A WEEK OF SOUTHWEST STORMS!

A whole week of storms pounding the coast has made it inland.  The first photos are from the first day of the storms and most of the week was like this except for Tuesday. Tuesday was big 5 foot waves rolling in just like we were on the coast and I got to go and surf on them.  The first group are from the gulf road location and the second group of photos are from the reserve.  I've been waiting to post this sight for good reasons. The shore line is rocky, so you have to surf out further and that takes a special storm.  We were getting 50 to 60 mph winds on Tuesday and showed the potential of the area. I have surfed 4 times already this year on good waves, but Tuesday topped them all.

The rock in this video on a calm day is the same height as me and it also shows the size of white wash coming into shore.

SURFING ON SATURDAY

Surfing on Saturday with my wife was more than just another surfing day for me. Just four days ago, I was all excited in the morning waiting for it to get light outside and the phone rang.  My wife called me, and had to tell me that my Uncle Jim died, and that I needed to call my dad.  While talking to my father, it was hard to figure out my emotions and how this news was sinking in.  After the phone call, I had to wonder if surfing was the right idea at this moment.  Then I realized that Jim would have wanted me to do what I love, and that is what I did.  Sitting out on my board all by myself out in the water, all of my great memories of Jim came flooding back to me.  I truely felt connected to him as I was surfing for two hours all alone, it was as if these waves were here today to make the news easier and celebrate his life. 

Now coming back to Saturday, most of my family was down in Raymond with the rest of the family, and I stayed behind. I realized that I wasn't ready for such a gathering and waited for a happier event next weekend when my cousin would get married. Saturday was suppose to bring a southwest wind and not very strong, but ended up turning to a northwest wind and made a shorebreak.  Then the shorebreak became two to three foot waves that formed further out.  This was a great moment, I had the pleasure of surfing with my wife for almost two hours that day.  It was nice to have this moment with my wife, and not just take it for granted.  The waves were good and the sun was out and I felt the family spirit inside me.

For all the family out there, I love you guys.  

EARLY MORNING JANUARY THE 10TH

Windfinder was right on this time, sad to say the bigger waves were at 1am.  Since I work the night shift, I had all my gear in my truck and went to the point as soon as I got off of work.  Watching the waves crash on the shore while it was dark with a full moon was pretty cool.  The sad part was watching the waves get smaller as the wind died down.  daylight came and I caught some nice two to three foot waves before the waves started to disapear later into the day.  The fun part was surfing on my new board, which was alot nicer surfing on than my longboard.   

FIRST WAVES OF 2012!

Thanks to a rare January South wind we have 2 to 3 foot waves and warm weather.  These were solid Southeast shorebreak waves, that you could ride for awhile if you stayed in the curl.  The first photo is a good example of this.  It only happens with an outgoing tide and a Southeastern wind.

LAST WAVES OF THE YEAR

The waves were great, but I was sick.  The only thing I could do was watch them from my house and get these photos.  I ended up surfing 43 times this year at Birch Bay. This is my first year surfing here and now that I have recorded it, I can see how the next year will compare.  Enjoy the photos and videos!