Surf Vacay (Day 2 Continued) - October 8, 2011

So the surf this morning was a little deceiving.  It was plenty clean and they were bigger than yesterday when I arrived, but there was no power behind them.  In over an hour of attempts, I caught zero waves, got pitched over several, was hit in the back with my board, and mostly worked my arse off, only to watch the waves roll on without me. 

To make things worse, there was a group of guys watching from their balcony for a while.  I of course wanted to prove that girls can surf too – I know, I know, but it comes from being a little sister.  I’ve always felt that I need to show I’m worth my salt. 

I think it’s from not wanting to be left behind by my brothers and their friends who were always doing something cool: building forts, climbing trees, jumping the creek, you name it.  That sort of stuff was way more fun to me than playing with Barbies.  So I learned early on that if I wanted to be included, I need be able to do what it was they were doing.   

circa 1987

Unfortunately I proved nothing of the sort today.  The only thing I showed those guys was that I could get nailed by my board and be dumb enough to keep trying.

The 1mm IST Dive Skin

After an hour, I threw in the towel but I have to say, the experience wasn’t totally lost.  I was wearing my IST dive skin for the first time and I really liked it.  It looks like a wetsuit but it’s not meant to keep you warm; it’s just to protect you from “marine life” (read: jellyfish).  More than that, it keeps the sun off so I didn’t have to go through half a gallon of sunscreen. 

Good thing I had it on because I saw a few jellies in the lineup and one looked nice and purple-y.  

Man of war, anyone?

Photo Credit: condenaststore.com

Surf Vacay (Day 2) - October 8, 2011

I just finished breakfast on my balcony.  Watching the sets roll in, I enjoyed my new favorite cereal (Optimum Power Cinnamon Blueberry).  Seriously, it’s life changing.

Worth every penny...all 600 (or so) of them

When I woke up, I didn’t even have to get out of bed to see check the surf; all I had to do was look out my sliding glass door!

I slept with the door open so I could hear the waves and the wind blowing through the top of the palm tree that reaches just to my balcony.  The winds started to pick up yesterday evening after I came in from surfing and they’ve been going ever since. 

About a week ago, I started noticing a bump on Swellinfo that promised of good surf for this weekend and I’ve been holding my breath ever since.  The surf here is just so unpredictable so to plan a trip around it is a little bit of a gamble. 

But I think that’s the whole thing about surfing; you just have to go when it’s good – which is why the majority of surfers are teenage guys who don’t care about their GPAs or middle-aged hippies who probably don’t contribute to the tax base.

It looks like there’s some weather brewing, as it’s supposed to rain this afternoon, so I guess that’s what is pushing up this swell.  The waves are coming in from the southeast and the northern winds are keeping them clean. 

They were pretty tiny yesterday so I only scored a few rides but there was a family on the beach watching me.  They were packing up when I came drifting by (yes, I continue to do that – I still don’t hold my lineup very well) and they stood on the beach for a while waiting for me to get up.  Luckily, my one good ride came during this point so I didn’t embarrass myself too much. 

I stayed out long enough to see the sun dip into the gulf before packing it in.  As I rinsed off my board at the top of the staircase, I looked down about 30 feet to the gulf.  The elevation in this area is the highest of the surrounding counties so it makes for some stunning views.  

The sky was still glowing with oranges and pinks from the recent sunset and flitting around in the peach light were hundreds of dragonflies.  I’ll never forget the beauty of that moment; it was an incredible sight.


The dragonflies buzzing around the top of the dunes after sunset

I walked across the green lawn to the building where my room is and when I reached the top of the stairs, I came up to the coolest collection of flowers sitting just outside my door.  There are sunflowers, red and yellow daisies, these fantastic orange flowers in the shape of bonbons (hello - my favorite).  It is the most cheery arrangement I've ever gotten!  Ted (always one to rise to the occasion) had flowers sent to my door! 

What a way to begin the weekend.

Surf Vacay (Day 1) - October 7, 2011

I’m here!  I’m here!  I’m here!  I’ve arrived to my home for the next three days – the Seagrove Villas Motel. 

The Seagrove Villas Motel - built in 1952
photo credit: www.sowal.com

So...I'm not exactly staying in one of these cute little cottages, mine is more of an "efficiency condo."  However, I'm on the 3rd floor of the three-story building across the courtyard from these precious little bungalows, and my view of the gulf is AMAZING. 

I am obviously beside myself with excitement and this clip captures it all:

 

My check-in time wasn’t until 4:00, so I scheduled a massage appointment a few hours earlier to kick off the weekend.  The therapist had a take no prisoners approach to deep tissue work, so I definitely got my money’s worth (nothing like productive pain, kids) and I’m ready for a weekend of paddling.  



Spirulina: Who wouldn't want to eat this?

Afterwards, I stopped off at a juice bar a few yards off the beach and got a smoothie with bananas, almond butter, brown rice protein and spirulina…I feel like I could paddle for a week straight after a meal like that baby.

So the room!  It’s exactly what I was looking for.  No frills, lots of character (note the mismatching and rattan below), and it’s got a to-die-for view of the gulf.  I couldn’t be happier. 



Rattan and Wicker - nothing says beach bungalow quite like those two

I just don’t know what to do first – yoga, surf, write – I feel like I’m in a chocolate shop and the chocolatier behind the counter is telling me, “Just take one.”