(click on pics for
a larger image)
When:
Where:
Weather:
Winds:
Surf:
Tides:
Who: |
Sat,
01/18/03
North Ocean City, Maryland
Frigid, air: 16F and
sunny
Light to nil
Knee to Waist
Low
Neal Carver & warm
weather supporters |
 |
My 2002 Honda Pilot, surf
ready with integrated racks system, heavy duty sand/water floor mats, cargo
system and 4WD. |
|
Friday:
It was a good day to shut down the office early and buzz down to the shore
for some R&R. Nothing is better than test driving some new surfing
wheels -- something to watch out for -- what a dream! Fueled by high octane
gas and hot, rich coffee by Goya and hot milk it seemed we down in Rehobeth
in no time at all.
Objective: Crank
out at an all-night surf videoathon sponsored by the Delaware
Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation at the Rams
Head and catch some winter swell the next day. I knocked back some
freshly released Altbock while Neal maintained a steady sampling of the
Copperhead Ale to accompany our meals. We chatted with a local SF activist,
Lauren. She did a fine job filling us in on recent chapter initiatives,
including the monitoring of the Indian River Inlet erosion, jetties and
bridge and the NJs erosion. |
Plug in the GPS coordinates
for your favorite surf destination on the DelMarVa and let the in-dash
guide take you there. |
|
Pop in the latest surf video
release, e.g., Blue Crush or Litmus, and cruise in comfort down to your
local break of choice. |
Somehow
we safely staggered back to a local no-tell motel, found our respective
beds and slammed the light switch off. Sort of... first we conducted
a midnight, full moon surf check: depressing with a rapidly diminishing
swell (the storm never produced much despite the forecasts calling for
4-8'. Watched some news on CNN, debated the merits of the pending Iraq
War II, and whether Neal should have exploited The Broad shouldered One
(after all we are at war), never a serious option but fun to think about.
Klunck! Lights out.
- Rod
Snow Covered Beaches...
Warm weather wet suits
and cute rubber mittens,
Friends in the lineup
out there where I'm sittin',
Freezin' my ass off
yanking zippers on strings,
These are a few of my favorite
things.
Dodgin' the ice floes
and strong onshore breezes,
Duck diving danger
and piss as it freezes,
Hot tubs on porches with
cold beer in the wings,
These are a few of my favorite
things.
Keep the fires stoked!!!
Chet |
Foon Story: "Neal on Ice"
I watched Neal Carver walk
through 5 inches of snow into the Atlantic ocean in barely adequate cold
weather gear and surf in 16 degree weather on a sunny day in OC. When he
came out 35 minutes later his face was as purple as an eggplant, but he
insisted he was not cold. Rockdance Rodgers recorded this event on digicam
and hopefully will post pics soon. A psychiatric nurse
walking on the beach offered
to help out when this obviously crazed man hit the hypothermic wall and
came out. My faith in stoke has been restored. Today, your president was
the man. After we warmed him up with a shower and beers he seemed quite
cheery. That may be because he has a hot date tonight. :)
-F00n
The Story by the Ice Surfer
Absolutely nothing wrong
here. Just a guy who can afford to go skipping off to PR each month.
After getting stoked on all the
videos at the Surfrider
function Friday night, I couldn't wait to get back out on the board. However,
a Navel Jetties surf check earlier in the day and a second check at 11pm
did not appear too encouraging. I slept in late for once considering I
definitely was not going at it with an overnight low in the single digits.
Rod and I cruised through a snow squall around IRI and headed down to the
Foon Bunker for some hot coffee. The view from the Bunker revealed clean
knee to waist high wind swell with a very short period. After a cup
of joe I decided it was now or never.
I suited up with some extra
rubber from Rod and Foon's arsenal. We headed through the snow, across
patches of ice and down the snow covered dune access. The snow/beach line
was divided with ice balls the size of baseballs. I headed out into
the water. I did my best to keep my exposed face out of the water. As soon
as I paddled out I caught and rode a wave. The short period made it a little
tough but I caught about 5 waves in 30 minutes. The guys on the beach were
hootin as they shivered in the 16 degree air. Rod waved me in. Not sure
if they were cold or if they were checking to see if I was still responsive.
The waves were not getting better so I paddled in. Other than my face,
my body was not cold. The extra rubber added the needed protection.
We headed back to the Foon Bunker and I took a hot shower as I peeled out
of the wetsuit.
Thanks to Foon for bending
the bunker rules on the wetsuit entry. That alone probably saved my life.
A couple beers and some lunch and we headed home. Lucky for me, my cold
day ended with a hot date with my hot wife out for a hot meal.
Coldest of the year?.....maybe
Neal
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