Ken and I hit the Secret Beach at noon to find sand-side parking and an empty beach--no sand urchins to complicate our launch. We were heating up as soon as we hit the water, this seeming to be the hottest day on the water I've had this summer! But it was a beautiful day and the swells cresting both jetties suggested there might be some fun to be had outside. Tide was medium and rising as we paddled into the shore in front of Corona. Ken had told me he'd brought his tow belt, so I figured I was free to get into as much trouble as I wanted, but even though they weren't too big, the waves hitting the rocks on shore had me keeping a polite distance. I paddled up toward the backside of BAR to find a group of about 10 teenagers trying to scale their way to BAR. There was lots of screaming coming from the girls of the group, with good reason--the waves looked like they might take a few of them out! I hung out for a while wondering if I'd get some teenage carnage on video, but it's amazing how lucky teens can be. I settled in behind BAR and although there was plenty of time for a pass if you timed it right, I decided just to hang out. The operative word for the ocean today was "dynamic", so it was fun dealing with the churn. Dealing with the larger waves coming through the arch was made too complicated by the large wrap around waves coming from the side. Finally one big wave came in and threatened to swamp me, so I headed out. From on top of BAR one of the teens yelled out he was glad I was leaving, he didn't want me to die! Ken still hadn't had enough on the day so we headed to Toxic Creek Beach. I usually head right on in, but today there were about 5 surfers who already claimed their turf. We hung out outside and rolled a bit and I tried to get sideways in the waves as they went by to show them breaking down the coast. In my video, you'll see Ken helping me hook up my camera and then start paddling back out to sea and none too soon, because out of nowhere came a real big wave that I got to find a bit of air in. That did it for Ken and we headed home. We had a lot of fun for a short paddle. I had planned to go to San O, but all the talk of GWs yesterday scared me off, especially as I don't like surfing the Delfin there on bigger days all alone. So today was a good day and Ken's tow rope never left its bag! Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/SandMarks Mostly hanging out behind BAR Mark www.sandmarks.net # *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 9:55 PM, Mark Sanders <marksanders_at_sandmarks.net>wrote: > Ken and I hit the Secret Beach at noon to find sand-side parking and an > empty beach--no sand urchins to complicate our launch. Thanks Mark. I enjoyed that video a lot. Such completely different paddling there than we get around here. Although I could have paddled in the Pacific near *our* Long Beach last week... but the 50-degree water dissuaded me. That and the six separate sets of breakers. Plus I hate it when my wife laughs at me. I should be used to it by now but I guess I'm not. Teens do live lives that are protected by the gods until they combine alcohol and cars. Nice video as usual. Good rolls too. Craig *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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