Carmel Beach
***Initially this trip took place in February, my lazy and busy ass never got around to finishing the saga. I have a moment right now and am about to do such. I am going to attempt to write it as things were experienced and feelings that were felt then, despite my attitudes on certain issues are at press time. If you are a surflog reader keep that in mind if you feel my mood inconsistent with such. If you have just stumbled upon this piece and want to be brought up to speed before continuing on or need to refresh your memory on where we left off check out Part 1: Big Sur, A Land of Endless Possibility , Part 2: Blind Exploration , Part 3: Testing the Waters. Its old and dated, but worth the read so enjoy.***
Ahh the beauty of the wilderness.
My final day up in Big Sur country I was besides myself on what to do and how to make the most of it. It’s true that few people, with the exception of my father can pack as much activities in a trip as I can or a day for that matter. Don’t get me wrong, few can be as lazy as me either. I can spend three hours sitting on the couch staring into space. It just depends on the particular day, week or year. At the moment I have been in high out put mode leaving little time for nothing days.
In all truth I wanted to run around looking for more surf. Isn’t that always the agenda when surfing is involved? One of the surfing’s rule book main rules is “never bring your girl friend on a surf trip if you really want to score”. I have never really toted around a non-surfing girl friend before and had no experience with such. Normally if she doesn’t surf then we always travel separately. It sounds a bit selfish, I know, but as I wrote in the very first installment of this Big Sur saga I have a surfing problem. Surfing always comes first, always. No point in me ruining her trip or her ruining mine.
Thus far this trip had been the same thing. What I had initially wanted to be a semi-romantic weekend and a way for us to try and do some relationship damage control after the incident on my birthday (see the February2014, the 2-2 and 2-3 entries) began with me dragging Heather all over the coast trying to find some kill-able surf. In her defense she was a good sport about the whole thing. Feeling a bit guilty I decided that we could drive into Carmel on our last day. She mentioned multiple times (woman have a way of doing this) that she would like to go there. Besides I figured that there was beach there too and where there is a beach there are probably some surf-able waves.
Making the most of the meager offerings at Carmel Beach
I also had not realized that the drive up to Carmel was only about thirty minutes or so making it very do-able. After two days of being in the woods I was about ready for some civilization anyway. We got there uneventfully, though scenically whimsical. Being the asshole I am I managed to get us right to the beach. Coastal access signs might as well be like a dog whistle for a surfer. We pulled up to this really grand beach. It was as gorgeous as a beach could be. The sand was bleached white, the ocean was a coral blue, to the north was nothing but the green of a golf course and all around were these lavish estates. It looked like a scene out of “Life styles of the Rich and Famous”.
People say Santa Barbara is Beautiful and it certainly is, but I think Carmel has us beat. Really, what I think it is, is the fact that it rains there so everything is green all your round, while here in SB we go through long periods of brown. This particular beach also had a wave that was not bad. The wind was sort of side shore/off shore and surf was about cheat high plus with A-Frames. There were a handful of people scattered up and down the beach. I was on it.
One of the many section floaters I did to get me to more close out.
As I was stretching on the beach some “local” tried to give me some shit about going back to Santa Barbara (J7 is a Santa Barbara brand). He yelled some hardly audible bull shit at me. I looked at him, waved and smiled and then paddle out about a 100 yards down the beach from him and his buddies. Like I said there were peaks up and down the beach all rather similar looking. I saw no point in causing a raucous. I got a few, but it was a little more walled then I would have liked it to be and all the sets were closed out with few corners. I did a quickie as to not piss off Heather too much. I was also interested in seeing a bit of the town.
The main drag, Carmel.
I was really impressed by the town of Carmel. Cleanliness wise it was so much nicer then Santa Barbara. I saw very few homeless. The place just felt a bit more classy to me all around. I think it is because Santa Barbara is really broken into three shopping sections, Downtown, Montecito and Upper State, while in Carmel they just have a few block radius. I am not being a hater on SB, it is my home after all, I just think if we could clean up some of the bums and panhandling on State Street it might class the town up a bit.
Carmel
We meandered about the town for a bit taking in all the sights there were to see. It was mostly just strolling along window shopping considering the fact that we could not afford to eat or buy anything due to the upscale nature of the town. It was nice to take in some of the architecture and enjoy all the little parks through out the town. I would call it time well spent.
Large fig tree in Carmel.
Cool Charlie Chaplin painting we came across on our walk about.
It was getting late. I wanted to check out the Mission, but we also had a long drive back to Santa Barbara ahead of us. It would have to wait for another trip. I am always fine with leaving something more to do. The plan was to stop at the local grocer in town and pick up supplies to do a little beach front BBQ on this chill little spot I found along the PCH the previous night. It seemed a great spot for a sunset BBQ. I noticed there was also the possibility of some surf potential too. Always the ulterior surfing motive.
The problem with doing a BBQ when you have nothing is the fact that you need to get everything or get innovative. The food was the easy part. I bought a pair of cheap tongs and found some plastic silverware. I still need a cutting device. I bought a pack of razor blade edges for a buck. It would do. I got some veggies, two nice steaks, some mesquite and strawberries for dessert. It was on.
We got to my little spot and sure enough not only was it the pristine picnic spot I had thought, but it was all I had hoped in a surf spot and more. I had stumbled upon the wave completely by accident the previous day when Heather had to use the restroom. I had found a Big Sur Emma Wood. From the actual picnic area the surf spot is invisible. If you follow a little dirt path, cross a small creek, you will come around a head land into a small cove about 400 yards wide. The cove had cliffs on both sides and some boulders on the outside to the south. The entire cove was protected from the wind.
I am sure in a rainier season this creek runs a bit faster. On this day it was easy crossing.
At the southern corner of the bay there was a left coming in that looked more then kill-able. It would feather off the outside boulders before standing up on the inside sand bar creating an end section that is a high performance surfer’s dream. Airs, hits, reverses, anything was possible and the best part was the landing was in sand. There was even a right that the left would reform into on the other side of the peak. I stuck mainly to the left. I had a fucking ball. It was not bigger then head high, but super fun. I bet with the right wind it would barrel.
I had an hour of light left and the cove was situated perfectly for evening light too. Heather pulled out the telephoto and ran off a few shots while I went to town. Sure it was a little on the crazy side to go surf some off the beaten path spot in the middle of shark land during peak feeding hour, but how could I not go slay some peaks. It ended up being the best surf of my trip so I am glad I did.
After the surf I lit up the grill and cooked a fine meal of roasted vegetables and steak. We even indulged in a nice bottle of syrah though I was only able to take one glass off of it since I had to drive us home. It was a great ending to an interesting and fun trip. While most couples were spending Valentines Day at some restaurant that was over crowded and staff over worked spinning their wheels for an oblivious clientele who were duped in going out as a result of a made up holiday, my chick and I spent it eating in the sunset and drinking under the stars. I even bought her a rose while she was waiting in line at the butcher counter and surprised her with it at the table. Sometimes even a scoundrel like myself can be romantic.
On a final note I would like to say that I was very taken with Big Sur and will certainly be looking to spend some more time there in the near future. The surf potential is really endless. All your ability to score is dependent on is your commitment, dedication, time and level of crazy. I for one plan on making many more surf excursions to this special piece of the California Coast.
Surfing Ruined My Life 