Tag: surfing

Buried at Sea

This is just a journal. Nothing more or less. Just words typed on a digital page. Important only to me.

After the funeral fiascos over the past five years, and the refusal of my two oldest sisters to relinquish funeral plots, following their bold embezzlements from my mother’s inheritance, I decided to be buried at sea. The ocean has been my refuge, my entire life.

The other day I had one of the worst days. It involved lifeguards, called Nippers.

I lost it. I couldn’t believe these little boys, which they are in my eyes, the same as I am an old lady, in theirs. They even name themselves small boys. They removed me from the water. I was removed from the water, by little creatures that nipped and bit. I just cussed.

I wish the best for them. I hope they “save” many people. I hope they “sell” many surf instructions. That was their mantra as they were asking me to leave the water. “I am surf instructor.” Hearing that, over and over, just did something to me.

I feel buried at sea, before my death.

I apologized to them for my behavior, but the beligerent boss, (short, red head) turned his back on me.

He had a assumed I was a rich tourist. He erred in his eagerness to possibly rake in 65 an hour, which is what they charge as “instructors.”

You know what they say about assumptions.

I love the ocean. I will just go somewhere they’re not.

That was the mistake in the first place.

A synonym for nipper is nuisance.

God Bless us All

They actually named themselves after a Mongrel dog. A little nipping terrier dog. I call that fitting.

Crossfit Crazy

The 2018 Games have begun. I have already participated in a 6:oo am WOD and plan on going back at 5:oo pm. I really liked the work out this morning. Lots of good stretches and then the “Hot Sauce”; rowing, burpees and overhead squats. It had me breathing hard, but it didn’t put me down. Continue reading Crossfit Crazy

My Crossfit Crew

These are the people that I have been working out around (not with) for about three months now. Today, is my last day here in CR. I have one more work out at 9 o’clock. I look forward to it. I feel the froth.

I have competed in the Open, this year. My coach suggested it, and I said sure. Right now I’m #1 in the country. I looked at Florida’s leader board and I would be way down in the rankings.  But I’m not there, so I’m enjoying it.  Continue reading My Crossfit Crew

Day 4 ~ Picture Perfect/Not

I have been reluctant to write.IMG_3815 

Last Sunday was an exceptional day in my life.
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It’s fall. 
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And I got to surf in one of my favorite spots.

There were just a few locals in the water.

Everyone was friendly.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I caught all the waves I could,and then headed to my favorite fishing spot.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA I caught this Jack. I know it doesn’t look like much.

But I had to bring him in through this wave.  I was trying to catch a trout, but that wasn’t happening. Either I couldn’t get the fish on the hook, or I’d lose it in the wave.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Then it was back to the Hacienda.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Encountering others, out on the trail of their happy destiny.

It was a picture perfect day. I documented with my Olympus TG-2. These are not perfect pictures. But I had fun.

*I’ve been reluctant to write, because of my concerns about the internet. In my life, I trudge the road to my happy destiny. Trudge meaning to walk with purpose. I felt I had to slow down, so I did.

Time Travel – 2

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA        ~Meet Boogie ~

This is our Nica Waves surf guide. I have never had the privilege to hire a surf escort. And I consider it my good luck to have met this guy / gentleman. Not only for his local surf knowledge, but he’s just fun to be around.

If you told him, I’m normally a quiet and somewhat introverted person-he would never believe you. I have talked and talked and talked. It’s been a good experience to be around someone who’s lived some of the places that I have and has a similar background.

Boogie lives the surf lifestyle. I know that implies many things to different people, but to me, it means he loves the ocean, the waves, and the people involved in surfing.

He spends his days devoted to Nica Wave’s surfers. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Nice ride to the beach. It’s super deluxe. The air-conditioner works.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABradley was engaged in a cultural conversation, with the local/Bahamian car park caretaker. This was something I had to get used to, a long time ago, in Costa Rica. But I learned to accept it. And, I know that he is an extreme asset.  He helps to keep down any petty thievery on the beach.

As I listened to this man answer Bradley’s questions, I pictured him, in one of those orange work vests, that identify the guards in Costa Rican, packed parking lots. That would be tragic!

I am so impressed with how this area has changed. There’s more people, but it seems to be just enough. The same goes for accommodations in the area. With the exception of one crazy house, the idea of mansions to the sky, hasn’t happened here. Not yet.

It’s primitive and beautiful.IMG_9852Bradley’s surfing.

And we’ll be home soon.

When I look back on my days, of traveling through Central America, with my coffee pot and boxes of raisin bran, I experience a deep feeling of gratitude, because those days are what led to this.

At my age, you start to see the end. Once you cross the 50 year line, your perspective shifts.

I look through the lens and I get a glimpse of the world through Bradley’s eyes.

He can’t see what I see.

He’s not suppose to.

Our World

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI’ve wanted this salad w/crab cake, since the day I wrote the post, Man vs. Nature, about the dune restoration going on at Slider’s Restaurant, on Amelia Island.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERACason was playing. It is her birthday. She is a compelling performer, as well as surfer. She has a Southern, jazzy repertoire, that blends with the atmosphere. I can easily visualize her, singing her songs at the Grand Ole Opry, or having the lights shining down from above, capturing her stage persona, on the televised show Austin City Limits.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe sea oats, planted by George, the owner, are coming up nicely. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt, that he did this in the best interest of the dunes. Yes, it was shocking to me to see the machinery in the dunes, after all that I have been taught about the ecology. But new oats have been planted, and in conveying his story to me, he seemed sincere. He has no intention of adding more tables or putting in a pool. Time will tell. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIn the mean time, I want to enjoy this place that has become such a popular source of entertainment. They certainly have good food and a positive vibe.

Tomorrow, I’m leaving the corner, that has become my world: our world. I’m going to Nicaragua to photograph my friends surfing.

We’ll land in Managua, and then drive to the beach.

As I sat in the middle of this decadence, I allowed myself to enjoy it. Even though, in the back of my mind, the poverty that I will soon encounter, loomed.

*I am locking her down now. The next time I write, I will be in a new neighborhood. I’ll be on someone else’s corner, in their world: our world. 

Stoke!

ac6d837fb69e91869e6c87aac10bacd8The word stoke has a surf connotation.

However, my first recollection of its use was to fuel a fire; whether to give the burning wood air, to keep the flame ablaze, or throwing on another log. Stoke meant expending energy to keep things going. In this case, fire.

Pre-Columbia, our island’s first known inhabitants were the Timicuan Indians. In the above picture, you see the fire tenders, in the center of the compound. Their job was imperative, as the fire was necessary for their survival.

In the forefront, a dugout canoe is being hand crafted. Being on the water, was another essential part of life.

On Amelia, many years have passed, since the Indians walked their paths, to the sea.

But the trail has not been left cold. Continue reading Stoke!