From time to time, I go to different spots to surf. By and large I go to the same spot. I have been for quite a while. In all this time I have barley been acknowledged by the guys that frequent the same area. Some of them live in the neighborhood, and I can understand their disdain for the kooks that invade their back yard every summer.
It does get to be a pain, what will the tourist and what not. The last time I went to the beach on July 4th, it took over an hour to get parking and the beach was packed and it wasn’t much fun. After that, I have stayed away from the beach on that day. I get to do all the other times of the year, one day does not hurt. For those that live there it must be horrid. Parking there normally is difficult, add to that the crowds and it’s no wonder they seem distant.
Having said all that, I have to add that I have not been talked to the whole time I have been going down to a certain beach. Imagine my surprise when this weekend the surfers started talking to me. They said hi, and asking if I was going back out in the water. Another even pushed the crosswalk button for me when I was taking my board back to the car. That was so nice.
I was so excited that they finally noticed. I didn’t think they ever would. This whole time I have been feeling a bit invisible. A few months back I had figured they just would never talk to me and I had come to terms with it. Sunday’s are my time alone as it is and I have been fine with it.
There is no need for them to talk to me, so it is really nice that they have taken the time to say hello, at least.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Summertime
Yup, it is officially summertime. Why do I say that? It’s not just the date telling me that, or the heat or the need to take a shower twice a day.
It’s the fact that on Sunday I took my board out and every 15 minutes there was a half way decent wave and seven surfers trying to get on it. Not that I am complaining, it was just funny to see.
The good things: getting out of the house, getting up early to beat the families that will flood the beach after 11 am. There were no screaming kids at 7 am. I was able to see more dolphins and the water wasn’t that cold. It was great to get a good parking space, with time still left on it!
I talked with the older surfer guys on my way in. I had looked up the conditions on Surf line before heading out. It was small, great for me, so I knew what to expect. The older guys were disappointed in the waves. It must be said that they had short boards and I a long board. It was better for me than for them. Of course they still in great shape for men their age, so there is always that.
I left them and went into the water. This is never a bad time. I was still smiling to myself, on my street as I was loading up my board the young guy across the street and his friends where still coming in from the night before, classic.
After being in the water for a while I dried off and listen to music and read a book. Sure it was just a few hours all the more to savor it. Since it’s only three months, I hope you go out and enjoy it a bit, summertime, nothing like it.
It’s the fact that on Sunday I took my board out and every 15 minutes there was a half way decent wave and seven surfers trying to get on it. Not that I am complaining, it was just funny to see.
The good things: getting out of the house, getting up early to beat the families that will flood the beach after 11 am. There were no screaming kids at 7 am. I was able to see more dolphins and the water wasn’t that cold. It was great to get a good parking space, with time still left on it!
I talked with the older surfer guys on my way in. I had looked up the conditions on Surf line before heading out. It was small, great for me, so I knew what to expect. The older guys were disappointed in the waves. It must be said that they had short boards and I a long board. It was better for me than for them. Of course they still in great shape for men their age, so there is always that.
I left them and went into the water. This is never a bad time. I was still smiling to myself, on my street as I was loading up my board the young guy across the street and his friends where still coming in from the night before, classic.
After being in the water for a while I dried off and listen to music and read a book. Sure it was just a few hours all the more to savor it. Since it’s only three months, I hope you go out and enjoy it a bit, summertime, nothing like it.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tricks
The other day I was at the beach and I was able to see some dolphins off the shore. What is it about them that they always seem so happy?
In the film “The hitch-hikers guide to the universe” the dolphins were trying to warn earth of coming destructions but people thought they were just doing tricks. They leave and sing a song “So long and thanks for the fish,” that came to mind as I watched them play.
Some of them even jumped out of the water and I could see their whole body. It was a good size pod that I was watching. I could see the times they blow a bit of water off their blowholes, which helps to keep track of them.
I could have watched them for hours, but they moved on. They spent a good long time one area, maybe there had been a school of fish there. Their black sleek bodies looked shinny when they jumped up.
It wasn’t the most remarkable thing, but it was great to see them doing tricks as if they were performing in Sea World, only this time is was just on their own. It has been noted that it’s not that they are so smart. It’s just that they don’t have many enemies. They don’t have to spend as much time worrying about who will eat them. They have more time to play. The fewer predators the more time to learn tricks. That’s nice for them and for us so we get to see them flip in the air and look cute.
I don’t know what they are thinking, when they jump through hoops or do other tricks. It does look like they are having fun, especially when you see them doing that on their own in the wild.
