Wishing for Warmth and Waves

Alas! Once again, whenever I'm off, it's flat. And, when I'm working, the waves return. Lately, I haven't event been able to get off to make a quick trip to G-town for surf. I've also been fighting a cold for the past week-and-a-half. Gosh....sounds like all I can do is complain. I certainly don't mean to sound like a whiner. It just happens sometimes; especially if I haven't been able to surf. I think it was mid-November the last time I made it out. I know there were some waves this past weekend. The "dude," Brian, told me that he made it out on Saturday.  I was JEALOUS! Since my cold had made breathing optional for me and because I had a ton of things to do before I went to a holiday party that night, I decided it wouldn't be smart for me to go to surfing. I lusted after the waves by checking the Internet, in particular Gtownsurf.com, all day. Numerous surfers were out. Dude B. stayed away from 43rd because of the crowds (yes, everyone with a surfboard was out). He enjoyed 36th for a few hours.  By Sunday when the next front moved through, it was flat.

It's booty time again!
I'm ready for warm weather

This morning I noticed that not only was it flat, that the north wind had pushed the tide way out. It was pushed three-fourths of the way down the jetty. But, the surf report indicated that the wind would shift back to the south and, by Friday, we should see knee- to waist-high waves. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm also getting my 5-4 wetsuit ready. The water temp is in the low 50s, which definitely means it's time to step up in thickness for the wetsuit. During the past couple of years, I haven't needed my 5-4 until January, but looks like this year will be a different story. Bah humbug. I should probably just be happy that I have the option. Instead, I dread having to pull that on that heavy duty suit. I also dread having to dig out the booties...and the wool cap...and the gloves. But I know I will if I must.

I'm anxious to go someplace warm. I think I write that during every winter post. Just not sure when and where I will go. I'm pretty sure I will select Central America, I'm just not sure what country or beach I will explore. I have my passport ready, so all I will need a cheap airline ticket, a couple of bathing suits and some vacation time. I'm leaning toward Nicaragua, but I haven't ruled out Costa Rica. I just want the temps to be in the 80s and the water to be refreshing. I don't want to HAVE to wear a wetsuit, and I certainly don't want to need gloves or a stocking cap. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Fall Blahs and Holidays

Waves!!! Galveston, Texas needs waves! I haven't been able to surf the past two weekends because it has been so flat. It's also been cold, which means that missing the surf hasn't been so tragic. (In fact, water temps this week were hovering around 55 degrees, which means I might have to pull out my 5-4 wetsuit sooner than I have the past few years.) I'm desperately trying to find a way for me to get someplace warm during the next couple of months, but it's not looking good. Either I can't find an inexpensive ticket or I can't find a place with vacancies. I'm leaning toward finding a hotel somewhere in Nicaragua, but am still very unsure about it all. Sometimes I get nervous about the safety of traveling to such places, especially since my travel/surfing partner in crime has moved away. I'm on my own when in comes to picking the places I travel, and I'm on my own with the planning. On top of the travel planning woes, I'm also having to make sure if I go somewhere, that it is a place with safe paths for me to run. I'm training for a marathon in January, which means that I have to get in running time wherever I decide to go.

The good thing about training for a marathon is that it increases my stamina, which in turn, helps me with paddling in the waves. Of course, stamina has never been a problem for me since I also cycle quite a bit. So, maybe the running isn't doing much for my surfing after all. It has to be helping somehow though, doesn't it? I sure hope so. I have realized that there is at least one major similarity between surfing and running. They are both sports that are done alone. Even if I run with others, eventually, it all comes down to my ability and mental endurance. The same goes for surfing. Even though I might paddle out with others, finding the right waves and catching it is up to the individual surfer. The last time I went out, dozens of others were out, but I was still very much alone in the water when I spotted my wave and attempted to catch it.

Holidays always get me into a funk. I'm not sure why since I generally enjoy getting together with others. Because of this funky feeling, though, I'm having a little trouble getting into a joyful frame of mind. Maybe it will come once I start decorating my house. Or, maybe once I start getting some shopping done, I'll find my pizazz. Or, maybe I just need to surf away my holiday woes. To do that, I need WAVES!

Wetsuit Weather

Last Friday, I noticed on the surfing web page that I watch for the wave reports, that the water temp was in the low 60s. The air tenp was warm with highs in the high 70s and the low 80s, yet I kept thinking that the low 60s sounded cold for the water temps. I packed my 3-2 full wetsuit and my mid-length-sleeved springsuit so that I would have both just in case. Since my usual Galveston contact was in Costa Rica surfing, I called one of the local surf shops to ask about the surf. The guy who answered the phone said that as long as I had a longboard, I would have waves to surf. When I drove up to 43rd, I noticed no one else was out.  However, I saw a few waves coming in and quickly put on the suit and went out on the east side of the jetty. I paddled for waves, but I just didn't have the timing or the power to catch any. I opted to go to the west side. I caught a couple, but still struggled some. I had fun, though. I'm glad I went out, but I hadn't surfed solo in a very long time.

Sunday brought decent
waves to the 43rd Street jetty 

By Sunday, the waves were a little stronger and better formed. I made my way down to 43rd about 11 a.m., and noticed I wouldn't be alone this time. Tons of surfers were out. I paddled out in the rip current and took my place in the line-up. I paddled for my first wave and caught it. Had a great ride, paddled back out and then missed a few waves. Not all the waves had enough power, but because I'm not skilled enough to know the difference, I paddled for many that just weren't forceful enough to lift me up. I wasn't disappointed though. I caught several and had a ball. Some of the waves I caught took me on quick, fun rides. I loved it. When those rides take place, I remember why I enjoy surfing so much. It is an incredible feeling...one that I hope to continue having for the rest of my life. What a great way to spend a Friday afternoon! I know I still have so much to learn when it comes to surfing, but I like that every time I manage to catch a ride, I feel like a pro. It's a fabulous feeling.

I'm hoping to go somewhere warm in December. I'm currently pricing trips to several Central American  and Mexican surfing destinations. Hmmm...where should I go?

Pretty fall Fridays

Since I had to travel out of town last week to a conference in Philly and missed an opportunity to surf, I was itching to get back out into the water. I had been following the surf reports and it looked as though the best surfing for the week would be Friday morning. I wasn't sure how long the pretty little waves would last, but I was hoping that they would be around in the afternoon. I found out a little earlier in the week that I would need to be sign some legal documents at 1 p.m., so I knew that not only would it be the afternoon before I could make it down, but it would likely be late afternoon. The initial forecast called for the waves to be gone by mid-afternoon, but that forecast changed as the week went on. Thank goodness!

I made it to G-town at approximately 3:30 and surfed until almost 6 p.m. The waves were still spectacular. Although I originally went out on the east side of the 43rd Street jetty, I ultimately decided that the waves looked better on the west side. On the east side, Dude Brian was the only one really catching any waves. I caught a couple, but easily got tossed off the board when waves doubled up. I couldn't figure out how to correct the issue. It's as if it was beyond my control. I decided to try the west side of the jetty even though most surfers were on the east side. I'm so glad I did! I caught wave after wave and had long rides and practiced turning. I pearled once though, which reminded me that I was taking too much time popping up. I definitely need to keep practicing that. I need to get up faster...I need to get up faster...I need to get up faster. All in all, I had many great rides and was so glad to be back out. And, I wore my shortie, which means we are slowly returning to wetsuit weather. By Saturday it was flat and, today (Sunday), although the waves were trying to rebuild, they hadn't re-formed quite enough.

Long Beach Island, NJ was
beautiful, but FLAT!

Last weekend, I had hoped to surf before my conference. I took a day of vacation and flew up early, rented a car and made my way to Long Beach Island, New Jersey. I loved the beach and had a great room overlooking the shore. Alas, they had no waves that weekend. I still had fun, and visited a huge Ron Jon Surf Shop that boasts being the original shop. It opened in 1961, and I loved looking at everything in the shop. I bought a mechanical surfer gal that I can't wait to try out in a bucket of water. I was upset that I didn't get to surf, but I've decided that it was a sign that meant I would have to go back some day. Everyone was so nice in the town, and I look forward to returning to try out the New Jersey waves.

