Surfing Ruined My Life

July 2017 Surf Session

7-31-17 No Surfing: 2-3+ ft 

Today was the first day we made an attempt at doing lunch at the Cheese Steak spot. Being I had to work at 10am I opted not to surf early as it was not nearly good enough for me to drag myself out of bed at 6am. When I got off all the reports were lackluster at best and since my girl was getting back from Tahoe today I decided to bag it till tomorrow so I could be home for when she got home.

7-30-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 24
Miles Driven: 64
Last night was probably the most busy we have been at the Cheese Steak stand although that isn’t saying much.  We are just getting started and so far we have had a lot of repeat business, which means people really do like the food.  The buzz that is building is super positive.  I think we are heading in the right direction and are going to see a real break out weekend soon.  I got up around 8:30 feeling a bit like a zombie from the lack of sleep and was also quite sore from spending eight hours on my feet carrying large heavy trays.  Bizarro was passed out on the couch from partying all night and I guess was awoken by me and decided he too was coming.  We cruised the River Mouth hoping for a repeat of yesterday if not larger.  After all Surfline had predicted it to be the better day of the weekend.  Of course it was chest plus at best and the wind was already on it.  The crowd was too.  Since when did River Mouth become such a popular spot?  Oh yeah most likely cause kooks like me are constantly writing about it.  It’s not like it is an easy wave to surf.  If you are not a proficient surfer the place is a waste of your time.  This wasn’t an issue cause everyone was slowly getting out as the wind was steadily trashing the line up. From the second I paddled out to the minute to quit it was nothing but frustration and let down.  We did manage a few alright shots, but I really wish I would have just slept  in. Looks like at the very least there will be some waves for the rest of the week.

7-29-17 No Surfing: 2-3+ ft
Week two of the Cheese Steak grind began last night and left me rather tired.  Normally I would either just wake up early and go surf on four hours sleep hoping to get a nap later or sleep in and try for the afternoon.  Today I had the privilege to work as a food runner up at Lotus Land for their biggest fundraiser of the year that is sponsored by Valentino himself.  Normally I work in the kitchen at events, but the money was too good for me to turn down and every now and then it is good to work the many different aspects of the special events industry.  It was rather funny when a few guys from the kitchen recognized me in a server’s uniform and shot me a confused stare.  I will get into the event in a minute cause believe it was totally worth describing.  The gig was from 2pm-9pm and then I had to work at the Cheese Steak stand from 10pm-3:30am.  I really needed to sleep in if I was going to muster up the strength to get through the entire day.   Sadly, at the moment I only work three days a week and of course the best day in the past eight fell on the one day that I absolutely could not go surfing, FML.  From what I heard River Mouth was clean and fun all morning with barrels.  I MISS BARRELS!!!!. Summer is usually when I get all of my barrels.  Enough about my bitching how I could surf one day out of like 100.  Don’t cry for me.  Back to the event.  It was for 500 people and was a high end benefit dinner with an auction.  All the proceeds went to Lotus Land.  I couldn’t talk about it earlier cause we had to sign a gag waiver till the completion of the event.  First off during the d’oeuvre and  cocktail hour there were live models walking around showing off some of Valentino’s line in one garden, ballerinas putting on a show in another,  Different forms of live entertainment from string groups, to Jazz groups, to pianists, singers and DJ’s, scattered about in hidden nooks all over the property.   There were some many celebrities in both the Hollywood and fashion world.  Too bad I suck at knowing who anyone is or I could elaborate.  I did get the privilege of watching Valentino and his entire entourage walk right by all as extravagantly dressed as one could imagine. It was quite the event.  We were not allowed to have cameras or cell phones so I couldn’t get any pictures thus there will be no blog about it.  Just know it was quite the party and I wish I could have attended instead of worked it, but it was nice to be there just the same.

