Five and a half feet of sea water is a lot! The physical mechanics of the earth are such that one week after the minus low tide on the lonely reef, a fat high tide was present. It was Sunday at dawn, with a the peak of the tide still an hour in the future. The bare parts of the reef are not to be seen, covered as they are by a swirling shore break.

The little sandy cove at the bottom of the cliff is just about gone, with the occasional set wave slamming the bottom of the rock wall. The entrance to the ocean and the exit from the water have to be timed carefully with the surging waves. But the waves at the tip of the reef are beauty indeed, so the endeavor is well worth it.

One week later to the hour and it is still a lonely reef, with only one surfer on the scene. After waiting for a lull in the action, DogMan jumps into it and paddles briskly to get beyond the break line and into the safety of the deep water channel. From there it's a long but leisurely stroke fest to the tip of the reef.

A juicy late-season NW ground swell sends intermittent overhead waves for riding. The surface is a bit bumpy, so much so that the first wave bounces the surfer back to his belly while he is popping to his feet. At the bottom of the wave he finally gets upright, and rides right along the extended wall of peeling water.

The next wave is even rougher; again, standing is difficult. Once on his feet, a ferocious bump sends the DogMan somersaulting over the tip of his board and into the drink. This is an extremely kooky move, even when done out of sight of anyone else. Or was it? Two more surfers appear at the top of the cliff, and begin to climb to the water's edge.

James and Patrick paddle from the cove, but only James makes it. Patrick somehow gets churned in the white water, and takes on a goodly but unwelcome amount of salt water. James watches from the inside lineup as Patrick returns to shore so he can puke on the sand. James rides a wave to the scene, and the DogMan is again solo.

But things come together at this point, and a few decent or even memorable waves are ridden from outside to near shore. Feeling vindicated, DogMan heads to the cove to visit with the other surfers. It's an early and short session anyway, since other recreation activities are planned for later that morning. This includes a trip to San Francisco, a brunch at the ball park, and then a baseball game between the Cardinals and the Giants.

The day is glorious and all goes well, except the home town boys are shut out by the opposing pitcher. Brad Penny was a Giant for part of last season, and evidently knows full well that the free swinging Giants will flail at pitches early in the count. This strategy pays divideds for the boys in red; Alex Pujols hits a home run in early innings and the

Cardinals never look back. But still, the waves from early in the day remain as awesome memories. Next week brings a trip to the East Coast beaches of Maryland. Perhaps there might be some waves there?

CU Out There,

DogMan