the end of the pier and over to the creek mouth and back. Niel, Duke, Rick, Tom and Leslie swam left to the reef buoy, to the end of the pier, to the creek mouth and back along the beach, under the pier and in. That was one mile.

Niel and Tom agreeing on the water temperature and route.

Tom and Leslie at the reef buoy.

 Duke, Rick, Tom and Leslie at the creek mouth

A Valentine's Day warm up for Tom from Leslie

No route map today. My main computer crashed and the laptop does not have the software. 

niel

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Avila Beach was beautiful and crowded for a Sunday in February. It was clear, warm and sunny with no breeze and 53 degree water. The water from the  creek is still dirty so we stayed on the other side of the pier. Tom, Rick, Niel, Duke, Amy and John swam out to the end of the pier then over to the buoy on the little reef and back to the pier. I had that route at .94 mile.  Afterwards it was very pleasant on the beach which made it hard to do something more useful with the rest of the afternoon.

Tom pointing out the patch of kelp that was to be our turn around point.

niel