Cold Water and Sore Muscles

Hello all!

Today was a momentous day here in Scotland, Andrew went surfing! At 11 am, he recieved a message from Mirjam asking if he still needed a ride to the beach as she was headed that way later on in the day. Excitedly he instantly replied yes and started gathering all his surf supplies and getting ready. Audry did not take the news well, and was quite distraught with Andrew as he made his way out the door without her.

Small talk was made as Andrew and Mirjam made their way out to Belhaven Bay, the closest break to Edinburgh and a good beginners wave. Mirjam had only started surfing this summer and Andrew having been dried out for the past six months, had no qualms with a more mellow wave. Andrew was slightly distracted on the drive out a dangerous thought has been processing in his mind since he had recieved his surfboard, freezing cold water, colder than Florida will ever get in the middle of winter, and extrodinarily colder than the waters in August, the last time Andrew had been in the ocean.

Upon arrival, the decision was made to forgoe the usual surf check, as the pair slid into dry fullsuits in parking lot. The beach is nothing like Florida, or even Rhose Island for that matter. A short walk from the parking lot brings one to the marshes. During a high tide they must flood slightly, as any step off the path leads to your foot being sucked down into the silty depths. As you crest the small sand dunes, the beach stretches out quite a distance in either direction, hard to tell how far the the haze of the day. The surf appeared slowly, a day that appeared to have blessed Andrew on his first day out. Chest high sets were rolling through, with the largest waves peaking at head high. A slight offshore wind was keeping the faces open just enough to get a good clean ride before closing out over the sandbar. The water proved nowhere near as cold as was anticipated, the fullsuit keeping the cold out and hood keeping the head warm. The bigger problem became apparent after a few strokes out towards the lineup, a 6 millimeter wetsuit was far harder to paddle than a 3 mil, and not having surfed for 6 months had taken its toll. After battling the incoming waves for 20 minutes, one finally came through that washed Andrew back in. Relegated the the waist high sloppiness that was rolling through to the inside, Andrew realized his arms no longer worked, as all strength had been drained. Sitting inside for another 15 minutes and walking out as far as he could on the sandbar, a sudden break in the waves and a quick paddle out managed to get him in position. Another 15 minute break and finally ready to paddle for the next set, it became all to obvious that this was the only wave to be caught and properly ridden today. A slow stand up as the wave's energy grabbed Andrew, and a fun drop, the wave closed out, not offering a real face, and a quick ride to shore ended it. Walking back to the car, slightly defeated, but happy at making it out all the same, the hour and half long session had the same effect as a 3 hour session this time last year.

The coldest part of the day came next. Changing in stages as fast as possible out of the wetsuit, a cold breeze and damp skin always make this the worst part. Arriving back home, a hot cuppa, then the wonderful smell of dinner wafting through the flat as Andrew cleaned off all the silt acquired on the suit from the walk back to the car.

To say sleep will come quickly and be enjoyed is an understatement. Given a few days to recover, sore arms will be ready for the next swell to push through and hopefully more luck than this time.

More soon.

L&A