[Paddlewise] True Grit

Got some decent photos on my last RG day a week or so ago.

The paper for today was predicting brilliant sunshine, so I had high 
hopes starting out our El Morro paddle. It was just Gennifer, Jack and 
me on a pretty deserted beach at the start. Jack launched and started 
his usual shore break calisthenics, but when I looked over at Gen, she 
was upside down on the sand! But she pushed herself upright and made a 
quick launch. I headed out right into a breaking wave to play and got 
sent upside down in the sand as well, so when we all met up, Gen and I 
were both trying to get rid of the sand in our eyes! A mild carnage launch.

It was not supposed to be a big day, but there was a bit of white water 
splashing on the rocks at Abalone. Steve's Reef was almost completely 
awash, but there was a nice sized wave popping up right on top of it. We 
made this our play spot for a good chunk of an hour. With the rocks only 
exposed on an ebb, it made for a safe, but swirly play spot. As this 
photo shows, we all got to work playing. After a while, even Howard 
showed up to get into the act. Plenty of action to go around.

Finally we decided to move on and past a reef full of seals, we pulled 
in close to shore to check out some waves. Jack and I were in close to 
the sand when Gen got caught in a big wave that once again had her 
upside down in the sand. It was a rough ride and she ejected to relaunch 
from the beach. A little farther down we rode some small waves in close, 
but then some darn big waves came in locking us to shore. The biggest 
seemed about 5' to me with a nasty break and I took advantage of the 
next lull to get out of Dodge. Jack and Howard stayed inside, with Jack 
doing some nasty purls in the big waves to try out some maneuvers. 
Farther down, those two got another talking to from the lifeguard to 
stay out of the break, although there was no one even on the beach to hit.

Around the corner, we came to a reef that was getting a side wash from 
the waves. I knew what was going to happen here, both Jack and Gen got 
left high and dry on the barnacles. They were both stuck up there a long 
time waiting, but finally a big enough wave came to wash them down. This 
area had a really active toilet bowl section that kept us busy for quite 
a while. Gen got upended inside again and bumped a rock, but managed 
another combat roll to get out.

For once it was Jack who said he was ready to head home, though he 
wanted to play on the way, but once we got started we moved right along. 
Jack was up front when we made the turn in at Abalone as we skirted 
right along the cliff. It was a pretty safe area, but all of a sudden I 
was on top of a 2-3 foot wave that was about to break before the rocks. 
I turned to warn Gen and saw she'd already gotten caught and was upside 
down against the cliff. I hurried in, sure that a rescue was in order, 
when she rolled up. It was another great combat roll in a dicey situation.

Finally we hit the sand at a now busy beach. It had been a very active 
day and although conditions weren't too big, they still provided 
challenges. Gen ended up with a bruise on her arm from her last 
encounter, which she called her worst encounter on the water. Sooner or 
later we all get caught, but she can take pride in how she seems to 
handle tough situations. Another great day on the water.

http://www.sandmarks.net/TrueGrit/TrueGrit1.html

Mark

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