Have published 7 short and sweet [?] 'avi file format' vids from the surf at Sandilands on Thursday. The file sizes are quite large so be warned if like me you're still using dial up connections, though they should play on whatever movie player your system has.
They can be found via the relative links on the home page, or by using the following numbered links:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7
Don't expect epic surf footage though, just a father and son tucking into some small clean waves on a summers afternoon on the east coast [UK]. The quality on one or two is also grainy which we have attributed to using the zoom feature on what is after all just a digi camera. Will just have to keep experimenting with it. In the meantime, thanx to Suz for trying it out in the first place, and here's to expanding this aspect for future developments on this website.
Will probably be reporting again pretty soon, as there may be some small swell working down the coast from tomorrow, with potential to grow as the week progresses. Watch this space...
posted by wollocks at 5:20 PM
What a pleasure it was yesterday afternoon to go for a surf locally at Sandilands and have all the family in the water for the first time ever on this side. Ben should be held responsible for this and not a bad thing either.
Fresh from his progress and successes last week on the 'new' minimal, he has been noticeably eager to take heed of Brox's suggestion to make more use of the east coast while we're still here. Consequently, there's been more than a weather eye on his part on possible swell via Ceefax, Cromer's webcam, and local weather forecasts. We had missed a chance on Sunday sadly; Naips had emailed Saturday, but despite there being some waves, we'd been unable to make it over. Yesterday however did seem promising and so with a bit of rush to get tasks completed in the morning, all the kit was chucked in and on the car along with Ben's mate, Ben Milnes, and off we went.
Pulling in to the car park around 2pm, the first sign was good; the flag on the front was being blown in an offshore direction. Some gusts were quite strong, but this could ease as the afternoon progressed. A quick eyeball at the sea revealed a ride-able wave even though the tide was already quite high with HT still and hour and a half away. Within 15 mins, everyone was kitted up and in. Suz and Ben M were on their bodyboards and immediately found the shorey conditions to their liking. I was last in and joined Ben out back. Our first wave was a two's-up do which brought smiles to our faces straight away, along with the jokey drop-in jibes on the paddle back out.
We both only managed a couple of half-rides in the hour or so leading up to high tide, as conditions became more finicky with the deeper water and a gustier off-cross shore breeze. Ben decided to opt for some body board and body-surf fun for a while at this point. I was wondering if it may be putting him off surfing here 'proper' again after that initial success. You never can tell with a teen mind. Whatever; I had a wander further up the beach where I noticed what looked like more of a peak to see if I could improve my wave count.
It proved to be a good move, though I wasn't expecting any changes to the wave pattern until perhaps a bit later. At about the HT time [15.44] one or two pulses started to show and I immediately got into a left which gave encouragement of better things. OK, it was still only 1-2', but when the breeze eased and a set or two came through, it did appear as if it was cleaning up some more. There followed a spell at this spot until about 4.30, where I snagged a good half dozen plus waves which produced some fun rides and gave me the confidence to experiment a bit.
Around this time, I noticed Ben getting leashed up to his board again which bought a smile [perhaps of re-assurance] to my face more than any ride could. Suz and Ben M. were headed in to get changed and spectate at this point after a very enjoyable time in the water.
Suz would also, we discovered later, be experimenting with the digi camera's movie function. Will publish the best of these, along with some stills soon. With the benefit of using a spare wettie of ours, young Ben had obviously had the longest spell in the sea he'd ever had, something that would obviously aid a good night's sleep later! Suz too had never had so much fun on this coast and had great fun.
[Our] Ben had got in nearer to our initial entry point where to his credit he'd spotted some peaks forming as the tide had receded some on to the less steep part of the beach. As my area was providing less action, I made my way nearer to him. By this time another surfer had joined the ranks, swelling the line-up to 3!! For the next hour or so we traded wave after wave and it was so pleasing to see him enjoying by far his most intense [3.5 hours] surf on this side of the country to date. Earlier worries needn't have surfaced; I can see him and Suz accompanying me to actually surf here more often. By the time we do eventually sell up and get west, he'll clearly be a lot more competent and have less to catch up on ability-wise, than would have been the case.
posted by wollocks at 11:07 AM
Back from latest jaunt west with plenty to tell.
Arrived in the Bude area after a slowish journey from Gloucester around lunchtime last Saturday
[14th], and met up with Brox and Gill at Widemouth. As suitable start point for the 'Two Cars Behind Tour' as there could be. Happily there were waves to play with too, a fun looking couple of foot or so to get into some kind of rhythm from the get go. Besides which, as we couldn't check in to our 'vans until after 4pm, we had to kill time somehow didn't we?