Birthdays, Slop and More

Since I hadn't surfed in approximately two weeks, I was determined to get out this past weekend.

Waves were rough last weekend!

Dude sent me a text message early in the day on Friday (10/18), that the waves were crummy. I still needed to go to the island, though, to wish him a happy birthday because I had missed seeing him on the actual day. So, I suggested lunch. I met him for a nice lunch at a beach-side restaurant. Had a ball, but when it was over, I thought it would be a shame to be in Galveston on a Friday afternoon and not surf. I had my board and, although they were quite rough, there were waves. Dude was pleasantly surprised by my gifts and the lunch, but he made it clear from the start that he had no intention on surfing. He had too much to do.

I drove down the beach to 43rd, but the only place I could find other surfers was the west side of the 37th Street jetty. Three surfers were out. Since the summer season is over, the lifeguards are gone, and I don't feel safe surfing alone. I wanted others around, which is how I ended up at 37th. I put on my long-sleeved 2m rashguard -- a true sign that fall is here -- and paddled out. I had seen two of the surfers out catching waves and hopping from one to another, and I couldn't wait to give it a try. I took the rip current out and waited. I saw one coming my way, popped up, took a short ride, but got pushed off the board from a secondary wave pushing stronger than the first. That's pretty much how it happened for me the rest of the afternoon. I could never get the hang of hopping from wave to wave, or as the surfers refer to it, "Connecting the Dots." I guess I'll have to try again soon.

It's only October and I can't wait for spring to return!

My namesake Tropical Storm?

When Tropical Storm Karen formed, I became the butt of a number of jokes...or perhaps "IT" became the butt of a lot of jokes. Those closest to me claimed that the storm would be unpredictable, while others claimed it would be a calm storm sure not to do much damage. I liked the second idea, but became used to the fact that the first claim might be closer to the truth. I would definitely be unpredictable. However, I would give the Gulf Coast a chance to explode with waves, which is exactly what happened this past weekend.

Because of a cold front heading toward the Texas Gulf Coast, TS Karen was forecasted to bear to the east and hit Florida. And that is what it did. The strong wind associated with her though brought better than normal waves to Galveston and the surrounding coastline. We were on the 'clean' side of the storm and the waves were incredible.

It's hard to tell from this photo, but
Tropical Storm Karen created
some decent waves in Galveston.

I made it down for my usual Friday afternoon surf session. As soon as I drove up to the seawall on the incline that connects 45th street to Seawall Blvd., I could see the tops of waves. When I made it to the 43rd St. jetty, I was incredibly excited to see firsthand nice-sized waves rolling in. The storm hadn't really started churning the waves very bad just yet. That would come a little later. I was able to take Roxanne down to the beach and start catching waves. I caught the first two I paddled for, but about an hour after I arrived, I pearled. I got caught in the inside and wasn't able to save it when the wave tilted the board forward. I hate it when that happens, but I guess it's just one way to remind me that the waves
are really in control of what happens. Several of the waves I caught that day after my pearling incident were much bigger than I'm used to and, therefore, a lot more powerful. I had one of the fastest "rides" of my life, which is odd when I think about it since I've certainly surfed much better places with much bigger waves. This particular wave, though, was just plain quick. I almost lost my balance once, but saved it and even managed to make a turn...at least that is what I felt like I did. Later, someone commented that it looked like I turned, so I felt proud that they noticed. I was no Kelly Slater for sure, but I managed to hang on to the wave for a very long ride, which made my trip worthwhile.

My first text from the G-town surf dude on Saturday indicated that, while the waves were big, they were incredibly rough. Some of the usual weekend surfers made it down, but I opted to run and cycle. After my ride though, I received a text saying that it was worth the drive down. Unfortunately, life got in the way that day, and I didn't have time. I kept my fingers crossed for Sunday, but, just as predicted, by the next morning when the cold front pushed through, it was flat. It was also significantly cooler. I would have probably needed to wear a long-sleeve rashguard or a spring suit had there been waves. I opted to ride my bike, but even that was difficult with the stiff north breeze. I regret not being able to surf on Saturday, but I'm thankful that I had such a terrific time on Friday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this Friday too. I know I will not get TS Karen waves again this week, but I'll surf anything I can.

Promises, Promises

A north wind was forecasted this weekend! Surfline gave Saturday morning a positive review offering first a blue forecast that changed to green (cleanest of clean waves) later in the week indicating big, beautiful waves. Unfortunately, not only did a north wind come through but another weather system stalled and came in from the south meeting the north "cool" front causing quite a bit of rain for southeast Texas. Surfers from all over were ready to descend on Galveston. As long as the lightning stayed away, surfing in the rain wouldn't be a problem.  However, not everyone was expecting the crazy wind. Yes, the temps dropped just enough to make it a little chilly for wet people standing on the beach, but that didn't stop anyone as they planned for Saturday.

Friday first though! Friday afternoon is my usual surf day of course. The weather was stormy though

Saturday was just plain sloppy!
(A view looking toward the
Pleasure Pier.)

and the waves were a bit of a mess. It just wasn't worth it to go surfing. No one was out. They were all waiting for Saturday. I had already decided that rather than cycle on Saturday, I would surf because of the forecasted waves. I thought I would do a short 6-mile run at 5:30 a.m. and head down. But when I woke up, it was raining at my house, so I slept in. Early reports from Dude B indicated that the waves were big, but rather sloppy. He said he would check a little later, but if he were me, he wouldn't make the drive down. I visited a couple of webcams and saw crowds of surfers, but I had to agree that the surf looked sloppy. Because it was raining, I opted to go to spin class at the gym rather than bicycle. I popped Roxanne in the car though just in case I received a text from Dude saying that the waves had cleaned up and the surf was calling. The text never came. I later spoke to another surfer I knew who said he paddled out, but after about 30 minutes, came into shore because the waves were impossible to catch. I journeyed to G-town later that night for supper and drove along the beach. It was still a mess even at 5:30 in the afternoon, so I wasn't holding much hope for Sunday.

I received a text early from Dude B on Sunday saying that he would be giving lessons and that the winds might have lightened a bit. He warned that it was cool, but could possibly be worth a paddle out.  I packed Roxanne and drove to the 43rd St. jetty. It was just as he had described it: a little messy, but if a person didn't mind waiting, a set would roll through. I paddled out and caught the first wave I paddled into and stayed for about an hour-and-a-half. I had a ball. The waves didn't last very long before fizzling out, but if you took them at just the right angle, it was possible to get a decent ride. I didn't have the best rides ever, but I did catch a few that made the trip completely worthwhile. I was a little chilly while waiting on the board, but I wasn't as cold as I thought I might be. Sometimes I just need a clean wave or two to clear my head. Things in life can get so confusing and catching a wave can help clear the cobwebs! So glad I had the opportunity to do that.