7-28-17 PM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 24
Miles Driven: 64
Last night we decided to have a romp about at the Wild Cat.  What was suppose to be a chill time quickly escalated into a night in fancytown when Cody showed up with two bottles of champagne and Rivers showed up in his Miami Vice suit.  Needless to say I was a bit hung over this morning and in no condition to surf.  Around 11 Ryan called and said there were some solid chest high sets at the point.  The buoys had enough swell and wind still light enough to afford me a trip south.  Sure enough when I pulled up to the Harbor there were fun clean chest plus bowls up and down the beach.  I called Ryan and headed down to the River Mouth.  I quickly found my way into some very fun waves right off the bat.  I was with out a doubt a bit rusty not having surfed in seven days.  Unfortunately the steadily rising tide and increasing NW wind began to take a toll on it.  By the time Ryan showed up it was pretty mush done out there, though he did manage to get the hit of the day.  I surfed back to my car and headed home.  Thanks to summer time weekend traffic it took me an hour and half to get home from Ventura.  It may be time to move out of this over priced over crowded town or state even.

7-27-17 No Surfing: 1-2 ft
I really wanted to surf something today just to get my feet back in the wax so as to be ready for the south swell that is to fill in.  The cams and buoys looked completely shit.  I hit up Ryan to see if it was worth a grovel.  He said if I didn’t bother earlier in the week it was even worse today.  I bagged it.  Instead I got some much needed work in my garden done.  Then bizarro and I decided to make meat balls and rice crispy treats where we made the marshmallows ourselves.

7-26-17 No Surfing: 1-2 ft
Once again I awoke to more flatness.  Normally I would sleep in till like 11, but the construction workers behind my apartment started on the grinder at 7:30, followed by the gardener with his insipid leaf blower at 9.  Over it I woke up and got a few things done around the house.  Oh yeah and I made a dank salami panini sandwich for lunch and my turkey panini sandwich for my girl.  It may be flat, but at least I can make paninis!!!!

7-25-17 No Surfing: 1-2 ft
Another flat day in paradise. Ryan said he saw a few at the point again.  I couldn’t justify the gas for an all out grovel, especially when the buoys and the cams showed otherwise.  Instead Bizarro and I cleaned out and reorganized the kitchen pantry.  It was a most needed chore.  In the process we resurrected his old panini maker, which I have now become hooked on. All I have eaten since has been panini sandwiches.  There was a surprise knock at the door.  Chris and I took a minute to decide what course of action to take.  In these turbulent times in Lisanti Land one cannot be too careful when opening the door to a stranger.  We decided to open it with caution and were pleasantly surprised by a visit from Biz’s father.  It was nice to catch up and enjoy the afternoon with him.

7-24-17 No Surfing: 1-2 ft
After yesterday’s calamity I was not about to go looking for surf.  The buoys were even smaller.  Ryan claimed he saw a few at the point while he was surfing with his son on the tide push.  Gabe had some shaping to finish and I tagged along.  Later that night we did a Chicken Parmesan feast in honor of Gabe’s last night in SB before moving to Santa Cruz.

7-23-17 No Surfing: 1-3+ ft
Miles Driven: 130
Sometimes in life we make stupid decisions as a result of pure frustration.  Today was that day for me.  First off let me take a bow for having a whopping carbon foot print and not surfing.  I knew that there wasn’t going to be very much out there less a bit of background south and nw wind swell.  The forecast for the coming week looked very grim and I really thought this was going to be my best bet to get some waves.  After breakfast my chick and I headed south.  Both Ryan and Gabe had confirmed that there were some surf-able waves out there in Ventura.  I got to the Harbor and parking was shit as usual.  New Jetty actually had a decent, yet mushy wave with only three guys on it.  The surf looked super weak and since I was illegally parked anyway I decided to have a look at the River Mouth.  There were some scattered peaks also very weak looking and I had a very hard time getting a semblance of the line up.  Considering what I saw at the Harbor I had a good feeling that I may be able to get a few fun ones in Malibu.  Gabe met us and we headed even further south.  What a sad attempt it was cause everything down there was even more pathetic then the Harbor.  By that point I was about as frustrated as one could get and being over it we came home with our tail between our legs.  Looks like it is going to be a tough week of flatness.

