The sun was shining 2 hours before low tide and the winds had calmed down to blustery so I thought 'what the heck, I'll suit up and see what's going on at Horseshoe Bay'. The shoulder was feeling pretty good and it made sense to give it a little exercise, so long as I took it easy.
The surf was high but it had a long frequency, once you got past the break it was workable so long as you didn't try to fight it out with Mother Ocean - she is massive and we are but tiny mortals, so she will always wins that fight. The sand was lumpy and the rip currents were running; in the first hour I managed a couple of quarters and a ferry token. The water was cold and rough but I took it easy and had fun - then Lee showed up. I heard someone yelling from the beach and in between waves I took a peek (turning my back to the waves which is something I hate to do) and there was Lee, all suited up and talking a blue streak which strained my comprehension of English (not Canadian but English - similar but not the same). Just as Lee crossed into the break zone, I felt the water pull back and turned to see a huge wave piling in on me, I yelled 'Look Out'! and jumped for it. I rode over the wave because it was still building but it broke on top of Lee, it knocked him back about 10 feet and almost bowled him over but miraculously he was able to keep his feet (flippers) under him. We quickly moved beyond the break zone and got down to hunting. We both got caught up in rip tides but were able to fight free, you really have to keep on top of your game in tough conditions.
An hour or so later I had another ferry token, a silver earring and a little more clad - we were both chilled so we decided to try again when things calmed down some. The shoulder is a little stiff but by working with the surf instead of against it I was able to have an enjoyable hunt, even if there was no real loot.
I'll be back on the weekend for Surf Church and hopefully conditions will have improved by them and the loot will be within range.
The surf was high but it had a long frequency, once you got past the break it was workable so long as you didn't try to fight it out with Mother Ocean - she is massive and we are but tiny mortals, so she will always wins that fight. The sand was lumpy and the rip currents were running; in the first hour I managed a couple of quarters and a ferry token. The water was cold and rough but I took it easy and had fun - then Lee showed up. I heard someone yelling from the beach and in between waves I took a peek (turning my back to the waves which is something I hate to do) and there was Lee, all suited up and talking a blue streak which strained my comprehension of English (not Canadian but English - similar but not the same). Just as Lee crossed into the break zone, I felt the water pull back and turned to see a huge wave piling in on me, I yelled 'Look Out'! and jumped for it. I rode over the wave because it was still building but it broke on top of Lee, it knocked him back about 10 feet and almost bowled him over but miraculously he was able to keep his feet (flippers) under him. We quickly moved beyond the break zone and got down to hunting. We both got caught up in rip tides but were able to fight free, you really have to keep on top of your game in tough conditions.
An hour or so later I had another ferry token, a silver earring and a little more clad - we were both chilled so we decided to try again when things calmed down some. The shoulder is a little stiff but by working with the surf instead of against it I was able to have an enjoyable hunt, even if there was no real loot.
I'll be back on the weekend for Surf Church and hopefully conditions will have improved by them and the loot will be within range.