Gulf Storm Waves

A little more than five years ago, Hurricane Ike hit Galveston. Although I had a safe evacuation that actually turned into a mildly entertaining visit with some good friends in downtown Houston, the experience caused disruption in many lives including mine. Quite a few people suffered as did several I loved dearly, but it definitely could have been worse. I hadn't begun surfing at the time, but I do remember seeing surfers taking advantage of the waves caused by the storm. Now, as a surfer, I hear other surfers talk about storms from a different perspective. It's all about the waves. I don't think I'm ever going to be crazy enough to head to Galveston when I should be evacuating elsewhere, but I can't help but be a little excited when a storm that isn't near us cause some building waves in Galveston. Don't get me wrong, I do not like the idea of others being devastated by a storm, but when a storm has formed in the southernmost portion of the Gulf, I can only hope that it doesn't come our way and that it will, perhaps, build some waves. Tropical Storm and then Hurricane Ingrid churned in the Gulf this past weekend and waves developed. Friday morning might have been the prettiest morning for surfing, but I couldn't make it to the island until the afternoon. I agreed to take an extra board for one of the young gals from my neighborhood. She has surfed a few times so she wasn't going to need my assistance, just one of my boards. So I loaded up Roxanne for me and my Softop, Iris, for her and met her at 36th. Because of the waves, the 43rd Street jetty was packed, which is why I headed to 36th, met my friend Brian and eventually met up with the young gal from my neighborhood. I had a ball. The toughest part about 36th is that there is no jetty with a rip current to get to the outside. Paddling out at 36th means timing the sets and making it through the waves as they break. Despite that, I caught many waves that day, and had a great time. I still need practice on my pop-up and also getting down on the board to paddle back out after the wave is past. I'm sure some day I'll get it all figured out. Until then, I'll just have fun practicing.

The next morning, I had a run in Galveston. I competed in the Press Run put on by the Galveston County Daily News. It was a 10K and my only complaint about the run is that it started at 8 a.m. rather than 7 a.m., which is crazy in September in southeast Texas because of the HEAT. The cause was a good one though. The run raised money to put newspapers (electronic and paper) in local schools. I was even willing to add money to the entry fee for this noble cause. I ran a pretty good race even though I had to stop and walk during my second climb over the Causeway. I finished 1st in my age group, 8th in all the women and 23rd overall. I wasn't convinced that I had actually one first in my age group though because there was a runner listed above me. However, she wasn't ranked. Not sure why, but I was presented the first place medal and it was fun. I can only imagine how fast I might have run if I hadn't overheated and walked a short distance. After I finished the run, I decided to go back down to the beach to have fun in the storm waves. I heard that the waves were cleaner earlier in the morning, but by the time I made it there at 10:30 a.m., they still looked pretty clean to me. I made it out on the west side of the 43rd St. jetty and managed to catch a couple of fabulous waves when I suddenly started feeling weak. Unfortunately, it affected the rest of my weekend. I'm guessing I overheated and dehydrated. I heard that the waves on Sunday were messy so I didn't miss much. And today looked incredibly rough even though the storm had moved ashore in Mexico, but they should be calming a little later this week. And, I can't wait!

Dodging Sharks and Storms

I skipped posting last week partially because I was busy and partially because I didn't get to surf last weekend. However, I had gotten to surf during the week, including a fabulous Tuesday night session with incredible waves. I'm back in a strange pattern with the waves. When the waves are around, I can't go; and, when I can go, there are no waves. According to my surfing buddy, the waves were good this past Friday morning. However, by the time I got off at noon, they were weak and messy. I didn't care. I decided to load up Roxanne and take her down. Surf dude didn't like the looks of 43rd because so many surfers were out at that jetty. (The webcam makes 43rd a popular place, and, for some reason, the waves are the best there.) He suggested we go down to Flagship, which used to be the most popular surf spot on the island before the Galveston Island History Pleasure Pier opened up with games and rides. I thought the waves looked weak there, but I was willing to give it a try. I only caught a couple of waves, while a couple of the more experienced guys caught wave after wave. The break was unusually quiet though; possibly because the waves were better at 43rd and the parking is so difficult at 25th because of the Pleasure Pier. After the first 45 minutes, I was ready to leave, but it wasn't until surf dude  saw a 6' shark that we got out of the water. He paddled up to me and said, "Get out of the water, now." I thought he was joking, but when he looked at me and said it again, I knew it was time to get out of the water.  By that time, he and I were the only ones out there, but he warned the lifeguards anyway just so that they could warn any other swimmers or surfers who wanted to paddle out on the east side of the 26th St. jetty. We ended up at 51st Street, where I had a ball with only a couple of other surfers out. The waves weren't any stronger, but they seemed a little easier for me to paddle into and to surf.

This morning (Sunday), I received a text early that the waves were good. However, since I had already

Thunderstorms moved in and cut
my Sunday surf session short

planned a 5:30 a.m. run, I wasn't ready to head down until about 9:30. Of course, according to a couple of the guys I surf with, the waves turned to mush before I got there. I paddled out anyway and caught a couple of waves before a thunderstorm appeared, and I was forced to get out of the water because of lightning. I hate it when that happens! I would have loved to surf more waves, but it didn't look as though it would let up any time soon. I went with a couple of the guys to a garage where the surf dude and one of his instructors mend boards. It was fun to see their place and to see T, one of the owners of the surf repair shop, hard at work mending what looked like a little board. What an artistic endeavor creating and fixing boards seem. Hmmm...

Looking at possibly taking a surf trip to Bali sometime in the spring. I really want to go, but I need to check into the safety of such a trip, especially if I have to go alone. I read the book "Eat Pray Love," but I'm not sure I will have the financial backing that the author of the book had. But, I can't wait to discover more about it.

A 3-D Surf Movie and a Few Little Waves

Social media can definitely be helpful sometimes. The other day while reading Facebook posts, a FB friend who oversees the local chapter of a surfing organization, posted about two surfing events taking place. One was a fundraiser in Galveston benefitting the man who made my second board and who was injured during a tanker surfing event when the boat threw him. His back was injured, and because of the lost of income he has sustained due to his injury, some of the local surfers held a silent auction to raise money for him. The other event was an announcement about the premier of an independent 3D documentary about a couple of big wave surfers. While I will contribute to the funds being collected for the tanker surfer, I decided to attend the second and see the movie -- "Storm Surfers." One of the surfers was close to 50, while the other was 45. They had been surfing together since their 20s. With the help of a meteorologist and a couple of others, they would see big waves close to Australia and get towed into them. They would carry cameras. It was a fabulous movie! However, I don't EVER want to surf waves that big. Here's the promo clip from YouTube. (Not sure how long the link will stay live. hmmm...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW_eIeKyjSo

After seeing a movie like that, I knew I had to surf this weekend. Friday was flat, but I kept my fingers

I finished surfing just as
a storm arrived

crossed that there would be waves on Sunday. So, first thing Sunday, I visited several of the usual websites and noticed that while the "seas" seemed choppy and the current looked strong, there were surfable waves.  I loaded up Roxanne and headed to the 43rd Street jetty. When I arrived, I saw a few surfers already out, but none that I knew. Once I paddled out on the west side of the jetty though, I noticed that the other gal out was actually someone I know. She is one of the local surf instructors and a great surfer. She and the others who were out on Sunday were probably 25 years younger (or more) than me. But they are always very nice to me and offer advice when I need it. I had a fabulous few rides, and even managed to turn and catch adjoining waves. I practiced shifting my weight on the board and looking to the side. I practiced my paddling and had a ball. Clouds and rain in the distance made the temps more than tolerable. All in all, I had a wonderful time surfing. I'm hoping for a some evening surf one night this week.

Pretty Little Waves and a Day Off

A day off is much better than an off day! So goes the classic greeting card saying. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I've been dying to get back into the water since last Sunday. I have a couple of good "rides," and the next thing I know, it's time to get out of the water and wait until the next week. Of course, by the time this past Friday rolled around, it was flat. I think I've shared my theory already about why it is so flat this summer. In case I happen to come back and try to read this again, I'll go ahead and re-post my theory: I think that for the past four years, I've just been incredibly lucky with the waves. And, I think the reason I've been so lucky is because of El Nino. For the past few years, we've been an El Nino "dry" pattern. The waves have been strong out of the south all summer, which gave us choppy, crazy waves, but waves nonetheless. However, this year, we've had a little more rain, and it's not quite as hot. They say we are experiencing drought conditions, but I think the rain has come fairly regularly this year. I know it's not as bad as it has been for the last four or so years. (My theory may be hogwash. Haven't researched it much, just jumping to conclusions based on what I see.) And, this year, the waves have been very inconsistent...especially on the weekend. Also, this year, when we have had waves, they've been clean, consistent sets because of a strange north wind. This weekend was a fine example.