7-22-17 No Surfing: 2-3 ft
Last night was our “soft opening” at the late night cheese steak shop.  I didn’t get off till 4 am leaving me rather tired when I checked the cams at around 7 am.  Had not been up so late I probaly could have found something at River Mouth.  Considering how weak and average it was out there yesterday I was not about to be a zombie for the rest of the day for that.  Ryan was at Emma and said it was pretty pathetic.  As far as the opening goes I think we have a great product and a great idea, now all we have to do is get people down there.

7-21-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 33
Miles Driven: 64
I wasn’t about to make the same mistake as yesterday.  I made sure to get out of the house just after eight as to beat the wind.  When I got there it was very glassy.  The tide was a bit high and the south swell was definitely on its way, while the NW wind swell was holding strong.  This combo actually added a little more push and cross up to what would have been a very weak day of surf.  My first thirty minutes were sick and I got all my best waves then.  Ryan paddled out and the place completely turned off.  First the wind came up out of the NW, not hard but just enough to add a bump and crumble to it.  Then a series of annoying rip tides kept tearing through the line up and finally the swell decided to go super inconsistent leaving me spending more time out the back they I would like.  The water temperature had also dropped a little bit.  Still I managed to find my share of fun ones.  Looks like the swell is going to take a real down turn over the next few days.  What a fun run of minor south.

7-20-17 AM Session: 3-4+ ft, Leo Carrillo, Malibu
Time in Water: 3 hrs
Waves Surfed: 24
Miles Driven: 114
I should have left my house an hour earlier and I think I would have scored some really fun River Mouth.  I was feeling rather lethargic after yesterday and the early cams had me less then stoked.  By the time I got down there the NW wind was beginning to pick up.  I knew it was only a matter of a half hour before the place feel apart.  Gabe was willing to split the gas with me thus we headed south once again.  It was a good thing too cause I got a call from Phil not longer then twenty minutes down the road that everyone got chased out by an eight foot great white.  Sometimes we make the right call with out even knowing it.  I was in the mood for a crossed up beach break surf.  County Line was the best option. It looked small and crowded for what was coming in.  Leo had less people and seemed as good if not better then the day before.  We suited up, but in that time there must have been about fifteen other guys looking too cause the line up went from manageable to packed.  We started out at the Bone Yard and thanks to a combination of both the swell and the tide there was actually a fun, albeit gnarly right coming through.  We played around on that trading the peak between the two of us for about an hour till the I landed on top of a dry rock on the inside scuffing up my board a little and indicating that the tide had gotten to low.  Then we paddled over the Leo and got into the rotation.  I was not feeling as frothy as yesterday and the insiders were not quite as good.  I decided to stick to the boil and just wait for the set waves.  I had a few phenomenal waves and felt like I was channeling my inner Matt Wilkenson.  The crowd was definitely a bit of an issue making it a bit hectic to get waves and maneuver around the line up. Still it was a good time.  Unfortunately I fell on an end section floater on my last wave and managed to tweak my back funny.  As of press time I am feeling a bit out of sorts.  Hopefully I can shake it off and enjoy tomorrow.

