Livin’ the Neoprene Dream

A cold paddle out at 5:45 this morning; air 40ish, water 58ish and a strong off shore breeze.   Solid head high waves, a little swampy with the tide but the set waves were plowing right through it.   Caught a handfull of really fun waves in front of the new shack.   Only 4 guys the first 45 minutes and only 10 guys when I got out of the water at 8:00.   It was actually warm on the beach by then.   The next three days I'll be in Texas, eatin' steak and drinkin' Lone Star.

Small and Not That Fun

Lately, if it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all.   In the water at 6:00, offshore to start, then calm, then a little south, calm again and then more south.   Waves were puny windswelly boat waves, thigh to waist high, sometimes connecting through into the bay.   Just me and one other guy today, I think his name is Bane, everyone knows him, he rips.   He left at 7:00, I hung around all by myself till 7:45, just because I know the weekend will be shyeeet with the storm bearing down today.  Batten down the hatches this is supposed to be a cold windy storm.  Wonderful.

Harassment

I keep getting emails telling me how fun it’s been the last couple of days.   Small but fun.   I’m sitting here in my office pounding out timelines and project updates while my phone pings with the latest update on what I’m missing.   Go ahead, gloat – every dog has his day…..

Catalina

Took the coast in to work this morning.  Catalina had the sun on it while the mainland was under clowds.   So I stopped at Scotsmans Cove to take a couple of pics.  The pictures don't do it justice.

Almost Went For It

Pretty flat this morning.  Was taking some pictures when this rouge thigh high set rolled through.  Ran back up to my bike, pulled my board out of the bag and waited to see if another set would pull through.   Eventually just packed it up and went to work.   Thank God no one else showed up, we may have talked each other into going out.

Looks like some rebuilding going on - Good luck on the hoisting the fire pit up the burm

Mid-morning President's Day Session

So I got up this morning early to let the pugs out and saw that my fountain in the back yard was frozen over.   Since I had the day off, I decided to take my better half out to breakfast and opt for a mid-morning session after things warmed up a tad.  I do plenty of fridged morning sessions.   Paddled out just before 10:00.  Waves were small, belly to chest high.  But only a hand full of guys in the water, for a while there were only three of us.   A good thing since it was a bit inconsistent too.   Around 12:00 the lunch time crowd showed up, so I drifted into the bay, caught one in and had a Tecate or two while taking pictures.   Glad I went.

One that got away



It was a work day for some



The guys that hang at the shack think they own the place - Mother Nature is reminding them who's really in charge.



They had a Janitor out at Lowers

Don't forget to look up



Parting shot



TGIFF

Almost didn’t go this morning. Wasn’t sure it was going to be a surf day with the storm and wind forecasts, so my expectations were low.   But I knew the weekend was going to be crap, so after getting the pugs situated, I hit the road a few minutes behind schedule.   When I got to the sand Phil and Steve were all pumped up about the set they just saw.   It was offshore but more ESE than the normal NE.  It gave the ocean that hammered aluminum texture, but the faces were smooth.   About half way through the session I ate it on a late takeoff on a set wave,  but I don’t think anyone saw so I won’t dwell on it.    Other than that we all got a ton of fun waves with only 8 or 10 guys out.    

Another One

Happy Valentine's Day

My wife and I were reflecting this evening on the fact that this is our 40th Valentine's day together.   We actually cut class on our first Valentine's day to go to the beach (don't tell the grandkids).   I remember we locked the keys in the car at 56th street and jimmed it open with a coat hanger.   We also just celebrated our oldest daughter's 34th birthday last Friday.   Time really flys when you're havin' fun.




Prom 1972 - what a kook.

 

Getting Old

I can't believe I injured myself by renting a soil aerator.   Between the spring loaded vertical adjustment and the jerky take-off when engaging the drive, I waisted my right wrist.  I couldn't hold a bottle of beer in my right hand yesterday afternoon.   So I took it easy today like any non-surfer would do.  This will not stand, I've got to get better soon, it's killing me already.   So we spent the late afternoon down at strands with my grandson.   Now that was cool.

You Missed It

You missed it if you didn't dawn patrol uppers today.   The first hour: only 5 guys out.   Super clean conditions and chest high plus waves.   This is Saturday, right?  Go figure.  Sat in the bay the second half of the session pretty much by myself.  Sweet!

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Cold and Fair

Paddling back and forth to stay warm.   The waves were belly to chest high and bit inconsistent, glad I brought a longer board today.   You didn’t miss anything if you slept in.

I think lowers would have been the better call, there seemed to be some south in it today

The Laguna Woman

I found this story about the discovery of one of the oldest human remains in the Western Hemisphere, discovered by Howard Wilson in Laguna Beach in 1934.  If you like archeology at a layman's level it's pretty interesting.

http://www.light-headed.com/asite/laguna/laguna_history/laguna_woman_1.php

Dribs and Drabs

Small westerly pulse.   First one in the water at 6:15, clean conditions, not crowded and a bit warmer than predicted (42˚ VS 38˚).   I had some low back issues later in the session affecting my gitty-up; should have taken a couple of Advil before I left the house.   (I’ll have some cheese with that whine).   All in all a good morning, caught a few fun waves with friends.   What more can you ask for?