As I stated earlier, Friday was flat. However, by Saturday, the webcam showed waves building, and

Strange, north winds this summer
are good for the waves.
A pic from Sunday.

when I drove to G-town on Saturday night for a birthday dinner, the waves were nice. I wished I would have had my board with me for sure! I was hoping that they would hold out until Sunday. And they did...sort of. The nice sets were there, but they were fewer an farther between. I made my way to the island early, unloaded Roxanne and hopped in the water. I caught a wave right away and worked it down the beach. I felt proud. I caught a few more, but, for the most part, I just paddled and missed. The waves were not very strong, so only a few were surfable. Those that were "strong" enough, provided wonderful rides. But, figuring out which ones were strong enough was a chore for me. I paddled and paddled. One of the other surfers suggested that my paddling was too shallow and that more of my hand needed to go in the water. The interesting thing about that was that he wasn't catching any more than me. Of course, I believe that I was shallow with my paddling. I decided then and there that I would return on Monday if there were waves.

I had planned a day of vacation for Monday based on surf reports early last week that we would have waves because of a tropical system moving into the Gulf.  By late Sunday, the forecast wasn't nearly as hopeful. And, by this morning, I thought it looked quite flat. My surf report confirmed what I was seeing on the webcam. So, I decided to go on a bike ride. By the time it was over, I had a text message that it had improved quite a bit. I loaded up Roxanne and headed down. The waves were smaller than they had been on Sunday, but if patient, a nice little set would roll in. Like Sunday, I caught a wave right off the bat. However, I had to wait a little while for another set. I practiced my paddling. I dug deep, and it seemed to pay off a couple of times. I received some more advice from another surfer. He said that I needed to look behind me on days like today so that I could see how the wave was closing out. I think he told me that because, a couple of times, I couldn't quite propel myself to the next re-form to keep riding the waves. I felt like I was doing as well as some of the others who were out, but I think this particular surfer just thought I could have gotten a longer ride if I had "swung" the board a little to the left to catch the remainder of the wave. Like the paddling advice, I will definitely do as he suggested. I have a tendency to look down or straight in front of me; I need to practice looking elsewhere. I'm hoping to get to "practice" it some more next Friday!

On the Board Again at Last!

FINALLY! After three weeks of flatness, today I found waves at the 43rd Street jetty. The Surfline forecast has looked dismal, and it has actually been quite accurate. I don't remember having this many days during the summer unsurfable, not that I've been surfing for that long. However, for the past four years, I could always count on a few windblown peaks during July and August on my usual Friday afternoon and early Sunday morning outings that I could play around on with a long enough board. That has not been the case this summer. The only small, rideable waves have come during the week when I am at work. If I understand it all properly, a high pressure system has been sitting over part Texas and the Gulf, which has kept the wind from circulating the right direction and kicking up the waves.

I have a general workout plan each week. I usually run early on Saturdays before going to my bicycle rides; on Sundays I surf, while Monday is a rest day; on Tuesday, I cycle; on Wednesday, I run; on Thursday, I cycle; and Fridays I surf. My schedule has been strange lately, so my workout schedule has been a little skewed, but, most of all, Galveston hasn't had any waves during my regular surfing time. Because of rain yesterday, I didn't get to run and decided I would do it on Sunday. After all, Surfline was forecasting really small, slow surf, which means I probably wasn't going to need to hurry home and load up the board. 5:15 a.m. came early, but I knew my only chance for running would be if I got out of the house early before it became unbearably hot. By the time I returned from my 4.25-mile, I had a text from surfer "dude" letting me know that the surf was the best it had been for the past few days. (It wasn't great, but it was surfable!) So, I headed down to G-town.

I wish I knew psychic who
could tell me when
I would have waves.

Just as I was pulling up to the seawall, I received a text from an old friend I hadn't seen for a couple of years. He said he was in town and wanted to know how the surf was. I said that we had waves for the first time in weeks and noticed, to my surprise, that he had pulled in behind me to park. I was thrilled to see him. He moved to Dallas a couple of years ago and doesn't get to surf as often as he likes. I ran into several other friends, who had also just arrived. Everyone was excited to finally have waves on the weekend. Initially, I struggled because the waves lacked force. My timing was a little off also. However, after about 20 minutes, I caught my first wave and the rest of the morning was a blast! I, literally, dropped in on a few waves that allowed me to turn and guide my board. I received some good advice from a surfing friend who suggested I would probably catch more waves if I scooted my body up on the board. I did it and caught the next wave. It allowed the board to be "picked up" since the back was slightly up higher for the wave. I realized, though, that in that position I had to get up quickly or I would pearl. All in all it was a great morning.

Good friends AND waves! Who could ask for more?

Questions

Where are the waves when I can surf? Why are the best waves early in the morning on days that I have to work? How can I become a better surfer if I don't get out into the waves at least once a week? Where should I go on my next surf trip? Should I stick with my 9' or should I experiment with different sized boards? Do I need another board?

Questions: I have so many questions about so many things. I would certainly like to surf more, but I don't want to give up anything else I do. I love to run and cycle, but I know the only way for me to get better at surfing is to do it more often. I usually get to surf twice a week, but this summer, it seems, has been different. No waves means no surfing. While I got to surf last week twice, this weekend has been a dud. I was hoping to surf tonight, a Tuesday night surprise, and although it looked good early today, it was a bust. A simple phone call resulted in the bad news: IT WAS FLAT! I opted to bicycle when my surfing session fell through. But, I sure wanted to surf.

Although Wednesdays are my run days followed by dinner with friends, Thursdays are wide open and I'm hoping some waves appear. And, I hope they hang on for Friday afternoon and return on Sunday morning. I want some surfing time to strengthen my skills and clear my mind. And, maybe I'll even find a few answers.

Restless

After surfing,  I usually
spend a little time relaxing
with a sandwich. This
is a sign from one of my
favorite places.

Sometimes, no matter how good things seem, I want something more. I should be perfectly happy that I get to surf at all, but, no, I want to surf more and I want to surf whenever the waves are perfect and not just when I have time. Oh my! Last week, it became painfully obvious that I wasn't going to have the time to go surfing on Friday. I needed to spend some time with family and Friday was the only day I had for it. I checked the surf report, and it looked as though there would be waves on Thursday. And, there were. It was choppy, but at least the waves were ride-able...if you could make it out. I struggled with the current, but still managed to catch one or two; although, I must admit that most of them were whitewater by the time they reached me. I made it to the outside, but I still caught most of my waves after they broke. It seemed that no matter where I was, the wave broke just before me. I caught one or two as they were breaking and had a ball. Those were my longest rides. I turned some and tried to get a good position on my board. Had a ball! It just feels good to be out there. I surfed on the east side of the 36th street jetty, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to get out there. I hear that the waves Friday morning were better with the wind being slightly out of the north, but I don't care 'cause at least I got to surf.

Rain tapped the window early on Sunday morning, but by the time I got out of bed, it was more than a tap. It poured. The surf looked "okay" early on, but I didn't feel like loading up to go all the way down just to find out that it was lightning and that I couldn't go in the water. I waited until the storms let up and checked the webcam again. By about noon, it looked windier but less stormy. So, I packed up Roxanne (my 9') and headed to 43rd. At least five other surfers were in the water when I got there. While watching the webcam, I had noticed quite a few go out and leave, but the place was never empty. I think all of the weekend warriors like me were just glad to have something to surf. I hadn't surfed at 43rd in awhile since I had been surfing at 36th. I felt like I had come back home. On rough days, like Sunday, I enjoy having the rip current to take me out. I'm not sure I caught any of the waves that day as they were breaking (maybe one), but I had so much fun. I didn't have a lot of time, but I tried to make the most of it. Although I was surrounded by very experienced surfers, I never felt uncomfortable. And, I seemed to catch as many as them, even if I was catching the waves after they broke. One of the regular surfers there that day told me that I would be better off if I bent down a little more to lower my center of gravity. That's interesting since I had been told by someone else that I needed to stand straighter. I thin I understood what the Sunday "dude" was telling me though. I just need to work on bending lower in my knees. I didn't mind the critique at all since I'm sure he has been surfing much longer AND more often than me. I only get down to the beach a couple of times a week and he probably makes it down every day. I just have to keep trying!

