TRINITY UNIVERSITY (surf camp # 7) 2007

OH, OH, OH....this is tide guides final SURFING camp of 2007, it has been an absolutely terrific season (Professor Minor surfed 40 days down here and rode probably a 1000 waves) this is more than i deserve, but what the hell I'm 55 already. Tonight the Houston Yaught Clubs Annual Regatta is arriving here in Port "A", having departed from Houston, and before dusk billowing sails fill the horizon, I have heard that the "Elisha" a original 150 foot square rigger is part of the regatta. This awesome display is visible from our front row seats in our beach chairs. Trinity has arrived in the School van, ten students Oliver, Jason, Jessica, Stephanie, Daniele, Paul, Jeff, Darren, Christen, Ally, and after introductions we walk in the darkness on the soft sand to the waters edge and chat. Waves are nearly flat tonight, so we can let the tide wash our feet. Next morning a swell has arrived. Tide Guide has eased up on a long standing tradition, i usually cease and desist surfing once the water temp drops below 80. Saturday morning the temp is 72, YYYYYOOOOwwwww, but once in and with this building swell it feels OK. Everybody is having a blast. We do 3 sessions. Sitting around the camp fire after a hardy dinner Saturday night, Stephanie asks a question? WHAT IS THE WORD FOR THE SOUND OF A WAVE. No one could answer her, and i can guarantee nobody gets into Trinity University who is a dummy. But still no answer, so we are working on it, we even decided that it would be OK to coin our own word. Sunday Oliver carries on a Trinity tradition, he had carved a pumpkin last evening while every one ate some-mores. And now he cuts open the bottom and puts it on his head and then goes out for a surf, and he stands up. Waves have bumped up this morning to 10 foot outside, to much for students and i ask them to stay on the inside, Jason and Oliver assume duties in camp while some students are sleeping in, i go out at 8.30 a.m. and get some dynamite waves, big drops, i surf for over an hour, this will be my last surf this year and its a hit.....!!!!!

LEISURE LEARNING UNLIMITED (surf camp # 6) 2007

Jeff Mason, Davey McGaughey, Laura Speirs returned for their second surf camp of this season, Davey with a brand new board of his own, they arrive before sundown, and get in a session and waves are fair, and to quote Mr. Mason "any day at surf camp is better than a day in the office". Derek and Shannon arrive for their second Tide Guide Surf Camp of this season, and I am amazed, they have bought their own surf boards, out for a session they go before sundown. After sundown, Ying Hu and Karen Reeves arrive for their first go at surfing. Troy Donavan arrives for second surf camp of season. Then father daughter James and Jennifer arrive. On saturday we had warm water and fair waves, if you could make it outside there where 6 to 8 foot drops. inside where most everyone surfed the periods where 4 to 5 seconds so quite challenging for the new surfers. Ying Hu on the SandDollar made it outside with me and she was brave and since she is so light she was launched into quite a few waves and stood up on a couple. Jeff, Davey, and Troy are doing great. Laura is having fun on shore cheering on Davey. Just a great day. During mid day in between session 3 and 4 we all walked down to the Fishing Pier to go all the way out to the end for the great view and to talk. We were minding our own business leaning against the railing watching surfers below us. However, above us, on a light post perched a large Pelican. I am wearing my new surf sombrero custom made palm weave. I begin to hear "rain drops", then i hear screams and screeches.......and all of a sudden a aroma or odor. I look up and this Pelican is minding his own business, just sitting there getting some sun, after having squirted out a few minnows. I see Ying Hu running down the deck, bent over holding her mouth. Now i dont want to seem insensitive or unaffected but I am a fisherman and please i dont want to seem like i really enjoy the scent of minnows, but actually i dont mind it, but Ying is gagging, well I am getting a little chukle out of it all, and she and Karen will say I am exagerating but Ying threw up, and then she ran off the pier and jumped in the gulf. Sunday real blown out, and I the big tandem board out, i work with James and he stands up on two short rides, although long enough to join the "30 foot club", Jennifer stood up, but not quite 30 feet. Karen had some fun launches. i had a blast and used the USS COUCH POTATO tide guides 12 foot tandem board on sunday. all you have to do is get it moving, drop it in, all 12 feet of it, bang on the back deck to keep it from pearling and then it will cruise all the way to shore.....!!!!!!!!