7-19-17 AM Session: 2-4+ ft, Leo Carrillo, Malibu
Time in Water: 2.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 25
Miles Driven:  118
There was a bit more swell in the water then yesterday and I was counting on another fun rip-able day at the River Mouth.  I picked up Adam and we headed down south.  Ryan beat me there and it seems that every time Ryan gets on it early the wind always joins him.  Though not very hard there was enough NW chop on it to make conditions look less then ideal or even palatable for that matter.  My boy Adam rarely gets out of New Jersey and I wanted him to get into some good ones.  Malibu was the call.  We grabbed Gabe, who was also checking River Mouth and boogied.  It was super clean there, but not as much size or consistency of large sets as I had hoped.  The decision was between Leo and Zeros.  Since I was out numbered two to one by regular foots Leo got the green light.  The crowd was rather mellow and with the mix of swells there appeared to be more then enough to go around.  I did my usual paddle out and catch a few in the bone yard, while I waited for a substantial set to clear out the main take off area in front of the rocks.  We paddled over and got into the rotation and were all getting fun set waves the entire surf.  Rather then wait for a position on the peak after I got a set wave I played around on the inside till I saw the take off spot empty then paddled back out there.  This strategy suited me fine.  Angers paddled out towards the end of our surf.  I must say fun was had by all.  I don’t want to jinx it, but the past few surfs I have been on a role.

7-18-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 38
Miles Driven: 64
There was a tad more south on the buoys this morning giving a sense that it would be fun.  An old friend of mine, Adam has been in town visiting his wife’s sister and had expressed an interest in getting some waves.  Back in the day him and I used to mix up on the Jersey and East Coast scene.  I was more then stoked to oblige.  He borrowed my 5’5 fish and we headed out to the River Mouth, which looked super fun.  Once again the slight SW wind kept it from being perfect glassy barrels.  The down turn in the NW turned the place into a skate park of mixed kill-able peaks.  Ryan and Angers met us out there a little later in the surf and everyone was getting some fun waves.  Unfortunately as is always the case when I wake up early the NW wind came on and slowly, but steadily began taxing the line up.  The dropping tide didn’t help either.  By the time all of the elements came together to turn it off everyone had already gotten their fill.

7-17-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 1 hr 45 mins
Waves Surfed: 29
Miles Driven: 64
There wasn’t much on the buoy or on the Cams though still enough for me to believe that the Harbor might be fun.  As usual New Jetty was a burger and crowded at that.  I saw some peaks down towards River Mouth and gave it a go.  There was a bit of the typical morning south wind on it leaving very rip-able corners.  Stoked I jumped in with very low expectations and willingness to make the most of what was on offer.  I was pleasantly surprised with fun waist to chest A-frames thanks to the small combo of a NW wind swell and two minor souths.  It helps that the sand is about as good as it gets out there.  With the NW in the water it forced a nice launch ramp allowing me to hit an array of airs.  Then as the tide began to move back in it seemed more wind swell came along with it causing way more close outs and stretched lines.  At that point I began surfing back to my car and still managed to stick a very solid clean ally-oop.  Its been so long since River Mouth has had good sand that I forgot how much fun these minor background souths can be out there.
7-16-17 AM Session: 2-3 ft, New Jetty
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 24
Miles Driven: 64
I was once again completely unmotivated to grovel today.  My girl wanted to go to the beach so we headed down south with very low expectations.  Sure enough there was a little wave at the Harbor.  The wind was bit too hard SW for me to entertain River Mouth, but New Jetty had a few crumblers coming through off the rocks that looked fish-able.  I paddled and if the current wasn’t so annoying it might have been really fun.  Between the high push trying wash me to the inside and the non-stop drift north staying in position was very tough, not to mention the take off zone was very shifty.  Only  one out of five waves actually went all the way through the sand bar and out of those only a handful didn’t close out.  Still I made the most out of what was given to me.  Don’t let the below photo fool you, it was a mirage.

7-15-17 No Surfing: 2-3 ft
Last night we hit the Wild Cat hard and thanks to some friends found ourselves on a yacht after party.  It was a later start to the day then usual and from what was on the cams and buoys I was far from motivated.  Ultimately I decided to save the gas and take the day off.

