[Paddlewise] Day #84, PARTY WAVE!!!

10/13/08

When I woke this morning, I walked around the house to make sure it hadn't
landed on any wicked witches overnight. I wondered if Steve would still be
making the long haul to San O with this wind, but a quick call told me it
was a go.

A small wave forecast had me bringing the Lollygagger for this surf fest and
it was real fun driving in the wind. Duane and Jack were already on the
beach when I got there and soon we were joined by Steve, Dennis, Jake and
Michael. Unfortunately, the forecast was correct, although there were some
occasionally 2 1/2  footers.

I was the first on the water and got lucky catching a nice size outsider for
the first ride of the day. We were hampered by the high tide and most people
went into rolling practice mode. Rides started off few and far between.
After a while, the tide went down and things picked up a bit. With the waves
scarce, we tried to get as many boats on a wave as we could. As a prospect
would head in, the call "party wave" would ring out and we'd line up to get
a ride. Most waves had at leas four boats close together riding in. This was
definitely a long boat day as you needed the speed to catch a wave, but once
in it the rides were fun.

With the rudder down, the Lollygagger is fun to surf, but it was a bear to
get turned around for the next wave with the wind blowing as it did. I'd
pull the rudder up to turn the boat to get ready, but one time I forgot to
put it down for the wave. The party almost got a little to close as my boat
tried to head right into Duane. I planted a massive stern rudder and had to
fight the whole way to get the boat pointed the other way. Saved Duane's
life!!!

For a while, we got some nice sets and everyone tried to make the best of
them. I got a nice ride and was able to keep in it as the wave reformed
twice, but then found myself headed full speed right for the dreaded rocky
San O shore. I bailed out at the last minute and figured it was a good time
for a breather. I sat and watched the others share the party waves and it
seemed like one of those scenes from a Gidget movie where she's riding in
tandem on a long board with Moondoggie!

Soon the waves petered out and everyone headed to shore. We sat around
eating our lunches with the beach almost to ourselves. The music portion of
the day took a back seat to the conversation and sun, although Duane did
bring out the uke for a live version of "No Rudder, No Skeg, No Pick" with
Steve accompanying him on guitar. Everyone agreed Duane should have done the
song like he did in the video-with no pants!!

No much longer and we'd all had enough sun, sand and wind. Despite the small
waves, we all managed to have some fun with carnage pretty much impossible!
We loaded up to fight the wind on the drive home.

Mark Sanders
www.sandmarks.net

#
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