That’s right, Outdoor Pursuits went surfing
again. We had so much fun last year we
had to. If you missed it I’m sorry to
inform you but… this year was twice as good as last!
Day One, not much to mention here, lots of driving, boiled
peanuts and bluegrass. Enough said on
that, though we did make excellent time on the road. Good job, Boss-man.
Day Two, now here’s where it gets exciting. We wake up in Tomoka State Park to find blue
skies and sunshine. Everyone is super
pumped to head to the beach. We drive
down to New Smyrna, pick up our boards and wetsuits from the Scott Clan and
head to the inlet. Now, I don’t know why
but it always seems on our first day the waves are epic. Chest to head high clean surf, 70-degree air
and 68-degree water; it was pumping.
This trip we had a mixed crew of experience. While the new crew got their beach and surf
safety lessons, last year’s crew got wet. Right off the bat, last year’s crew was in the
mix again... getting worked. The waves
were super fun A frames (breaking both right and left with a peak in the
middle). It didn’t take long for the
crew to settle in and get some rides, and not just standing but really getting
some time on the wave.
After an hour or two in the surf, maybe longer, ha-ha,
the first crew gave up their boards for their comrades anxiously waiting on the
beach. The new crew hit the water and in
no time at all were standing and getting rides. The waves were so good it was hard not to get
a great ride. We paddled until our arms
just about fell off and called it. We
packed up the trailer and drove back to camp for some food and sleep because
tomorrow was looking really good on the surf radar and we wanted more.
Day Three, we woke early again but moved a little
slower, cramped muscles and a restless night from dreams about waves and loud
neighbors. Our neighbors in the next
camping site thought the bathroom was a great place to hang out and sing camp songs. Imagine 20 dudes in a shower room singing at
the top of their lungs 100 feet from your campsite; rather funny now, but not
great then. Let’s just say the law got laid down the next
morning and we had quiet evenings from then on. After some Dunkin’ Donuts we headed to the inlet
again for some more waves. Once again
the waves were awesome, slightly smaller than the previous day but just as good
conditions. In New Smyrna you can drive
on the beach but with a van and trailer it’s just asking for trouble, so
instead we parked in the inlet’s dune park area. There is a boardwalk that connects the park to
the beach. It is a beautiful walk
through New Smyrna’s dunes area, all sorts of trees and creatures to look at
while you walk, with a lighthouse in the background. It’s rather a decent walk, and many people
walk and run on the boardwalk.
After deciding which peak (sandbar in the water) we
will try today, we suit up and get wet. Just
a beautiful day of waves and we broke out the bocce ball set for those chillin’
in the sun. We decide this evening we’ll
head to the famous fish camp JB’s for some seafood. Raw
oysters, blackened gator and grouper sandwiches and the best, and I mean the
best, key lime pie. All while we sit and
watch the sun drop over Mosquito Lagoon. If you ever get the chance, check it out!
Day Four, we get a little later start today; we’re
all worked: sunburned, sore and loving it. We had a little trouble with our trailer locks
(aka someone lost the keys) so we had to purchase new ones. We get some DD’s and on to the beach. Rock-paper-scissors would have been the
gentlemen’s way of sorting out who carried the heavy long board all the way
down the boardwalk but we left it for the sucker who didn’t grab a lighter
board fast enough.
The wind started blowing offshore today really hard,
still fun waves but slightly harder to get into with the wind blowing against
you. Beautiful to watch the spray come
off the waves and soak you as you paddle for them. Another really cool element today was
dolphins. They were everywhere in the
water jumping out of the waves and riding them.
We surfed till the sun went down. It was stunning. The wind calmed and the sky was gorgeous. Back at camp we ate some grub and headed to
the volleyball court for some nighttime games (headlamps and a glowing ball).
Day Five, hmm, let’s see, what did we do today… ah
yes, back to the inlet for more waves, ha-ha. The wind was really beating on the waves all
night. We drove down A1A watching the
surf in South Daytona and it looked flat but fear not, New Smyrna is always
good.
We stopped at New York Bagel Deli and got a really
good breakfast. They have a food
challenge called the Big Nash named after a professional wrestler who lives in
the area. The sandwich is ridiculous:
eggs, bacon, steak, peppers, onions, cheese on a hero bun that covers a plate. No way, I say. I want to catch some waves. Wait, what was that? It wins you a free hat?! Oh yeah, that was a
mistake. The rest of the day I felt like
Big Nash had me in a chokehold but my boy JB is representing with a Hat out in
Cali, Smear This!
We get to the inlet and as usual a super fun wave. Everywhere else was flat except the inlet’s
main peak. It’s like magic; I don’t know
how it does it but it always delivers. We surfed until sunset again.
Day Six, we wake up to watch the sunrise in Ormond
Beach. It was a little bit cold this
morning. There was a cold front on the
way, cold temps but it would improve the surf. Nobody jumped in the water; it was cold and
hard to tell what the surf looked like. We
watched the sun come up and got some great photos. Afterward
we walked across the street to Alfie’s and got some breakfast.
When we walked back across the street, a little wave
had picked up with the tide. I had a
blast on this wave. It was about waist
to stomach high and really fast on the inside. Needless to say, I took a fair few on the “dome”
but it was so much fun.
As the tide changed, we decided to change pace and
revisit Pirates Cove for some mini golf. Jake Brown took the championship this year
beating out some stiff competition by a stroke -- well done, sir.
Off to Heavenly Café for some amazing smoothies
(coffee smoothies anyone?) and head to the inlet for another sunset
session. The dolphins were going wild in
the waves. It’s a real privilege to
share the water with such amazing creatures.
Day Seven, the cold front moved in overnight and it
was cold when we woke. We drove to the
beach and the wind was howling. The
waves were at least head high, if not a couple feet overhead. The first bunch jumped in and started
paddling to get to the outside break, which apparently they thought was in the
middle of the ocean …J The drift was quite heavy today and they
drifted a good half mile down the beach in about twenty minutes. They caught a few good rides and proceeded to
freeze on the beach; it was cold, fortyish degrees with twenty mile an hour
wind -- just bitter in a wetsuit.
The first crew changed clothes and decided that was
enough. We sat huddled for a bit waiting
for it to get warm and the waves to improve. The waves got super good in the early
afternoon. They started coming in on the
main peak -- clean, long rights about two-foot overhead and the wind calmed a
little. It was still very cold and
despite my best efforts I could only manage about two hours in the water. Like a popsicles I ran up the beach to change;
I couldn’t take any more wind. We packed
our gear up and said goodbye to the beach.
This year’s trip was fantastic. The waves were great, the weather was pleasant
and the crew worked really well together. By the end of the week, everyone was riding
waves and improving their skills, flat out having a blast. My thanks to all who were involved.
If you missed this trip it’s okay to be depressed,
because it was awesome! But fear not, we’ve
got more really great trips coming up. Keep
your eyes peeled for the times and dates. Btw, for those on the trip -- you didn't have
to cut me out like someone I use to know… gotcha!
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