7-14-17 AM Session: 2-4 ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Miles Driven: 64
Waves Surfed: 36
Another swell is on it’s way out.  There are some that we morn others we cant wait to see go and then the ones like this one that were just whatever.  Did I utilize the south swell as well as I could have?   Not really. I believe I did the best I could with the limited resources afforded to me.  At the moment I am not working and when I begin my new job next week it is at a significant pay cut.  This has left me on a very tight budget.  When one is unraveling a penny every expense must be well thought out and spent.  This being the case Ventura was about as far as I could go and even that was pushing it.  I heard all sorts of tings and rumors about spots going off at all odd times and tides.  I stuck with my summer steady, the Harbor.  She has always served me adequately.   Though rather temperamental I did manage a sick rides and as I have found out one of the worst wipe outs of the swell, which took place on Wednesday.  It was my third or fourth wave of the surf and I had spotted a possible back door barrel section down the line. I pumped through the first section at high speed and as I was bottom turning to stall behind the curtain I got hit by a huge column of backwash that literally sent me through the cascading lip and the full extension of my leash in the air above the lip before I came crashing back down with all the fury of the white water.  How I escaped unscathed is amazing.  Since I have had a solid number of people come up to me and tell me how gnarly it looked.  Today was a let down.  I was sort of hoping it would have been chest high plus. peaky and fun.  Instead I it was all broken up, drained and had some wind on it.  I tried to find a partner to ride share to Malibu with to no avail forcing a paddle at River Mouth.  Then I forgot my short board at home only having my fish.  As it turns out this mistake saved my session turning what would have been rather frustrating on my short board a challenge and blast on my  fish.  Unfortunately there is much in the seven day.

7-13-17 AM Session: 3-5+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 3.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 44
Miles Driven: 64
I think everyone was pleasantly surprised that the swell decided to hang around as solid as it was.  There was still a hefty crowd on it, though smaller then yesterday.  The bulk of the crowd was focused around the knoll, where it was a bit more hallow and way more drifty.  I walked down the beach and found some to myself.  The current was twice as stiff as yesterday forcing me to do five drifts.  Like the previous morning finding a good one was tough.  It was a little more peaky thanks to a few different souths in the mix.  I was also in a better groove then yesterday and although the first half of my surf was filled with mediocre rides the second half paid off.  It was strange the south wind came up just like yesterday.  I was going to bail like everyone else, but I kept still seeing decent ones.  I resolved on one more drift.  As soon as I hit the water the wind laid down and I began getting sick one after sick one and even a couple of solid pits.  I was amping thus surfed another hour till my arms burnt out and the wind and tide got on it enough to call it quits.  When I got out it was still fun enough, just not to push an already three and half hour surf.  This wasn’t the best south swell I have seen, but with out a doubt the biggest of the season so far.  Unfortunately things appear to be steadily calming down over the next few days.

7-12-17 AM Session: 4-6+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 3.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 26
Miles Driven: 64
Last evening while taking a walk along Lead Better with my girl I noticed lots of SE swell getting into both Leads and Sand Bar.  This had me super hopeful for some solid surf.  Pumped I woke up super early to take advantage of the light wind and low tide.  My first look was at the opening to Emma. There was a wave with two guys out, but it was smaller then I would have liked and a bit on racy side.  From there I went to the Harbor where I was greeted with a full parking lot and solid over head sets.  There had to be over fifty guys out.  The crowd really wasn’t an issue since the line up looked rather drifty and there were waves coming in up and down the beach.  I walked all the way down almost to Mc Grath all the while seeing plenty of sick ones.  I got out there and found myself either too deep or too shallow for every wave that came my way.  When I good one finally came in there always seemed to be someone deeper.  I would have had a screamer of a back door, but got clipped pulling in by a bit of backwash that sent me right into the lip.  The wind came up rather stiff out of the SW for my second drift basically trashing the place.  Of course this was right when I found my groove and managed to get a few bumpy ones that peeled for over fifty yards or so.  I ended up just surfing my way to New Jetty.  Then paddled around the jetty and got a few over there, though it was rather soft and riddled with rips and current.  Maybe tomorrow will be the day.

