Surf kayaking

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Surf Kayak-maybe not today

We lounged around at the coffee shop, debating the correctness of the afternoon forecast. We had dodged any rain on our morning gravel ride along the Bass Coast of the Southern Ocean, however It was becoming overcast and somewhat sultry.

I checked the local surf break and was thinking of jumping in my Exo white water kayak to grab a few small waves, where I had seen the local surfers earlier.

There was a line of darker clouds on the horizon and the weather radar showed some rain expected later in the day. Anyway, I thought I might squeeze in a little fun before it arrived.

I decided to check out the beach launch area, with its rocky outcrops, which looked “interesting” and a couple of warning signs that gave me more of an idea

The wind was increasing and the dark cloud now seemed to be roaring towards us and I was a little unsure of the weather.

Robyn said I could paddle out on two conditions.

  1. She checked that my will was up to date.
  2. I signed over our investment portfolio into her name.

I took that as “decision made” and retreated to a comfortable ocean view and within 30 minutes I was watching a savage cold front hit.

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Mid week madness

It’s mid week. It’s too early in the morning. The tide is wrong. The surf is dumping. It’s freezing cold but still we decided that it would be better to get wet than sloth around drinking coffee and staying warm.

Here’s a little taste of our “late take offs” and other dumpings. Come share our madness !!!

This one is “gunna hurt”

 

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New Years Resolutions

I sat deep in thought. Another year has passed me by and there are still so many things not done. Oh I’m not concerned about the garden around our cottage that’s not been tended the way it should or the shed that still remains a bit of a clutter, but more about the paddles that I haven’t completed yet and the surf breaks that remain unpaddled.

The end of the year was marked by a nice swell at the local spot and I had just spent the last little while riding some nice glassy waves with fellow paddler Steve King, or Steve…King of England as he likes to be known due to his English heritage and now I was finishing my double shot coffee and large sticky bun as is my custom after surf paddling.

I decided on the things that I want more of.
I want to wake to more mornings like this.

A clean swell and no wind in the early morning.

I want many more paddles like this with friends.

Easy take off on a green face

A nice small wave to start the day

I said go RIGHT Steve….the OTHER RIGHT

Steve finishes with a nice slide towards shore

Sometimes the waves rebuild only to finish with a steep break

Steve leans back as it’s about to give him a dunking

This one will do

Hmm….. not the best choice of waves

I want many more moments like those and probably a few less of these, although they seem to come as a set.

Bugger…..He got me again !!!

But aside from paddling my list of NY Resolutions will include;

More guitar practice for my lessons at Glenelg Guitar Studio with Leigh.
More time spent travelling the southern coastline with Robyn.
More time drinking good shiraz from Koltz Wines with Paddler Gavin.
More time doing lots of things except gardening and shed clearing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Ian and Robyn