The week that was...

Walking on water © Kody McGregor Photography

Summer is here and it was a summers week. Coupla slides about for those who wanted to get wet, coupla lekker days to just laze on the beach. Water temp has warmed up a bit so it's even possible to get the shorty's out.

Summer slides © Kody McGregor Photography

Mostly it was flat though. But even on the "look-like-the-Vaal-dam" days you can still head out for a swim with your board and maybe luck into something lil. Just have to adjust your expectations, and then there will always be something to ride. Might just involve a drive to the wild side.

© Marcus Ducker

Port Alfred manages to never be flat even when it's flat elsewhere. The kneelo's were stoked cos at least they had contestable surf this past weekend for the SA Kneeboard Champs. Legend Gigs Cilliers took the open men's title. 

© Brett Smith

The weekend saw lekker weather to just hang at the beach. Local logger Alfonso Peters has a new lightie who he is quickly making sure gets used to some sand between the toes! Alfonso is off to the WSL 2018 World Longboard Champs in Taiwan this November, so wishing this Millers local the best of luck.

© Alfonso Pieters

The early bird might not be getting the waves at the moment, but they are getting the worms! We're lucky to have a pretty decent size population of black oyster catchers along our shores. Despite their name they mainly feed on mussels, limpets and worms found in the intertidal zone. This means they do most of their foraging at low tide, so that's the best time to spot them along the beach. The African black oystercatcher mates for life and some pairs have been known to live together for up to 20 years. I love random facts - never know when you might need them for a Trivial Pursuit game.

© Heather Nel

CarPark John spotted with a CarPark John Ale in hand. CPJ is a local legend and has surfed in PE since anyone can remember. He has also been fortunate enough to have a beer names after him, by the Richmond Hill Brewing Company. Pop in to RHBC or the BeerShack to try a Car Park John out, and you might even bump into the man himself whilst you there. 

© Stephan Glass

The Something Good Surf Classic will be held on the 17 November - this coming Saturday. Everyone is welcome, plenty of various categories and divisions (long board, short board, body board, SUP and skateboard) .Lotsa prizes. More deets here:
www.facebook.com/events/251002375772158/

Looks like the proposed upgrade of the water treatment plant at Cape Recife will allow for a relocation of the settling ponds out of the way of the dune field. That means that at long last the dune system that has been artificially halted just before the settling ponds will be allowed to take its natural course over the point from the wild side, and be able to reach the beach on the bay side - meaning that in about 10-15 years time (once it finally gets there) we'll have some decent feeder sand being deposited back into the bay - will sure help our beach nourishment out.

© Luc Hosten

So the bays been small - but Indo has been pumping. Seals local Brad Beck scored some epic pits at G-Land last week. The goofy footer was in goofy heaven! Gonna be quite a big drop back down to earth when him and Hannah return to SA next month to get married. PE and St Francis summer surf isn't quite up to Indo standards! 

Brad getting barrelled

Local logger Margot Saunders is making some awesome cushions and stools. The perfect Christmas gifts. So if you keen to avoid the usual socks-and-hankies-boring-as-hell presents then give Margot  a shout to get your mitts on some of these. 
You can check them out on www.facebook.com/imagocreation/
or email Margot on [email protected]

Heads up peeps. PE's first Surfboard Swap Meet, hosted by Relic - Authentic Ocean Store on 24th November from 10am. Pull in to trade, sell, barter unwanted equipment. Bring your old surf craft to trade or sell! One or plenty, new or old, long or short, retro or modern. A fun family morning out, with food and coffee served by Frederick & Sons.
Free registration to secure your trading spot. 
Email: [email protected] or call 083 260 7264
https://www.facebook.com/events/330407511103251/

Not many waves, but sunrises and sunsets still keep delivering. Just gotto be up a bit earlier to see the sunrises now though....

©Clive Wright

The huge fires along the garden route last week made their presence felt in PE - plenty of soot and ash washed up along our beaches, and the sunsets were even more fiery than normal. 

© Luc Hosten

© Etienne Stassen

Novelty waves are always fun. The Hole in the Wall in Transkei would definitely fit into the category! Needs a big swell to push through the hole, and then there can actually be pretty fun lil reforms on the beach side.

© Johann Swiegers

Not a whole heap of swell on the charts for this week, so it might be more beach brolleys than surfboards. But still stick to the rule s- never leave your board at home, cos who knows when you could strike a lil sneaky swell that the charts don't show.

© JBay Surf Retreats