7-11-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 27
Miles Driven: 64
All the reports were calling for today to be even better then yesterday.  Not wanting to get fucked by the wind or the tide I got up earlier.  Of course as always no matter how early I wake up this summer the wind seems to get on it earlier.  Still it was only a light WSW robbing us of the barrel, but still keeping it rip-able.  The swell was supposed to come up as the tide came in, but instead it just got swampy, small and weak.  I did three drifts before calling it a day.   It maybe less then stellar, but it has been way better then last week.

7-10-17 AM Session: 2-4+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 4 hrs
Waves Surfed: 42
Miles Driven: 76
As promised there was slight bump up in surf courtesy of a small tropical SE swell.  When I was coming south I noticed that Emma Wood had some solid sets and was side/shore offshore with the strange NNW winds that had come up with an odd summer rain squall.  These winds were less then ideal for the Harbor so I went back and had a look at Emma.  Though perfect shape it was rather small.  Over it I just paddled at River Mouth once again.  I should have just paddled there in the first place cause the wind wasn’t that bad and the high tide really turned shit off.  Every half hour a really decent set would come in. I sat out there and kept doing drifts till I felt like I got a few decent rides.  Truth be told I should have quit on my first twenty rather then float around like a buoy for a duration of four hours and procured a terrible sun burn.  Summer fucking sucks.

7-9-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 24
Miles Driven: 64
After yesterdays failure and the few days I took off for lack of surf I was determined to get some waves.  My girl and I headed out.  Once again with the lack luster south swell River Mouth was the best option. I ran into Pat in the lot. Over it he was bailing to Hueneme or Malibu.  I didn’t feel like driving around on a Sunday to sit in another crowd.  At least at River Mouth there are lots of peaks.  We walked down to the middle of the Mouth.  It was super weak with the incoming tide and let of a way too steep south swell.  I got a few.  Later after another impressive breakfast at the Golden Egg on Main Street in Ventura we met up with some of my girls friends from college who just happened to be at New Jetty enjoying the beach.  For dinner we went to KFC and finally got that fried chicken.  It was a mistake and a total culinary let down.
7-8-17 No Surfing: 1-3+ ft
Miles Driven: 64
Last night I got hammered at the Wild Cat and I really don’t even know how it happened.  My chick had some friends in town and we met them at the Bob Cat Lounge at 10 pm.  It was a good thing I was frugal all week cause all that money I saved and then some I blew at the bar.  I blacked on the dance floor around 1 am heard I was pretty much a shit show.  I woke up really hung over and very unmotivated.  Surfline claimed the swell was going to filling with the evening tide push.  My girl and I went down for the evening and the surf was absolutely deplorable. I couldn’t muster up the charge to grovel and my chick really didn’t want to shoot me making a kook of myself.  Instead we got a craving for fried chicken and cruised home to Vons to take advantage of their meal deal, but being it was a Saturday they were all out and I was too lazy to drive over to Milpas to get KFC.

7-7-17 No Surfing: 1-2+ ft
It was another day of less then stellar surf.  The buoys had a tad more wind swell on them, but all of my reports did little to inspire me.  The sun was actually out making for perfect ding repair conditions.  I had a stack of boards sitting in my room that have needed my care and attention for some time.  I heard on the evening tide push Emma had a few.

7-6-17 No Surfing: 1-2+ ft
We have reached a point in my finances now that I am not gainfully employed anymore that I have to once again trim my budget.  There are two Chris’.  There money making Chris who enjoys throwing money around on nice cognacs, ports, sherrys, wines and champagne parties, buys expensive suits and has no problem dropping a few hundred bucks on a pair of black studded patent leather shoes.  Then there is unemployed Chris who has learned to turn a dollar out of fifteen sense.  Since I came currently in the mode of the latter I cannot justify blowing ten bucks in gas just to go grovel knee high Emma Wood.  Also I would like to mention that I was feeling a tad bit under weather.  Instead of surfing I finished working in my garden, which I am rather proud of.