Ben and I were first in and it was nice to get out back with the lad again in some proper waves. Brox followed soon after, while Suz and Gill were out on their bodyboards enjoying a pleasant summers afternoon. I was straight into the groove as I picked up on a nice left peak midway to Black Rock, which I alternated between with another right, further north. Ben's need to switch to a more suitable board for his ability and size was apparent still, though he still snagged one or two; usually when I was on them! Brox's 2 years absence from the water showed but at least during the long gaps between rides there was a broad grin. Good to be back or what?! We met up with Dan Aves from
OTL briefly too, before he had to get out, which was nice. Reluctantly we followed too around 5pm after 2.5-3 hours in the water. The surfing vibe continued later that evening with a visit to
Zuma's to make a preliminary check on a minimal for Ben.
The waves had dropped off to barely knee high the following [mid] afternoon on Sunday
[15th]. But the weather was bright and sunny, and with Ben eager to test out Brox's minimal to gauge this type of boards suitability, it seemed silly not to go in again. Within a very short period of time it was obvious that it was as I spotted him get into three waves as I wandered out to the sea after getting suited up myself. It didn't stop there either; as time went by, both Brox and myself were blown away in terms of wave count and tricks, as the lad reveled in conditions that more experienced surfers struggled to get anything out of. I mean multiple switch foot moves...Pack it in Ben ;o)
On Monday
[16th] Suz and I had gone to check over a couple of properties in Holsworthy, while Ben had gone back into town with Brox and Gill for a closer look at boards. Little did we know what a bizarre day this was to become. On returning back to the van and comparing notes from our respective mornings, it became clear that we may be in for a showery/stormy afternoon; not enough to deter another surf over at Widdy, as there was a solid 3-4ft swell apparent. Even so, Ben and I strolled up the footpath to the cliff tops nearby and observed a lively looking storm further south down the coast which looked as if it should miss these parts and head inland. The sky out to sea and further down the coast looked promising as well.
A couple of hours later, around 3pm, we all set off to Widemouth with the tide now turned and on the push. The weather a couple of bays or so down the coast, still looked grim, and the storm was still grumbling on. Or was it an amalgamation of storms by now? Either way Ben and I still paddled out into a tasty swell with attention still focused on getting some good rides. These were probably the biggest waves Ben had been out in so far, but he was looking comfy, and observing closely what was going on around him. I got into a couple early on, and saw Ben almost land one or two as well. It may have been a case of another couple of strokes or confidence or whatever, but he was handling things well. Particularly too as the weather locally was starting to deteriorate which must have been a bit of distraction as well for him [like it wasn't for anyone else?!].
I'd spotted a finger of cloud from the storm starting to move out to sea and make it's way in our direction, while the main body of the storm[s] seemed to be expanding inland and getting closer. It was a matter of time now before we'd be caught up in things, but the waves were good and hey, the seabirds weren't evacuating the water, so why should we? One or two close flashes of lightening made Ben think twice and so he paddled in, at which time Brox, who'd been limbering up inside, got out back. As the rains came, the waves perked up a little more too. It was by now surreal, surfing and catching waves in such conditions, and yet there was more to come. Just when one thought it couldn't get worse, it did. The skies darkened even more and suddenly those of us still out there, were being pounded by a cloudburst and a sustained one at that! It was eerie though fear didn't enter the equation strangely, as beach/coastline/and even only a few yards around you, totally disappeared in the downpour. As one we all paddled in at this point, made strangely easier as the swell seemed flattened by the force of the rain!!!
Noticing that Brox and another lad were making slower progress out, I hung back to make sure neither got into any difficulties. Happily they didn't and talking with Brox later, was pleased to hear that by doing so, I had helped. The steps up to the car park were by now a waterfall which in itself was a mass of raging torrents. The rain soon eased to little more than a torrential downpour as I got back to the cars where Suz and Ben had gotten changed and were sheltering. Brox decided to call it a day, and I was on the verge of doing so too. Something made me have another look though and, with promise of an end to the storm not far off, and a return of the waves; a snap decision was made to go back in. Others had felt similarly and were paddling back out too by the time I got back to the waters edge. From a surfing POV it was inspired, as I enjoyed an exhilarating hour or so before tiring enough to want out.
What an extraordinary session that had been. Ignoring the weather for a moment, the wave count was satisfactory with the emphasis on quality. I got de-gowned with a big grin on my face for sure, though none of us could have expected what followed. Glancing up every now and then, it became clear that there were odd patterns of traffic movement on the road with a large tailback up the cliffs towards Bude. Vehicles passed the car park and were returning soon after. This required a quick reccy which revealed that the road was flooded between us and the Bay View Inn. Not a problem we thought as a detour onto the A39 would put that right. And so we turned right out of the CP and drove through Widdy village towards the main road, turned left and headed south towards town. With the storm now passed and the rain stopped, the magnitude of what had occurred was still lost to us. Traffic was coming towards us seemingly normally, until it became obvious that many were signaling what must have been a hazard further up the road.