In the film “The hitch-hikers guide to the universe” the dolphins were trying to warn earth of coming destructions but people thought they were just doing tricks. They leave and sing a song “So long and thanks for the fish,” that came to mind as I watched them play.
Some of them even jumped out of the water and I could see their whole body. It was a good size pod that I was watching. I could see the times they blow a bit of water off their blowholes, which helps to keep track of them.
I could have watched them for hours, but they moved on. They spent a good long time one area, maybe there had been a school of fish there. Their black sleek bodies looked shinny when they jumped up.
It wasn’t the most remarkable thing, but it was great to see them doing tricks as if they were performing in Sea World, only this time is was just on their own. It has been noted that it’s not that they are so smart. It’s just that they don’t have many enemies. They don’t have to spend as much time worrying about who will eat them. They have more time to play. The fewer predators the more time to learn tricks. That’s nice for them and for us so we get to see them flip in the air and look cute.
I don’t know what they are thinking, when they jump through hoops or do other tricks. It does look like they are having fun, especially when you see them doing that on their own in the wild.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Weekend
Last weekend, while it was a bit rainy for most people in So Cal, I had no complaints. Yeah the surf wasn’t high, which was perfect for me! :-)
While most were hiding indoors I headed out. There weren’t that many people there, which is unheard of for Memorial Day weekend. It did warm up just a bit and I was able to dry off no problem.
The best part of my weekend was being there in the sand and relaxing after being in the water. The rest of the summer it is going to hard to find parking and weekdays are better to go out than weekends. I savored every minute of this last slow day at the beach.
As a child I used to wait forever (or so it seemed) for summer to come. Days of nothing to do and hours in the pool or ‘working hard’ on my tan, what could be better? When I got a bit older I used to take along a journal and write down poems in between napping and swimming. Sadly those journals are long gone; I have no idea where they are at or if they have been trashed. Not that it is a great loss to literary history; I can admit that some of it was really bad.
Even when it is cold and most people stay away from the beach I do down there to get away from everyone. One of the great things about living here, there is space if you really need it.
I know what I am doing this weekend and it never gets boring. In fact it has helped me remember what is really important to me. And like many others, it’s the ocean. How was your weekend? Mine, Fab …thanks.
While most were hiding indoors I headed out. There weren’t that many people there, which is unheard of for Memorial Day weekend. It did warm up just a bit and I was able to dry off no problem.
The best part of my weekend was being there in the sand and relaxing after being in the water. The rest of the summer it is going to hard to find parking and weekdays are better to go out than weekends. I savored every minute of this last slow day at the beach.
As a child I used to wait forever (or so it seemed) for summer to come. Days of nothing to do and hours in the pool or ‘working hard’ on my tan, what could be better? When I got a bit older I used to take along a journal and write down poems in between napping and swimming. Sadly those journals are long gone; I have no idea where they are at or if they have been trashed. Not that it is a great loss to literary history; I can admit that some of it was really bad.
Even when it is cold and most people stay away from the beach I do down there to get away from everyone. One of the great things about living here, there is space if you really need it.
I know what I am doing this weekend and it never gets boring. In fact it has helped me remember what is really important to me. And like many others, it’s the ocean. How was your weekend? Mine, Fab …thanks.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Starting over
I haven’t been able to take my board out in a while. I was able to get some time this last weekend. While the waves were not high it was a good time for me since I am a beginner and for me it was like starting all over again.
The sky was gray and it was not that warm. I had my spring suit on and if it was not for that I would not have gotten in the water. There was a tourist family, looked like they were from the Mid-west. Only they think 65 is hot.
I am not trying to say that I am a pro by any means. I just love this sport and anything that can keep me coming back and is such a good work out, is good for me. Since much of my time is spent taking care of others, I need alone time and this is it for me
Another family that was sitting close to me kept watching to see if I was going to bust out and do some cool moves. Sorry not this time, it was about getting back out there and keeping up my skills as a swimmer and paddling out. I know it’s not exciting. It does make me want to get out more and improve and be able to report some thing else already. One of the reasons for this blog, by the way.
So even though I have to start from scratch again, at least I am not giving up. I will be out next weekend again. :-)
The sky was gray and it was not that warm. I had my spring suit on and if it was not for that I would not have gotten in the water. There was a tourist family, looked like they were from the Mid-west. Only they think 65 is hot.