7-5-17 AM Session: 2-3 ft, New Jetty
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 25
Miles Driven: 64
After yesterday’s failed BBQ and my realization on the lack of true friends I have left I decided it in my best interest to go find some waves.  The swell was down and I headed straight for the Harbor.  River Mouth had the usual south west wind on it that we have all become accustomed to.  New Jetty had a small wave that was peeling from the Jetty to the beach, though it was a complete mush burger.  The tide was dropping and lines nice.  No one was out and on my fish I was sure I could make sense of it.  Ryan grabbed his foam board and met me.  With out my fish it would have been deplorable, but thanks to my Clarks Freeloader I was able to turn garbage into gold.  I would have stayed out all day, but was still rather exhausted from the long surf on Monday.  I spent the rest of my afternoon cleaning up my long neglected garden.

7-4-17 No Surfing: 2-3 + ft
I could have surfed today, but after yesterday’s marathon session I was just super tired and really sun burnt.  I hate traffic and crowds and I was sure that was going to be the norm.  On top of all of this the swell was average at best and I had a 4th of July BBQ to prepare for.  Bizzaro and I did a smoked pork butt roast which was turned into pulled pork sliders, smoked artichoke, smoked red snapper, smoked baked beans, coleslaw and smoked Italian sausage.  Unfortunately due to the short notice of our engagement everyone invited failed to show up making it just myself, Bizzaro and Adela.  I suppose I should have just gone up to Jalama like I have the past few years.

7-3-17 AM Session: 2-4 + ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 3.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 38
Miles Driven: 64
It was actually glassy this morning.  Phil hit me up that River Mouth was head high and clean with barrels.  It didn’t take more then five minutes for me to get out of bed and on the road.  When I got there I couldn’t believe my eyes.  It was actually decent tubing River Mouth.  Stoked I got out there and my first five waves were gaping barrels. My excitement was short lived as the a light, but foiling WSW wind came up.  It was still very ride-able though getting a drainer was out of the question.  Ryan paddled and we made the most of the inconsistent south lines.  It got rather frustrating as the SW dropped out leaving only the primary south.  The line up was very shifty and I watched more waves go by me then I could catch.  My girl’s dad met us down there and we enjoyed a fun day at the Harbor that totally beat the shitty surf session.

7-2-17 AM Session: 2-4+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 21
Miles Driven: 72
I woke up with plenty of new south on the buoy and got all ready to head down to the River Mouth when I fielded a call from Ryan claiming the wind was already on it and that he was paddling New Jetty.  I got down there and there was some onshore wind, but it was still rather clean.  NJ had a solid crowd, shitty current and average sets at best.  River Mouth had lots of scattered peaks though a tad disorganized.  While surfing C Street I had overheard someone mention that had surfed Shores recently.  I took the gamble and drove over there.  It was bad intel cause there was absolutely no sand there at all.  I settled for River Mouth and just paddled down past the reeds.  It was a bit too bowly with three different swells mixing in and the drained tide with the wind chop made it less then ideal.  Basically I got my twenty and got on with my day.  What a shit summer this has turned out to be.

7-1-17 PM Session: 3-4+ ft, Silver Strand
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 28
Miles Driven: 78
Last night I had an appointment downtown to talk about a new employment opportunity.  Being that I was already out that parlayed right into a night on the town.  It was a lazy start to my Saturday as a result.  I was pleasantly surprised by some solid NW wind swell on the buoy and even more pleased when I got a positive that Strand was solid chest to head.  Unfortunately by the time I got down there both the tide and the wind had taken a toll on what was probably super fun surf. Still the crowd was light and there were some solid ones.  The back was made things tough and the ever increasing wind chop didn’t help.  I lucked into my share of good ones and as dead high approached I cut my losses and bailed.  Strand in July is an unprecedented occurrence.