I'm anxious to go somewhere again so that I can surf in calmer, formed waves like those surfing in the Pacific get to experience. I'm thinking about combining two of my sports in September by possibly running a marathon in Costa Rica and then going surfing. Not sure if I will get to do it, but I sure like planning as if I can. It gives me hope and makes me smile! I might want more, but I definitely need to realize that life is good and that the waves I have are better than no waves at all.

Disappointing Weekend and Weeknight Surf Reports

So tonight was going to be the night for me. After finding out there were no waves on Friday and that the Saturday and Sunday surf was a small mess, I was just sure that I would go surfing one night this week. I had hoped for tonight. I looked at the surf report early this morning and it mentioned that, perhaps, the wind would lighten up this evening and even change to be a little more from the north. If that happened, the mushy, small waves would clean up a bit for the afternoon. I looked at the webcam periodically throughout the day, but it didn't look like things were going as predicted unfortunately. At 4:30, I spoke with my Galveston contact who said the wind was howling, the tide was out, the current was strong and the waves were mush. I was sure sad to hear it and even contemplated heading down to the 43rd Street jetty anyway.  I thought, "It can't be any worse than it was last Sunday...or could it?" I looked at the webcam over and over, walked outside to look at the approaching weather and, ultimately, decided that it just wasn't in the cards for me to surf tonight. Too bad! The forecast for this weekend doesn't look all that good either. I'm antsy to get back out; not sure why.

When I can't go surfing I usually
can find something else to keep
me busy: either running or cycling!

Because I didn't go surf, I decided that I had to do something to fill the time. I was a little late for spin class and the wet roads from earlier rain as well as the dark clouds made cycling unsafe. I opted for a run. I'm still recovering from my marathon a couple of weeks ago, but need to keep on my two-days-a-week plan since I have been accepted to run in the Houston Marathon coming up in January. Also, with the cloud cover, I realized it would be a little cooler tonight. And, I was right. I decided I would run six miles. I made it three miles before the clouds that had been building shook loose. I got drenched, but the rain made it a much cooler run than I have had since May. I also only had a couple of steps of knee clicking, which is good since I've been worried about that. It went away early in the run and didn't return. Thank goodness. While I had a good evening, I still would have rather been surfing!

Holiday Weekends, Wind and Rough Waves

During the middle of last week, the winds shifted and G-town was flat. I was very disappointed since it was a holiday week, and I would have Thursday off to do some surfing. I opted for my other sports instead since the wind was light and it was flat. The flatness lingered into Friday, but an increase in the south wind caused the waves to get a little bigger by Saturday, and a strengthening of the winds on Saturday afternoon, made Sunday waves a mess. However, waves, at least, had formed! I struggled with whether I should head down on Saturday afternoon or take my chances and wait until Sunday morning. The weather forecast called for rain on Sunday, and I didn't want to be rained out of surfing. Of course, surfing in the rain is not a problem, though surfing in lightning is. After mentally leaping back and forth about whether to head down there or not, I opted to take my chances and wait until Sunday.

Rough and windy

I lucked out! The rain and, more importantly, the lightning stayed away. The wind had picked up and that, coupled with a strong current, made the waves a mess. However, I was itching to get back in the water, so I headed down. Just so happens I ran into a friend/coworker and his son out surfing. They warned me that it would be hard getting to the outside. They had opted to stay a little closer to shore in the whitewater. Of course, I had to give it a try. While the two of them stood on the end of the jetty, I took the rip current to the end of it. I immediately got pushed back by a wave. I tried over and over, but soon tired and decided that I, too, would stay closer to the shore and catch reforms. My friend/coworker said that he had also tried to make it to the outside and couldn't. Of the four or five surfers out, only two were on the outside. I watched a shortboarder manipulate his way past the waves and current by duck diving, which is impossible on my 9' board. I didn't give up completely. At least two other times during my session I attempted to make my way to the outside. Both times I collided with waves and disaster. I had fun on the inside whitewater, but even getting back out into some sort of reform line-up was difficult. All in all, it was great to be back out on the board since it had been two weeks, but I sure wish the wind had lightened up just enough to make it a little less difficult to get to the outside.

Hmmmm....maybe next week...

Top 20 Surf Destinations -- an Article to Make Me Dream

Blah! That's what the waves have been like lately when I'm off.  I was planning to go surfing Friday, but received a call saying that the waves were not worth it. In addition, since the Fourth of July is just around the corner, vacationers have invaded G-town for a few weeks. If I couldn't get there by 7 a.m., then it wouldn't be worth trying to squeeze my way in. The waves were wishy-washy and what ever surfable waves there were, they were loaded with surfers. I was bummed I didn't get to go on Friday afternoon, but it was probably for the best since I am also still fighting a cold I picked up in San Francisco. (I've since read that running a marathon can weaken a person's immune system.) Although ill on Saturday, I still managed to run three miles and cycle 45. I've had at least two people suggest that I'm not giving my body enough time to heal itself, but I think that if I feel like doing it, I should do it and that my body will recover on its own time.

On Sunday, I was looking forward to some pretty little waves. In a strange turn of events for June, the wind shifted out of the north. I wasn't sure that it would be strong enough to make a difference, but when I woke up that morning, I looked on the webcam and saw pretty little peelers with approximately five or six surfers already taking advantage of them. I had some early morning commitments, but hoped that the waves would hold until I could make it down around 10 a.m. However, a 9 a.m. phone call suggested that it was NOT worth a drive down. The waves, while still coming in pretty sets, had diminished significantly. Most of the surfers were gone. And, the beach was packed! I definitely could tell that it was the beginning of a holiday week. So, once again, I DIDN'T GET TO SURF. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this week. I might even try for an early surf session on the 4th as long as I can get down there really early and get out before the crowds get too big. (Surf reports don't look good for waves though.)

I really like Twitter for a number of reasons. One of the things I like about it is that I can follow many surf sites and receive information about surf equipment, trips and more. On Sunday I was looking at my Twitter feed and saw several of the surfing sites post a story from CNN about the Top 20 Surfing Destinations. I've posted about lists like this before...possibly even a list CNN put out last year. But, I never get tired of reading them and dreaming about some of the places I'd like to go. I've been to two of the destinations on the list this year (Freights Bay, Barbados and Tamarindo, Costa Rica). I hope to go to some of the others during my lifetime.

Happy reading!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/30/travel/50-surf-spots/index.html?iref=allsearch

International Surfing Day and remnants of yet another tropical disturbance

On Thursday, June 20, all the surfers and surfing sites were talking about International Surfing Day.  I've since done a little research and found that different groups celebrate it on different dates throughout the world, but that the Surfrider Foundation celebrates on June 20. The local Surfrider organization was having a paddle out and surf session beginning early on the 20th. I was just returning from vacation where I had run my first full marathon, so I knew that I wasn't going to be able to make it down for an early morning surf session on the first day I was returning to work. I saw the pics on Facebook and it looked like a decent sized group that gathered in G-town. They had small, close-to-the-shore waves. According to the wave forecast, the better waves were going to be on early Friday morning. Unfortunately, I knew I couldn't surf then either and hoped that they would last until the afternoon. Tropical Storm Barry kicked up in the southern Gulf of Mexico and quickly headed toward Mexico. It was in the Gulf just long enough to cause some nice, well-formed waves to develop in Galveston.

