30/08: Arriving The Bluff for a second round with good timing and JP
John and I arrived the Bluff on a Friday afternoon and to my surprise the same camp site that i occupied in May was available once again. It was the first day of the arrival of a new swell that actually came through to meet the expectations that the swell prediction charts promised. Apparently, August at the Bluff was a month of predictions gone bad, swells that just never turned up, leaving the surf crew craving for waves. So, when we pulled in on Friday arvo, it was no surprise that there was 15 people in the water waiting patiently for their crack at the inconsistent, but occassional waves that were coming through as the swell filled in.
JP and i were on it despite the crowd, leaving the unpacking and setting up camp for later, enjoying the salt water bath and washing off all the road dust and working out the cramps in our rumps from the 16 hour drive done in 2 days. When we returned to camp we set up John's tent in the dark, deciding that we would readjust it in the time that tomorrow would provide, though JP would end up leaving the tent in that very spot for the rest of the 2.5 weeks we were there, settling in and adjusting his sleeping position to accomodate the rocks that were not cleared out in the dark on that first night.
The next 2 days provided pumping 4 foot swell and consistently good surfing conditions with good winds. Our camp site right in front of the point allowed us to keep a close eye on the traffic to and from the point, so that we were on it at all the best opportunities with the least amount of people in the water.
JP quickly settled into the pace of life at The Bluff...mellow. He had a good book to read and the surf was pumping, so with 3 sessions of surfing a day, there was little else to do besides enjoy oneself. Until we went to Gnaraloo...
JP had heard me talk so much about The Bluff that when we pulled up to Gnaraloo, another perfect left hand point break just 34km north of The Bluff, he could hardly believe his eyes. It was pretty good, but the swell was backing off and the sets were pretty inconsistent, so we paddled out with low expectations, just wanting to get out there, enjoy the sunshine, and get a few while the wind came up and the crowd dwindled. JP got his first wave, pulled into a barrel on the inside and got caught by the lip at the end and came up with a broken board. The 6'8" bonzer that was to be his primary board while in WA was busted, clean in half...bummer.
Another guy paddled out to the lineup at the top of the break and told me that "my friend had broken his board" and my heart sank...not only did John have a long swim ahead of him to get back in, but that board was one that he was so proud of and excited to ride at these 2 left hand speedy fast barrels. When i came in from my session i found JP in good spirits, he had gotten over the initial shock and anger of the broken board and settled into the fact of the matter...so it goes.
JP and i were on it despite the crowd, leaving the unpacking and setting up camp for later, enjoying the salt water bath and washing off all the road dust and working out the cramps in our rumps from the 16 hour drive done in 2 days. When we returned to camp we set up John's tent in the dark, deciding that we would readjust it in the time that tomorrow would provide, though JP would end up leaving the tent in that very spot for the rest of the 2.5 weeks we were there, settling in and adjusting his sleeping position to accomodate the rocks that were not cleared out in the dark on that first night.
The next 2 days provided pumping 4 foot swell and consistently good surfing conditions with good winds. Our camp site right in front of the point allowed us to keep a close eye on the traffic to and from the point, so that we were on it at all the best opportunities with the least amount of people in the water.
JP quickly settled into the pace of life at The Bluff...mellow. He had a good book to read and the surf was pumping, so with 3 sessions of surfing a day, there was little else to do besides enjoy oneself. Until we went to Gnaraloo...
JP had heard me talk so much about The Bluff that when we pulled up to Gnaraloo, another perfect left hand point break just 34km north of The Bluff, he could hardly believe his eyes. It was pretty good, but the swell was backing off and the sets were pretty inconsistent, so we paddled out with low expectations, just wanting to get out there, enjoy the sunshine, and get a few while the wind came up and the crowd dwindled. JP got his first wave, pulled into a barrel on the inside and got caught by the lip at the end and came up with a broken board. The 6'8" bonzer that was to be his primary board while in WA was busted, clean in half...bummer.
Another guy paddled out to the lineup at the top of the break and told me that "my friend had broken his board" and my heart sank...not only did John have a long swim ahead of him to get back in, but that board was one that he was so proud of and excited to ride at these 2 left hand speedy fast barrels. When i came in from my session i found JP in good spirits, he had gotten over the initial shock and anger of the broken board and settled into the fact of the matter...so it goes.
