Some good surf...

Eight sessions in six days. Nice! The stretch started last Saturday and eventually finished Thursday evening. The weekend was big, and it was hot on Sunday as well, which brought out the crowds. Don`t usually spend the whole day down at the break, but with new friends to hang with, MH and I were up for it. Of course, with so many people in the water, it was hard to get waves that often. The ones I did get were pretty sweet though. Long rides, and some nice size! MH got some good ones too. Unfortunately no photos though. Strained my arm a little from surfing on Sunday, so got out the bodyboard for a couple of days, before getting back on the longboard on Wednesday. The waves during the week were clean and small, but all good. Waiting for the next session!



Not that big on Monday morning, but fun.
Photo - MH

52 Dishes in 2009 #2-3

I tried to read 52 books in 2008, but came up short at 43. Oh well, reading is for losers anyway. That came straight from my high school P.E. teacher even, who told my class that books will get you nowhere - and he HAS to be right. So instead I will cook 52 new and unusual dishes in 2009. Of course, it`s already July. Better get a move on.



#2 Coney Island Hot Dogs. Seeing as I have never been to Coney Island or had a Coney Island Hot Dog before, I can`t quite say if they were even close to being authentic... they tasted pretty good though.





#3 Tandoori Chicken. This actually turned up on the school lunch menu this past week, but I decided I could do better. No turmeric though, so I didn`t quite get the orange colouring. On to that for next time.

SURF!

More surf in the weekend! Sunday afternoon, in particular, was great. Regular, clean waves with a decent size. AND the weather was HOT! Finally I could ditch the 5mm wetsuit, boots and gloves and just wear the 3mm and my reef boots. So much lighter!



Now this was one CLEAN wave
Photo - MH





The mini-tomatoes are starting to come through
Photo - Rooster





Home-made GYOZA!
Not quite as beautiful as I had hoped, but they tasted good...
Photo - Rooster

Summer!

Finally it`s starting to heat up! Although the waves have been good recently, the cool, rainy weather has been a real drag. I think it rained every weekend for the last month... or more... Downer.

Anyway Wednesday afternoon was a bodyboard session. The ocean still hadn`t settled down though, and it seemed like I spent most of my time paddling just to stay (remotely) in position. The waves were big and gave up some long rides, but were really bumpy at the same time. Just shell-shocked afterwards. Thursday and Friday evenings it was back on the longboard. The waves were a little smaller, but were really clean. Good times! Friday morning I went out to watch MH. Unbelievable that three sessions ago she could only ride straightahead in the whitewash, but now she`s dropping waves like the one below. Awesome!



Mr K. Watanabe in the Wednesday afternoon sun
Photo - Rooster





MH can surf!!!
Photo - Rooster

Birthday WAVES!

Out this afternoon for a session with MH and not many others. It was raining lightly, but the waves were all good. Nice birthday present! Stayed in for longer than usual, about two hours twenty, while MH surfed for about an hour. She did pretty good too. Just wonder when she`ll start telling me surfing is even better than backcountry snowboarding - within five sessions, I reckon...



Some solid waves today!

Cruisy Mid-Week Waves

Out surfing Monday evening and early Wednesday morning. Can`t really blame the waves, but felt slightly off both times. Tuesday and Thursday mornings I went out to watch MH - doing pretty good too!



Waves at 5am Wednesday morning





MH starting to get it all together early Thursday morning

Average Surf

Out on Tuesday evening for a session on the bodyboard, Wednesday evening on the longboard, as well as watching MH surf early Wednesday morning. Nothing much to write about though.



Mr WATAnabe setting up...