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!
