Sunday, August 14, 2005

The Boogie Report

We just joined a group called Surfriders; in fact we were there for the first meeting of the South Texas Chapter. The name obviously infers that surfers would be the main emphasis, although we had people more known for beach walking, sand castles, swimming, kayaking, kite boarding, and boogie boarding there. Surfers tend to be an aristocratic lot, where everyone else is considered a “sponger.” Well, I am sure Surfriders will accommodate us spongers, since we have the same preservation goals and don’t mind a get-together party every now and then.



Myself, I like body surfing and boogie boarding because big waves are relatively rare down here on South Padre Island, and if they are big, they’re too choppy and dangerous. Plus, the place where we usually go swimming is called Bougainvillea Circle, or more simply “Boogie Circle.” Thus the Boogie Report.

The surf predictions were 1-2 feet today, which I can see if you’re a snobby surfer. But lo, when we got out to the second sandbar we had some 4-6 foot waves. It was incredible, with at least some 40-foot rides, one maybe 60. One wave was so powerful I lost my jams (my bathing suit), which fortunately had not floated off to the nearby ladies. I didn’t bring along my boogie board, more technically known as a body board because of its design and 45-inch length (and not to mention expense), although I wish I had.

All in all, it was a perfect boogying session … until the kids all showed up wanting to do the same thing. I don’t know what it is; my wife tends to attract all kinds of stray cats, dogs, kids, and even bugs. Not a good idea to spear some kids coming off a 5-foot wave going 20 MPH. About 45 minutes was enough work-out, anyway. In all fairness to the surfer reports, you really can’t tell the entire day’s surf at eight o’clock in the morning, with all the shifts of wind and current. But it rocked today!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just a few days back in Colorado, and I already miss the ocean!! Get a few rides in for me!!

As for Lori's attractions--it's a school thing. Dogs, Kids and Bugs can smell "school" on a person. I know. It's a curse.

Sam said...

Oh Char, only for the bugs and kitties that Lori is allergic to - she loves all the rest! I admit, there may be a sixth sense about this kind of thing. You ARE coming back this fall, right?
sam

Anonymous said...

Geew wiz Sam. You mean you actually exist? I didn't believe it til I saw the picture!
Now I can wipe the other guy I'd been picturing you as out, and replace with the genuine article. (Not too far off though, I pictured you with shorter hair.)
Happy board riding.

Sam said...

That's funny, BIB, since I'm the only man in our family with any hair left! Heard anything from Warbler?

p.s. that little potbelly there helps with the hydrodynamic qualities of boogy surfing - yeah right ...

Everett said...

Hey Sam, I think I recognize that face! It lookie just like the one next to the place I go to buy stamps in the USPO! Just kidding, but you do look familiar. What year was it when you finally left old BI for the real world? I'd come down and go body surfing, but I just can't get myself to any further south than the SE Light! Besides that if I got in the water the tide would be right up under your "porch", "piazza" deck! Is that bit of blue behind you the ocean or is painted on the next house? TIFN

Sam said...

Hey Everett, that's the bayside in the background there. Interesting story there ... I'll blog that sometime soon. Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX - love it) is three blocks the opposite direction. When we say "sandspit" we really mean it! You're always welcome down here, especially on those winter days when the furnace can't get the house over 60 degrees! They call 'em "Winter Texans." Folks from the East Coast and even England have discovered us as a nice, rather quaint alternative to Florida. And birds, all those birds winter down here by the thousands. Some of the birds never leave. Why, just getting the newspaper this morning I was buzzed by a Frigate Bird and then almost tripped over a rather large Booby.

"Frigate," I muttered to myself ...
Till then,
Sam

Anonymous said...

Sam, you just crack me up! The plan is to come down for a week or so in October. I just hope Sandcastle Days is at the same time. I'll know more in a couple of weeks. October is the best time to be there!