Talk over the last couple of days was of a swell out there which may not be heading in this direction. I hadn't seen Spotlight the evening before, and what I'd seen in the flesh so to speak before going back to our digs hadn't been encouraging. And so it was, as I set off for town around 10.30am I wasn't expecting anything to get excited about. As I passed the Manor and started to descend into Widdy Bay, a double take was required, and I needed to pull over to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I wasn't ! There before me were enticingly clean 2-3 foot waves. An about turn followed as I rushed back for the board, Suz & Ben; the evident excitement rubbing off on the others.

Needless to say, town wasn't reached (not until the evening anyway!); and the board was going to get it's christening at last. The adrenaline was flowing as I paddled out, an easier experience in it's own right. No sooner as I got out there, then the chance for a wave came, which I took with an ease that left me totally stoked. This was going to be one helluva session and so it was! Soon after, Brox paddled out, with what looked like... a new longboard. It transpired that the temptation was too much after seeing mine on the Sunday. Clearly I'm a bad influence ! Still, he too was benefiting from his acquisition and like me, was moving into new dimensions.

An hour or so before high tide, I started to lose my way a bit when I realised that Suz was positioned on the beach, spectating and taking pics. Sudden self-conscious reaction ? Maybe, but I soon got back into my stride, taking a succession of lefts and performing maneouvres that, up until now had only be flukes at best. Taking the drop (OK not the sheer face of a bigger wave), executing confident turns on the rail (left in particular being a goofy), running my hand along the face; all seemed so natural for the first time in my surfing 'career'. Three hours after going in, I got out for some refreshment; before going back in for a couple hours more. When I did finally call it a day, I was so stoked as to be insufferable well into the evening. The copious amounts of red wine went down a treat though!