I am not trying to say that I am a pro by any means. I just love this sport and anything that can keep me coming back and is such a good work out, is good for me. Since much of my time is spent taking care of others, I need alone time and this is it for me
Another family that was sitting close to me kept watching to see if I was going to bust out and do some cool moves. Sorry not this time, it was about getting back out there and keeping up my skills as a swimmer and paddling out. I know it’s not exciting. It does make me want to get out more and improve and be able to report some thing else already. One of the reasons for this blog, by the way.
So even though I have to start from scratch again, at least I am not giving up. I will be out next weekend again. :-)
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Sand
There are a lot of people that don’t like sand. Since it can be coarse and it gets everywhere. If you spend time at the beach you have to deal with it. You might spend some time drying off by the car and whip the sand off your feet before getting into the car.
There always seems to be a bit left over in my wetsuit that has to be rinsed off. Then there is just time sleeping in the sand. Really you are on a towel over the sand. The nice thing about is that you can move it around and make it more comfortable for yourself.
I have spent many hours looking at the sand on my stomach while I have been drying off. Usually there are some sticks of driftwood that I use to drawn and write in the sand. I like to pick up the sand and let it fall through my fingers and do that over and over. I like the feel of the cooler sand, when the weather is cold. In the summer I don’t spend that much time playing with it. When I was younger and dug in the wet sand in the shoreline . I haven’t done that in years.
The sand can be like a warm bed to lay in when you are reading and relaxing at the beach. I have never been afraid of a bit of sand between my toes. I do get rid of it when I am getting back in the car, but other than that it does not really bother me.
In my weekly ritual the sand and the time I get to relax after being in the water is part of the pleasure of going to the beach. I like to read and think and relax before going home. I look at the miles of beach and look up towards Long Beach and down towards Laguna.
The sand is soft and makes a comfy bed for a few hours. I still like going home and climbing into my bed, but for relaxing sand can be just fine.
There always seems to be a bit left over in my wetsuit that has to be rinsed off. Then there is just time sleeping in the sand. Really you are on a towel over the sand. The nice thing about is that you can move it around and make it more comfortable for yourself.
I have spent many hours looking at the sand on my stomach while I have been drying off. Usually there are some sticks of driftwood that I use to drawn and write in the sand. I like to pick up the sand and let it fall through my fingers and do that over and over. I like the feel of the cooler sand, when the weather is cold. In the summer I don’t spend that much time playing with it. When I was younger and dug in the wet sand in the shoreline . I haven’t done that in years.
The sand can be like a warm bed to lay in when you are reading and relaxing at the beach. I have never been afraid of a bit of sand between my toes. I do get rid of it when I am getting back in the car, but other than that it does not really bother me.
In my weekly ritual the sand and the time I get to relax after being in the water is part of the pleasure of going to the beach. I like to read and think and relax before going home. I look at the miles of beach and look up towards Long Beach and down towards Laguna.
The sand is soft and makes a comfy bed for a few hours. I still like going home and climbing into my bed, but for relaxing sand can be just fine.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Travel
The great thing about travel is that you can be on one place and then suddenly in an other. Okay it takes more that that and it could be drive time or boarding a plane but it is fun to get out of the house and see something different for a change.
I had to take a puppy to her new family and had to travel to do that. I took a route I have never taken before and saw different sights than I normally see.
Old abandon buildings falling apart and old horse towns. While I know that not everything looks like So Cal it was interesting so see such diversity in my own state. No wonder people can film movies here and it can look like another state.
There are something’s you can’t fake. California does not look like England and Palm Springs does not look like Egypt but that has not stopped some films being shot here and the audience led to believe it was those places.
As for my puppy she couldn't have been more surprised. She woke up that morning still in her crate with her brothers and sisters. Then at the end of the day she was in the cold with snow falling on her. She will be well cared for and I know she will enjoy her new life.
As for me I still have to place the other pups, and the adult dogs to take care of. Not that I minded taking a road trip to take her to them. It’s always nice to travel.
I had to take a puppy to her new family and had to travel to do that. I took a route I have never taken before and saw different sights than I normally see.
Old abandon buildings falling apart and old horse towns. While I know that not everything looks like So Cal it was interesting so see such diversity in my own state. No wonder people can film movies here and it can look like another state.
There are something’s you can’t fake. California does not look like England and Palm Springs does not look like Egypt but that has not stopped some films being shot here and the audience led to believe it was those places.
As for my puppy she couldn't have been more surprised. She woke up that morning still in her crate with her brothers and sisters. Then at the end of the day she was in the cold with snow falling on her. She will be well cared for and I know she will enjoy her new life.
As for me I still have to place the other pups, and the adult dogs to take care of. Not that I minded taking a road trip to take her to them. It’s always nice to travel.
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