The week that was...

Better late than never! Back from an extended stay in Indo - with a bust laptop. But am now back to my usual front yard of Millers instead of the above. Sure, it certainly ain't Indo, but home is home! And after a 6 week absence "The Week that was..." is back in action.

© LOggers Union

The usual yin yang week of summer. Flat, with a side order of some waves, and a very large main order of wind. Always a silver lining, so you know after enduring humping east that the wind will do a 180 degree faster than a schizophrenic soon enough and there'll be something to ride. Which is pretty much what happened mid-week. 

© Lippies awesome phone camera

What the beasterly easterlies do besides make it impossible to see out your windows, is bring plenty of critters into shore. So lots of things washing up on the beach besides bluebottles. Also some lighties about, like baby oyster catchers. These furry lil bundles will panic if you approach them, so give em a wide berth if you spot them (and keep your dogs far away).

© Luc Hosten

If you're gonna surf in summer there's a good chance you gonna get stung by the lil floating blue bubble of misery. Don;t let your mate in the car park con you that he has to piss on it to make it better. That old wives tale is just that - an old wives tale. 

Best bet is to run it under water as hot as you can bear - without compounding the sting by burning yourself! Heat denatures the protein of the sting. Make sure you try peel all the tentacles off. No hot water - vinegar is your next best option - so mission over to Something Good and grab a packet of slap chips with extra vinegar on the side.

© Christopher Scott

Yes, it's gonna hurt! © Luc Hosten

Coupla storms over the course of the week. Common convention is that if there's lightening in the area you should get out the water - cos lightning regularly strikes the ocean, and since water conducts electricity, a nearby lightning strike could kill or injure you. But yah, ignoring all that Ashely snapped this great pic of a lightening bolt whilst out having a surf.

© Ashley de Pontes

Over the weekend there were some funky cloud formations about, and at least we registered a few drops of rain. 

© Luc Hosten

Weird sightings in the sky were matched by weird sightings on land. Local shaper Dennis Ellis doing his best spongebob impersonation. Turns out not only can the shaping guru make boards, he makes diving masks too.

PE peeps end up all over the show (given that PE isn't quite the centre of the universe and it's not too hard to get motivated to go explore elsewhere!) Andy Rother has just been scoring some surf in Tahiti, whilst surf couple Brad and Hannah decided to swap tropical waters for some chilly Canadian swell on their honeymoon.

Summer time means Sardinia Bay missions are always an option.  Sometimes you don't even need to drive that far - just around the corner is enough. Seek and ye shall find. Definitely worth seeking at the moment to try avoid the usual influx of Euro first years that decend on Pipe all keen to learn to surf. Thankfully a few of the Pipe locals have been politely explaining how the line-up works.

© Vaughan Willaims

A few midweek waves at Pipe as well, Heather Nel got some shots - check em out in the Latest Shots gallery.

© Heather Nel

Managed to grab my first surf since being back and first thing anyone mentions is the "Big Day" at Millers - followed closely on the heels with "did anyone send some shots in!?"

Yes they did, so check out the Latest Shots gallery for pics from Petronel Posthumus, Howard Briscoe and Kody McGregor. 

© Howard Briscoe

Millers coooooooking - as Car Park John would say.

CJ letting loose © Petronel Posthumus

As much as I do hate missing out on a cooking front yard, my temporary front yard was cooking too, so wasn't too fussed.

Garth about to get axed

Surf report looks like a bit of  a mixed bag this week. Certainly offers a chance to get wet but nothing super flash. Still, a paddle about on your board sure beats going to gym as an excuse for exercise.

© Luc Hosten