Friday morning was definitely the best time to benefit from Barry. Many surfers were out, and the pictures showed them having fun. I kept my fingers crossed that they would still be around by Friday afternoon.  And they were. I made it to the 37th Street jetty by 1:30 and was out in the water by 1:40. The waves were not quite as big as they had been that morning, but the sets were still clean. With a longboard, they were definitely manageable. I paddled out to wait for waves with about three others who were already out in the water. (The 43rd Street jetty was packed...in fact, so packed that I couldn't find parking near there. Managed to find a spot across from 37th.) I caught my first wave and had fun from then on. I missed several, but, all in all, surfed so many more than I missed that I quit thinking about the ones I missed. After one successful ride, a guy on the beach applauded. I don't think he was clapping because of my style; I think he was just being nice because I rode it all the way in. Most surfers slap back down on their boards before getting so close to shore so they won't have so far to paddle back out. However, I hate to stop the ride. So, even though it makes me look like an amateur, I take the wave all the way in. All in all, it was a fabulous Friday for me to surf.

I hoped to go surfing this morning too, but it was messy mush. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things get better by the end of the week!

TS Andrea and Well-Formed Waves

By Wednesday of last week, it was obvious that Thursday and, possibly, Friday would be good days. A tropical system that eventually became Tropical Storm Andrea formed in the Gulf. I always hate to hear about tropical systems because it can mean such disruption and devastation to anyone and everyone that ends up being in the path of a storm. The National Weather Service is predicting a busy storm season for the Atlantic/Gulf area this year. I hate to hear that. Many surfers don't mind though since they love the wave action created by such storms. A tropical storm formed pretty quickly in the Gulf last week. Although it was no threat to the Texas Gulf coast, everyone still paid attention to it since it was the first of the season. It was predicted to go inland in the southeast portion of Florida, and it did. Because of it's location, Galveston surfers realized that we would receive nicely formed waves. The prediction was that Thursday would be really nice and, if we kept our fingers crossed, the waves would still be here by Friday.

I couldn't make it down on Thursday morning, but I noticed the beautiful waves on the webcam and dreamt about being able to surf waves like those. The sets were perfect. I thought about going down after work on Thursday, but a quick surf report from surf dude Brian, made me realize that Thursday night wouldn't be the best night for me. The wind had picked up considerably in the late afternoon hours and, because of that, the waves were a mess. On Friday morning, I was surprised to see that the waves were quite nice again. Surfers were everywhere on the webcam, and I kept my fingers crossed that the waves would hang on until the afternoon. I headed down there after I left work at noon. It was incredibly crowded, possibly because it was the first week of summer break for local school districts. Many were out surfing. I couldn't find a spot to park at 43rd, and wanted to stay away from the crowds of surfers, so I drove to 36th. I found a place to park across the street and made my way to the water. Fortunately, only a couple of surfers were near the jetty. I paddled out and greeted the other two in the water and caught the first wave that came my way. I had a ball.

The waves were very small by the time I made it in the water, but  they were well formed, which allowed me to watch, paddle and surf the waves. It would have been better if the wind would have been a little more out of the east instead of the west only because I'm a goofy-footer, which makes it

The waves started disappearing
as soon as I got out of the
water on Friday.

hard for me to go left on the wave. I kept surfing toward the jetty, which shortened my ride. I had a ball anyway. I caught several waves, dropped down on the board and paddled right back out for more. After a couple of hours, I paddled in. By then, the wave were incredibly small. They would definitely be gone by evening. And they were. Saturday was flat, and Sunday brought small, wind-driven slop that was surfable, but not really worth paddling out. (At least, that is what the surf dude said.) That's okay since Sunday was an incredible busy day for me. Today (Monday), the waves looked nice, but since I had to work and then run, I didn't have time to make it down for and evening surf session. It might be a couple of weeks before I get to surf again. But, it can't be helped. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that some pretty little waves will form once again. Although I hate to think of someone suffering through a storm, the swell it creates is pretty darn fun!

Timing in Life and Surf

Sometimes, especially
as I'm training for my
marathon, I might be safer
riding one of these.

Last Wednesday evening I decided I needed some time in the water. Surf reports weren't bad so I loaded up after work and drove to 36th street and Seawall. The waves were a little bit of a mess, but, after all, it's May in Galveston, Texas. These kind of waves is what is expected this time of year. I made my way down to the rough and tumble surf, went out and caught a wave right away. The session lost its charm after that. I would catch a wave every now and then, but many times I misjudged when the waves were heading my way.  I would either think they were coming through nice and strong, paddle for them and then be disappointed, or I wouldn't think they were going to form and watch fairly nice waves pass me by. I got caught on the inside early on and wiped out 'causing me and the board to separate and the board to pop in the air and land much too close to my foot and leg, and, in fact, hit my foot. Although I felt pain at the time of the accident, it wasn't until I ran 20 miles two days later that I realized I might have done some damage. My foot has been swollen since that time. Timing is bad for me to have a swollen foot since I'm only approximately three weeks from running in my first full marathon.

The foot didn't slow me down though. I cycled on Saturday, surfed again on Sunday, and completed the three-day Memorial Day weekend with a bike ride on Monday. My Sunday surf session might have been slightly more successful than my Wednesday surf session. I caught some waves despite the fact that the waves were a jumbled mess. I ran into a couple of surf buddies who I hadn't seen in awhile, which made the surf session even more fun. I kept noticing my foot though, which would swell up pretty big by evening. I think it is only severely bruised, but I'm certainly going to keep an eye on it.

I have several major things going on around me in life these days. Sometimes I just need to surf or ride or run to work through it. I'm losing a dear friend who is moving to another country. I hope we can continue to be close despite the distance. I've got a lot of change going on right now, so the timing of her move seems wrong for me and yet, seems consistent with an ever-changing world. I hope the timing is right for her!

Busy Surf-less Weekends

I haven't surfed in almost three weeks. The past two weeks have been crazy, busy for me and, as usual, when I can surf, it's flat, and when there are waves, I can't surf. This past weekend was same ol' story. I was prepared to surf on Friday, but the surf reports indicated that it was a choppy mess. Although the surf dude has been busy with lessons, his early surf report said it wasn't worthwhile for surfing; that while it was enough for lessons, it wasn't actually worthwhile for going out. By Saturday though, that had changed. The waves, while not the best, were a better formed. However, I was already over-committed and, by the time I could have gone, it was quite crowded. (My Saturday morning included a necessary 18-mile run. Marathon training takes a lot of time.) Spring/summer is in full swing. Cars lined the Seawall.  Galveston hosted the annual Beach Revue, which includes a bathing beauty contest. People lined the Seawall to watch. Even if I had wanted to go on Saturday afternoon, I wouldn't have been able to find a parking spot.

I noticed on the webcam that the
seaweed is back. It didn't look
quite as thick as it was in this
pic a couple of years ago.

Although the surf didn't look great on Sunday, I still would have gone if I didn't have to work. I don't have to work often on the weekends, so when I do, I really can't complain. Well, I can a little if I miss a good day of surf. But that wasn't really the case this time. I didn't miss much. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a morning or evening this week...maybe tomorrow. We'll see.

Wednesday Night Wonderful

After looking at the surf forecast on Surfline last Monday as well as watching weather forecasts, it seemed pretty obvious that I wouldn't have surf for this past weekend. A cold front was scheduled to cross the coast on Thursday, which means that it would be flat on Thursday and Friday. When a second was scheduled to cross the coast again on Sunday, I decided that if I was going to surf, I would need to do it before Thursday. When surf dude contacted me on Wednesday and said that it that the waves were surfable, I knew it was my last chance for a little while. So, I rode my bike home from work, loaded my car and headed to the island. The air temp was warm, but the water temp is still in the 70s, so I know I would probably need more than a rash guard. I brought my new Roxy springsuit, and it was perfect.

