The week that was....

© Dale Staples

Woohoo - Neptune delivered. After months of scraps the ocean finally decided to deliver the goods. Yes, the timing was kak - with lockdown looking, but at least it gave ou's the chance to get their salt water injection before time in purgatory.

Dylan Lightfoot © Courtney Rands

Jonathan Hill - Killers

JBay and St Francis were going off their pips, and PE also had good surf altho you got your pip blown off with it. Pomping wind as usual. 

© Dave Randle

© Dave Randle

But then this irritating bloody thing called COVID-19 decided to come put a spanner in the works, and as part of flattening the curve SA implemented a lock down. So - cooking waves - can't surf them. Although some mullets tried to. And got their asses handed to them for their efforts.

Firstly a visiting Yank doctor decided lock down didn't apply to him and surfed cooking Supers on Day 1 of Lockdown. JBay locals were NOT happy with his rather pathetic "I didn't know excuse" (as in JBay is pumping and you are the ONLY person out there - doesn't take massive powers of deduction to work out you taking the piss). Anyway - his name is now gat and am pretty sure the locals will teach him some manners. 

© Kirsty McGillivray

Some ou's also tried to sneak out at Bruce's and were promptly called in by locals and left in no doubt they shouldn't be doing that.

Day 2 of lockdown and JBay was still cooking, so some more mullets decided they were special and went for a surf. NSRI herded them in and the SAPS gave them a free lift to the station, where they had a choice of 6 months jail or a R5000 fine. Expensive surf! 

Tempting as it may be - don't be the doos that thinks somehow you are special and can sneak out for a surf. Your erroneous theory that you are more than a metre from anyone else would then also apply to tennis, golf, kiteboarding - you get the picture....

​So in the absence of humans there were some cool drone shots to be had, taken by Renaldo Gouws (flying from his home!)

All images © Renaldo Gouws

Usually what happens when you get a new board then Neptune laughs at you and it goes flat for weeks. Jamie Morris got his new stick from Matt McLeod and instead got rewarded with the 16 second period swell - which of course would have been great - but ah, lockdown....

Usually you get excited when you see this. Not as much when you know you can't surf it.

Going to be lots of dawn patrols, lunchtime sesh's and after work surfs that go a-begging for the time being. 

© Dave Randle

If you getting bored during lock down, pleases make the effort to submit an objection to the fish farm off Coega harbour. Kak idea right next to the marine reserve and St Croix island with it's unique biodoversity. Check all the details here:
​http://www.millerslocal.co.za/blog/appeal-the-fish-farm

April Fool photoshop for a few years ago

Local legend CarPark John turned 21 again this week. Tune the ballie some birthday wishes. Also just drop him a line every coupla days to say howzit, as he is pretty bored being stuck at home and away from his beloved carpark (and free Beershack wifi!). You can buzz him on 0824407334. 

Despite the mission of lock down, it's just temporary, so stay safe, obey the rules (despite most of us not being good with rules), and guess what - in a few weeks time when you allowed out to play again there will still be waves. Use the down time wisely. Be positive and proactive. Stay fit. Stay smiling!

© Wayne Barnes

© Luc Hosten