Checking Out an Old Boss's New Boat

While in JAX, we stopped by to have lunch with one of my former Bosses - CAPT Ed Brown.

While he lived in Gulfport, he had a boat in his garage, but it didn't move much. It was also a smaller boat - big enough to cruise around in but not much else.

Well that's all changed now - he picked up a gently used Sea Ray and it is nice...

The lot that he keeps it stored in had crushed limestone and guess what the kids found - yes, marine fossils. Now we have crushed limestone in Noe's seat so the kids can see ancient marine life fossilized whenever they want to (at least while they're in the car and when they happen to remember they have ancient marine fossils riding around with them).

Ed and Eileen took us to a place called Whitey's Fish Camp - classic Southern Cuisine with a North Florida flair. What was really cool about the place was the decor in the entry way - the owner was a Navy Diver and he had the cool stuff to prove it (plaques, knives, helmets, etc). Now I know what I'm going to do with my junk when I no longer have an office to store it in...

Lastly, the other thing that was cool at the restaurant was the piers you could drive up to (in a boat). That is not uncommon for restaurants that cater to boaters, but there was a Glacier Bay 23 foot cat tied up - nice reminder of what could be (if we go to a place that we could really benefit from using a power boat - Hawaii.... for fishing, providing escort boat services to paddlers, reaching isolated surf spots, cruising to the other islands on long weekends - ah the life...)

Aloha

JAX Surf Trip - Day Three

My arms were spent and I had a 9 hour drive ahead of me (us) so I passed on the surf this morning. And the swell was dying so I didn't want to spend what time we did have on just me (which I was mostly guilty of the previous two days).

I helped Marlon learn some more about channels and where to position yourself on the wave to better catch them - he soaked it up like a sponge (no pun intended).

It would have been nice to stay a few more days - then he would really have swallowed the bait (hook - line - sinker) for surfing, but alas the real world was waiting just around the corner.

We did buy Marlon a new wetsuit (Xcel front zip - bamboo liner and everything). He's got to pay back the cost of the suit by crewing on the trimaran this Fall ($180!!!! - as long as it keeps him warm it will be worth it). Maybe this weekend he can pay the first installment (crew).

What a great weekend!

JAX Surf Trip - Day Two

The swell (much welcomed, wherever you came from) held for a second day.

More folks out on Sunday, but still plenty of waves for everyone.

Marlon and Noe got more confident in the water (warm and clear).

I could have stayed out all day....

JAX Surf Trip - Day One, Part 3

More fun on Day One.

Thanks to La for taking pictures!!!

;)

JAX Surf Trip - Day One, Part 2

The best thing I was referring to is watching your kids learn and appreciate something you value and love so much, and knowing that they will hold it close for their lifetimes -

Marlon was catching these waves on his own - after catching a couple piggyback rides, he just grabbed the board, waded out to his chest, watched for inbound bombs and took his waves!!!

I am proud and stoked that Marlon is a surfer!!!

Oh and here are a few more of me on Day One (I rip)!

JAX Surf Trip - Day One, Part 1

Great Weekend!!!

The surf was fantastic and we couldn't have asked for better weather!

Lots of pictures to post so here we go!

La on the boogie board!

I tried out the Blend early on, but the waves were too good so I grabbed the board I built for La and proceeded to surgically rip the waves up - I can't tell you how good it feels to:

1. Be in the waves after over a year of being away
2. Rip after being out of the waves for a year (I still got it)
3. Ripping said waves, after being away for a year on a board designed, built and glassed by your own hands -

There is only one thing better (and I'll show you in the next post)...

Surf Expedition

Surfing trips are great experiences.

The anticipation of the journey and the waves to come make me feel like a kid going on a long awaited field trip.

This one is especially pivotal for me as it has been over a year since I have surfed legitimate waves - yes I did say ONE YEAR.

Sure there has been sailing, kiting, windsurfing and paddling - but that all was on flat water or open water swell - not the flowing energy of gravity waves rising up to defy the shoaling and having all the elements come together in that singular moment - yes I miss it.

We'll be back on Monday night - stay tuned for what waves we catch!

I'm bringing everything (except kites) - the Blend, paddles, the 5.8 rig, a surfing mat, a boogie board and fins. I will not be skunked!!!

There are no storms scheduled to push large surf in, but the blend can catch anything.

The place I learned to surf over 22 years ago is where we'll be for the weekend - hopefully after this sabbatical I won't look like I did 22 years ago.

Stay tuned...