I paddled out at 36th Street since the 43rd Street jetty had quite a few surfers already near it. Approximately seven or eight surfers were already out between 35th and 39th.  When I'm at 43rd and seven and eight surfers are out, it seems crowded; however, when I'm at 36th, it seems a little roomier. While standing on the Seawall, I found the waves to be nice and consistent.  When I was out in the water though, I found them very difficult to read. Timing had to be perfect in getting out because of the lack of rip current next to a jetty. Going out at 36th requires counting sets and waiting for a lull. I made it out, but then I had a hard time judging the timing of the waves. All in all, I caught a few, but I also misjudged a few. The ones I caught were spectacular, but I really prefer catching most, not just some. The surf dude told me that the waves had been much nicer earlier in the day, but since I couldn't make it there before 6 p.m., it made no difference to me. I can only go when I can go, and it does no good thinking about the waves I missed. I need to work with what I have. I am keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend, but the weather is looking incredibly "if-fy." Maybe if I click my heels together and say three times:

Wishing for waves...

Wishing for waves...

Wishing for waves...

It can't hurt!

Marathon Training and Surf Time

I'm pretty sure I mentioned my marathon training. In fact, I know I have. Because of the extra mileage required for training, I'm having to adapt my workout schedule a little. It shouldn't affect my surfing, but it has the last couple of weekends. Because of weather and moving and cycling, I've been forced to give up my surfing on Sunday mornings for the past two weeks. I miss my Sunday morning surfing, but it can't be helped. Last week, I was able to go out on Sunday afternoon, but this week, I didn't have the time to wait until the afternoon. I just had to skip it altogether. Fortunately, I went out on Friday.

I received a text from the surf dude Brian on Friday morning who said that the waves were not that great. I had the day off and was really counting on some decent surf so that I could get down early, surf a few hours and make it back to continue my moving. It would be quiet at the other home, and I would peacefully be able to get some of my stuff out. Of course, I would be a lot stronger mentally if I was

"The Endless Summer" movie still
reminds me how much I miss
summer sometimes.

able to surf before I went to pack. Even though the wave report was bad, I loaded up Roxanne and headed to G-town. The waves did not look great, but every once in awhile a sweet little wave would roll in. I had a couple of wonderful rides, which made it a great day. A slight wind made me a little cool so I opted for my 3-2 wetsuit instead of my springsuit. Brian and his "lessons" were wearing springsuits, but I'm so glad I had my full wetsuit. I was chilly in the water. A man on the beach made a

snide remark about my wetsuit, but I would not have changed a thing. I would definitely prefer to be comfortable rather than be even just a little cool. I was hoping that by next Friday, I could wear my springsuit (I have a new one for this season), but with a cold front scheduled to come through on Thursday, I'm sure that by Friday, the air temp will be be too cool to allow me to do so. I'm sure the water temp will dip a tad too. Can't believe in May I will still be wearing a 3-2. Maybe I'll be able to wear before the season is over!

Mentioning the marathon training was how I began this post, so I feel it might be fitting to end this post with more marathon talk. I'm trying to run my long runs during the week, but I don't always have the time. I'm just going to have to figure this all out so I don't have to miss any surfing. I think I need longer days: Surf, run, run, surf, cycle, run!!

Run, Ride and SURF

I had a very active weekend as usual. In addition to the craziness of moving, I had the opportunity to participate in all three of my sports. I think I mentioned in another post that I'm training for a marathon, which requires long runs. This weekend's training plan required a 16-mile run. Fortunately, I have some other friends training for some runs, so I was invited to train with them this weekend in Memorial Park in town. What a fun way to run! I hadn't been to Memorial Park in ages, and I had never been there to run. Hundreds were on the trail, which was exciting to see. One of my friends and I ran the 16 with relative ease. It was a great start to the weekend on Saturday morning.

On Sunday, despite the cool temps and cloudy weather, I participated in a cycling club ride to a local coffee shop. I finished with 36 miles, and had a ball the whole time I was out. It was a little windy, but what fun we had! I'm so glad I was able to go. I checked the wave/webcam before the ride, and the waves didn't look great. My surf contact said it was incredibly cold and that he wasn't planning to surf himself. He had lessons to give, but hadn't even bothered to bring a board for himself. But, when I looked at the webcam after I rode, I thought it looked a little better. I had some lunch plans on the island with my family, so I opted to pack a board just in case... I'm so glad I did.

Several people were out at 39th.
I opted to go out at 33rd.

I drove down the Seawall looking for parking near my usual surf spots at 39th and 45th, but because the sun had come out and the air temp had warmed considerably, the beach was packed. I found a parking spot between the 33rd and 34th Street jetties.  I had never surfed there, but was willing to give it a try. I noticed as I was leaving that several people were out at 39th (as you can see by the picture).  However, I'm glad I went out at 33rd. I was able to take the rip out, and although it was quite rough, the small chop was enough to give me several fabulous rides. I hopped from one wave to another at least once. I needed a little wax on my rails and had one bad tumble when my hand slipped off the board as I was popping up. But, even that was refreshing. It felt good to be back out in the water. I'm so glad I made it out. Life is about experiences. Every time I participate in any of my sports, I have an experience -- an experience that changes me more often than not for the better. It's important to keep having experiences -- to keep moving, seeing, living...

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” 
― Albert Einstein

Inching Closer to Summer

I'm definitely ready for summer. However, I have to admit FINALLY, after four short years, that the waves are better in the winter just as a cold front moves through and the north wind blows a little. Of

It was fun to see Disney
characters standing
on the side of Broadway in
Galveston assisting with
a grand opening.

course, it requires also being in the right place at the right time. I think I've written about it before, but it's worth repeating. Last week, the cold front came through during the middle of the week...as usual. I'm always at work when the fronts move through. I sometimes read about it on g-townsurf.com, and then I see the photos and realize I've missed the best waves of the week, month, year... I'm sure I haven't really, but it sure feels like it. Lately, we've had a little bit of a warm spell, which is supposed to change this weekend when really cold weather returns. Despite the warm air temps, the water temps are still hovering in the 60s, which is still quite cool. Although some surfers/swimmers are able to paddle out without wetsuits, I'm still wearing a 3-2 and glad to be doing so.

Friday is one of my usual days to surf. However, this past Friday, I had such a crazy, busy schedule that I knew I probably wouldn't have time to surf. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your perspective, there were no waves. I had a full schedule for Saturday with my marathon training, bike riding and MOVING, so I knew I wouldn't make it down to Galveston. Sunday wasn't much better. It's too bad about Sunday. The waves were nice early on Sunday, but I had too many things to do to make it to Galveston early. I had plans to go down a little later, but I wasn't sure I would be able to surf. In fact, I was pretty certain that I just wouldn't have enough time to squeeze in any surf time. While driving down the seawall later, I saw many people out. The waves by that time were rough, but at least the waves provided some surf for all the surfers. Most of them had wetsuits, but a few just had rash guards and bathing suits. The air temps were warm on Sunday and that has carried through the first few days of the week; however, by Friday, it's forecasted to be cold again. Brrrrrr....It probably won't keep me from surfing, but I sure wish it would be warmer. Well, in just six short weeks, I'll probably be wishing for April again. We'll see.

Surfing Again, at Last

It's been a little over two weeks...actually, almost three...since I've been surfing. The waves always seem to come during the work week when I can't make it out. I was hoping for some waves on Friday afternoon because I knew that I would be working on Saturday (UHCL introduced it's new mascot -- the Hawk), and I wouldn't be able to surf if the waves were good. Friday was too messy according to my surfing contacts, and, fortunately, so was Saturday. My report early today (Sunday) was that it was messy again. I decided to run instead and got in five miles, but once I returned home and looked at the Galveston web cam, I decided I must go down.  I'm incredibly busy lately, but I felt like a good surf session would help strengthen my soul.

I surfed at 37th today instead of
my usual 43rd Street jetty.

