Friday, June 01, 2012

May Day... The Big Five-O.. Help..

CalTrans is coming to town
So June starts much the same as May left off. Small mostly unsurfable waves lapping the shores of La Conchita Town. June gloom has a arrived right on schedule after an unusually sunny May. Sun, clouds, fog, rain, whatever,  I don't care. My eyes are straining to see waves at the spot just two miles north of here. They play tricks on me most every morning this time of year till finally... I break down and drive over for a closer look. It was worth a closer look on Wednesday. Yesterday umm..  Well my eyes got the better of me.  Did you say drive? What about the the ebike bike Don? Well.. Two reasons really. Reason number one. CalTrans has made a mess of things directly in front of town making for an even more dangerous trip north to Rincon. Reason number two. With the left turn lane permanently shut down, at least a portion of your trip back to involves a harrowing ride against traffic. Granted, it is probably not going matter whether you get hit head on,  or taken out at 65mph from behind, it's probably your amplitude and landing skills that are going to save you. Reason number three. My hip has been killing me. Okay make it three reasons then, and everyone needs to quit texting while they drive. You are insane! I have a lot to say about CalTrans, texting while driving, and the Association of Surfing Professionals, however I'm still waiting on Claudia from CalTrans to get back to me. Suffice to say, I am not amused.

Post One Star Session... Victory at Sea
Despite the dangers of biking on the freeway I was without the Syncro for a week or so earlier in the month... Yep again, don't ask..  So I had no choice but to get on the bike and peddle my ass into town for beer, wine, and a couple of days of mediocre surf. As mentioned in a prior blog, even with electric assist I have to peddle some sections, and that is just no good for this freaking hip.  So if you broke your hip twelve years ago, just turned fifty, and it feels like your body is absolutely falling apart, but you can't give it a rest, I have one word for you. Compression.   I'm  keeping it all together now with a pair CW-X Compression Shorts, and they work! Two thumbs up! Back to the surf. There hasn't been any. In fact since I began logging surf sessions in September, I have never seen anything as bad as this May. Yes, I am well aware I'm living in the shadow of the Channel Islands but it has been particularly bad for at least three weeks north and south of here. The beginning of May started off promising with 5 days of at least average, to above average surf, including one standout afternoon of Four Star surf the weekend of La Conchita's annual garage sale, and then arrgg..

5'11" Shrimp by John Perry
May 8th.. One Star, Two Star,  One Star, Two Star, One Star, Two Star, One Star, One Star, Two Star, right up till yesterday... One Star.. That's only 15 days total for May, and most of them in the pretty dam terrible or worse category. Throw in a couple of dry runs and I can tell you, a psychiatric break is not far off in my future. For those of you not familiar with my star rating system. One Star is Terrible. Two Star is pretty damn terrible, and it has to be fucking horrible for me to not paddle out. Three stars is average, not to mention pretty damn good at my home break where 150+ yard rides are the norm. Don't get me wrong, I would rather be in the water than out, but it's starting to wear on me. I did secretly score some chest high surf a couple of days ago.  2.5 Stars... Chest high, bumpy,  but some zippy sections and an oppurtunity to cut loose on the 5'11" Lazor Zap inspired Shrimp by master shaper John Perry. But my eyes got the better of me yesterday as I groveled in slow inconsistent waist high peelers. Seriously I really should took the Sup out yesterday, and Kalie, bring me my Yater Spoon!!! Nope, one star, and two star days are not going to cut it much longer.

 Mark Twain stayed here... Grass Valley
Luckily there have been a few distractions this month, like a fun little road trip with my good friend Kim up to Chico to see her son graduate. Santa Cruz... no waves there either. Then on up and over to Grass Valley before hitting Chico, home of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Definitely one of my "Go To" beers so I was a little bummed they were booked solid for lunch with everyone in town for graduation. Luckily it's on tap everywhere. The good stuff too, with names I've never heard of before, like "Writers Block" or my choice for the after graduation celebration, the "Best Bitter" Which the brewer describes as an English-style pale ale that tends to be far more malty than its American counterparts. I can say this. Taste a bit like a good IPA but with less alcohol volume. I didn't know that when I ordered it, so I had three.


Unfortunately I couldn't get through May without turning 50. Yep the big five-o. Time to reflect perhaps.. Maybe not.  The good, the bad, the ugly, I have seen it all. Yep, two divorces, currently single, basically unemployed, kids out of the house, two dogs, lots of old injuries rearing their ugly heads, and now this mid-life board crisis. I have been making the transition back to short boards lately. Not your traditional potato chip fashioned thrusters, but not big floaty fish either, think Cheyne Horan. And don't think I won't go out and buy a StarFin even though this very same thinking may have cost Cheyne the World Championship many times over. Still the transition, it's been a lot of fun, it'a been a lot of work, and every time I kick out,  I'm thinking...  I'm too old for this shit. The amount of energy expended ripping the hell out of one of those aforementioned one hundred and fifty yard waves, vs the cruising, sweeping turns, and casual trim stylings of the Vaquero has been an eye opener for sure. Still I've been on the hulls for 8 years now, probably longer, so perhaps it's time for a change before I really am... Too old for this shit. Plenty of time to cruise and trim later and I do have that unobstructed view of the Santa Barbara Channel which is.. well pretty good.

The Motel 6 in Lodi.. Not as good as it looks.



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