Surf’s up
Posted by Ray @ 11:12 am
Peek-a-boo, said the sun
For our post-exam de-stress, we went to Coolangatta/Tweed and hit the waves. The sun didn’t look like it was going to co-operate for a while, but in the end it relented and showed us a good time.
Surprisingly, surfing is not what you’d expect it to be. Far from the exciting, fast-paced sport it looks like on television, surfing is instead strangely meditative. Floating on the water, looking out towards the clean, open sea, patiently waiting for that perfect wave… it’s the most relaxing thing imaginable.
Then in a split second you take a chance, and you turn around and paddle furiously as the swell behind you advances, becomes a surge, then a plunge, and your surfboard catches the wave and accelerates swiftly forward. You plant your feet on the board, and away you go.
For a brief instant there is nothing in the universe but you, the surfboard, and the wave.
Then the wave dies, or you fall off, or you swerve to avoid some guy further inland who you didn’t see in the excitement of catching a wave (damn you, guy! that was a good wave!)… and you clamber up on your board and do it all over again.
Most satisfying.
To add to the overall pleasantness, mid-way through the day a plane with a banner sign attached to it flew overhead.
Bad photo - the tail is on the left, banner is to the right
Can’t make out the words? Here’s a closeup.
Oh, and did I mention there were dolphins in the water? Though not personally witnessed by me, a friend had to hop onto his board because a bottlenose was swimming right at him.
Good times.
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Dang but that sounds like some mighty fine day for a surf out at the beach. Did it once over at Byron Bay but could never quite catch the hang of it. Me and my lousy sense of balance.
Comment by dagger — Monday, November 14 2005 @ 12:15 pm
You lucky bastard! I hate you and Queensland!
Comment by Han — Monday, November 14 2005 @ 3:04 pm
hi there, was directed to this site by a friend who was amused by your comics and i must say it’s been quite enjoyable - both the writing and artwork. Keep it up! :-D
Comment by joles — Monday, November 14 2005 @ 5:32 pm
dagger: I’ve heard good things about Byron Bay. Plan to hit it someday in the future.
Han: Technically, we were in New South Wales. By jumping across the helpfully marked borderline, we could engage in time travel!
joles: Thanks. We plan to.
Comment by Ray — Monday, November 14 2005 @ 5:55 pm