Since I have my first marathon coming up in June, I needed to run today. I also had some responsibilities at church this morning, so I knew even if the waves had been decent, I wouldn't make it down this morning as early as I would have liked. I really prefer getting down to the beach by 7 a.m. because fewer surfers are usually out at that time -- usually just the locals.  I also had a lunch scheduled with my mother and father, but I was able to convince them to eat in Galveston. Once lunch was over, I drove over to the Seawall, which was full of other enjoying April. Although the sun was shining, the temps were a little on the cool side, which meant that I would probably need a wetsuit. (The water temps were quite cool too.) I found a parking spot on the hotel side of the Seawall between 36th and 37th and opted to surf there. Waves were breaking beyond the jetty, but they weren't all holding up very well. I made my way out and immediately turned back toward the beach when I saw a powerful wave come my way. I caught whitewater but it was still incredible to be out surfing again. I caught several more whitewater waves while I was out and was able to practice turning and looking forward instead of down. I wanted to catch some waves as they were breaking instead of just catching strong whitewater, but only accomplished that once. I definitely need more consistent practice. I can't go two weeks between sessions. Just like my running and cycling, I need to surf more. As the water warms, the days get longer and the busy-ness subsides, I'm sure I will be able to do that.

Another Surf Movie

Last week on Facebook, one of the surfing pages I follow posted information about a documentary that would be premiering in the Clear Lake area at the local Cinemark on Thursday. I usually work out on Thursday nights, but I was ready to make an exception so I could see "A Deeper Shade of Blue." Described as "a film about surfing’s deepest roots: in the subconscious; in ancient lore; in the craft of surfboard building; in man’s perpetual quest for a joyful relationship with the natural world," it sounded intriguing, to say the least. After grabbing a bite to eat, I went to the movie theater and could quickly decipher who was there to see the surfing documentary and who was there to see something else. I hate to typecast but many of the surfers were distinguishable; especially the older surfers. You could tell who they were from the rugged, tan, almost leathery skin and the hair that was blonde at the ends. I saw a couple of cool guys I know from G-town, but most of them were unfamiliar older surfers with a few young ones thrown in. I saw a guy I know from work with his son. He's been a surfer for awhile, but he has only recently introduced the sport to his son. I chuckled when we were sitting in the movie theater waiting for the movie to start because everyone seemed to be talking out loud. They were  shouting across the room as people they recognized came in. It was interesting.  

The movie started with interviews, which were entertaining for the first few minutes, but dragged on a little bit too much for me. It was interesting information, but I was ready for the movie to start. All in all,

The movie was called "A Deeper Shade of Blue," which
made me think of this pic I shot while flying over
Costa Rica.

the movie was good and the information about different boards and wave heights was fascinating. I shudder to think how I would react if I saw a wave as a big as some of those in the movie coming toward me as I was lying prone on a surfboard. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't react well. I'd be looking for ways to get out of the wave. Check it out at adeepershadeofblue.com. 

After seeing a movie about surfing, I was dying to get out in the waves. On Friday, the waves were rough and the seawall was full because of the Easter holiday weekend. On-the-spot surf reports from some of my surfing acquaintance indicated it wasn't worth the drive down to the shore. Saturday morning brought some pretty little waves, but by the time I could get there, crowds had gathered again and the wind had made it far too choppy to make it worth my while. (On a side note, I had a family breakfast to attend; I was glad that, at least I got to run 8.1 miles.) Sunday was Easter and my calendar was full. I read on the web that there were a few surf-able waves, but I didn't have time to make it down. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend. I have to work Saturday afternoon, but I should be able to squeeze in a session midday Friday and Sunday mid-morning. I hope I can...I hope I can...I hope I can... I have no ruby red slippers to click together, but maybe I'll squeeze some board wax for luck.  

Crazy Spring Weekends

Allergies have been dragging me down. If I'm not sneezing, I'm coughing. I also have had a sore throat that has made me sound like a blues singer who has spent too much time in a smoky jazz bar. On Friday, I knew I probably wouldn't surf even if there were waves. Before I could even send a note to the surf dude, he sent a text saying that the waves were rough, the air was cold and the crowds were big. He said it wasn't worth a trip to the island, so I was relieved to find out that I wasn't going to be missing much. I was still under the weather on Saturday, which not only stopped me from surfing, but also from running. I did sneak in a little ride, but a short, easy bike ride was about all my lungs could handle. I'm sure hoping that this Friday will bring warmer weather and nice waves.

I noticed on Facebook that my local Cinemark movie theater would be showing a special surf movie premiere one night this week. "A Deeper Shade of Blue" is described as "world-renowned surfing legends as they discuss the evolution, the culture and the impact of surfing from its beginnings to today's billion-dollar-a-year global industry." According to the description, "Panelists include surfing movie star Gidget and legendary surfing sensations James O'Brian, The Marshall Brothers ..." I think I might have to see if a couple of my surfing buddies might want to go see the movie. I'm sure I'll leave the theater anxious to get back in the water. And, I'm also sure that I'll feel envious of their skill level.

An email notice arrived letting me know that Surfing magazine published a special edition that is ready for me to download on my iPad. It was the Hot 100 issue that highlights the up-and-coming surfers. I've not read very much of it, but I didn't notice that only 34% of the Hot 100 were goofy-footers like me. Hmmm... Also, the average age of the Hot 100 females is 17. Oh MY!!! The guys are 19, which isn't much better, but at least they are a little older. Interestingly enough, they offered a graph explaining where the Top 100 were from and the graph showed the three top home areas as Australia, USA and Hawaii. I wonder why Hawaii gets its own spot on the graph instead of being grouped in AS A STATE within the USA. In fact, the two highest percentages on the graph went to the USA and Hawaii...both 30 percent. I'd be curious to know what states they all were from. I would guess most of from California, but I'm hoping when I start to read the articles that at least one might be from Texas. I doubt it, but one can hope.

Surfing Can Make Things Better

I had a rough news this week. Bad news on top of bad news came all in one day actually. I received a call about the death of a family member and a text about the results of a bad blood test from someone even more dear. The text came because my dear mother didn't have the emotional strength to make a call. She asked that I wait to call her, but I went to her instead. Both of these emotional events reminded me how precious time is, and how I need to worry less and live more. I can't change things simply by worrying. But, I can be a better person if I'm happy.

Since I had to leave for a funeral in another state early Friday morning, I was not in town for my usual surfing session. However, I heard that it was too cold to enjoy surfing, and that the waves were not worth the misery of being wet AND cold. Many were out though because of spring break. In the southeast Texas area, almost all schools, colleges and universities had last week off. It was spring break at the university where I work; however, as a staff member, I had to work. I took time off on Friday for the funeral and stayed in Louisiana until late Saturday. I had originally been registered for a half marathon on Saturday. The run was one of those rare events that is held on Saturday AND Sunday. I decided when I returned home to see if the race director would let me transfer the Saturday registration to Sunday. And I'm glad I did. They allowed me to transfer, and I ran. It wasn't my best run time, but it was good to be out. The surf report for Sunday was that, while there were waves, the spring break traffic was unbearable and not worth the effort of traveling to the island to surf. So, I didn't even attempt a surf session after my run. I decided to see what Monday would bring. I believed that I could use some fitness release time, leave work a few minutes early and have an afternoon session. And, that is exactly what I did!

By Monday afternoon, the waves looked nice. On the G-townsurf.com website, I had seen surfers out all day. So, I ran home, loaded the board and headed down. I'm so glad I did. I've been having sinus issues all week, but I think the salt water helped clear them. The waves were difficult for me to read; although others were making it look easy. I still had a blast. I caught several waves, including one fabulous wave that allowed me to ride suspended in air for what seemed like minutes. Several times I was able to relax and stand up straight. I still need work on making sure that I'm not hunched over. I also still need work on popping up faster. I feel like I take way too long. Let's face it! I just need a lot of work on many things. But, I'm willing to keep at it. I don't live close enough to the ocean to surf every day so I have to realize that only surfing one or two days a week will make it a little more difficult for me to become an "expert" or even a "pretty good" surfer very fast. I watched the movie "Riding Giants" recently, and I was in awe had how smoothly those people surfed. I have to just continue my practice. I believe one of these days, I just might have someone tell me that I looked "pretty good" out in the waves.