Brox was ahead and turned right onto the Week St Mary road, pulling over as he did so, so we could pull up and confer. Taking everything into account we decided that it was worth a try down this way even though we were sure there'd be no way through. And so it was. WSM was under water with the lane blocked with abandoned vehicles adding to the problems according to drivers coming back from that way. Three point turns on this kind of road are fun to say the least, but necessary in this instance. Brox and I conferred again with me taking the lead position when we got back onto the A39 and seeing what was going on further up the road for ourselves. The sight at Helebridge was amazing. Where normally a small stream meanders under the road, a raging torrent some 400 metres across [and up to 4 foot deep] was rendering the road well impassable. A local farmer was helping and advising approaching drivers of the alternatives. The bottomline being that no-one was going this way for some time to come, even though it was clearly receding from it's highest point.
We retreated to the Widemouth Manor as had been advised by the emergency services and dug in there for the duration. Luckily Brox and Gill had some money on them [we had come out totally unprepared cash wise-we didn't even have our mobile- and Suz was underwear-less!], and a meal and a drink were purchased for all. It was here that the rumours we'd heard on the road of Boscastle being devastated by a flash flood were confirmed. Those pictures we saw on the TV's there stopped you in your tracks and comparisons to the Lynmouth Flood Disaster [on the same date] in 1952 were obvious. The mood in the building was subdued as visitors who'd earlier in the day been there and had left before things literally caved in realised the enormity of what had occurred; and how lucky they'd been. It has to be mentioned too, that the staff at the Manor throughout the evening were superb; keeping everyone informed of developments, and then leading the 'convoy' into Bude when the nod had been given that it was passable there with care. Our thanks are extended without compromise.
Tuesday
[17th] dawned brighter and drier, though there was the threat of rain later. The news was full of the disaster down the road at Boscastle and it was a miracle that no-one as yet had been known to have perished. A blessing under the circumstances, and not in a small way down to the courage and skill of the emergency services, in particular the helicopter crews whose precision was clear to see on the footage available. Other badly hit areas were now open again, and so Suz, Ben and I went in to Launceston to view a couple more properties before another surf over at Widdy later in the afternoon.
The swell had dropped slightly, but it was still a reasonable challenge when we got there around 4.30pm this time [Ben had nodded off in the afternoon and we didn't have the heart to wake him]. It was mid tide on the push as we got in, though on this occasion it was only me who managed to get out back, and even then after a couple of unsuccessful attempts at the south end of the beach where the flags were. I'd then headed towards the Black Rock end and got in without any trouble. I tugged into a few early waves and was feeling that maybe this would turn into an epic session [by my standards]. After an hour or so I became conscious that my timing was getting a little awry and the wave count from that point dried up without any glaring reason other than maybe fatigue. The shape of the waves had though gone odd if that's the word, certainly it was being used by the locals I chatted with, but it's still no excuse on my part. By 6pm and with the tide now well in and spectator-able from the car park, I'd noted that Suz and Ben were in as they were viewing, hopefully not with impatience. Suz seemed to have the camera [which she did-pix to follow] and after a while of this with no more waves for me, I started signaling that I'd have one more ride and then in. That ride never came, and a bit dejectedly I paddled in. For the first time in a while I was clearly having a crisis of confidence.
This wasn't aided over the next 2 days [Weds and Thurs], when conditions went onshore and breezy and made for some very frustrating water time for me. Ben was making the most of the inside whitewater, but I was even struggling to make that! Friday was bigger but blown out by a stiff N-NW wind and we had a day off. I feared of not even having a chance to regain my belief before we returned to Lincs on Saturday.
I needn't have. The forecast was for the wind to drop right off on Saturday and so there was hope. Hope that was fulfilled as we pulled into the car park at Widemouth to find a nice cleanish waist-shoulder high wave with the tide now ebbing from the recent high. Ben with his newly acquired minimal [the deal with Brox for his 7'10" Rhino having been sealed the evening before], and myself were first in just after 11am. I picked my channel out and joined the line up eager to get back into some good form. I missed the first couple but strangely felt good about things whereupon a satisfying left and charge down the line was enough to get the adrenaline pumping once more. A couple of shorter rights, and two feet to board-heavy wipeout efforts put me in a better frame of mind; something which was further encouraged as I saw Ben paddling out to the line up proper at last.
I saw him miss a couple of opportunities before-bang! He was into a right and away. It was such a proud moment as he not only got to feet, but turned and went along the wave that was clearly head high to him before bailing at just the right moment. His expression on paddling back was a picture and at last he had experienced a wave with a bit of poke to it. From that point, his progress was my main focus of attention as I watched him snatch several more and handle them with aplomb. Now he knows the meaning of taking the drop! His efforts encouraged me to up my own efforts as I too picked up my wave count after a quiet period. After just short of 3 hours in the water I returned to shore for some munchies. Ben had by this time got out of the water and was sat on his board at the waters edge; knackered but stoked...you bet! Despite wanting too, and despite the pleasant weather and later improvement of the waves still further, this was our last action of the trip. We spent a couple or so hours chilling with Brox and Gill before reluctantly setting off.
posted by wollocks at 7:14 PM
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