TideGuide

last camp of season 2009

2009-11-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

Pic #1 boards a couple of thses are ten years old. so many people have surfed them, it is cool. pic #2 joanna took this of me, 57 year old guy, only other thing that interests me besides surfing and a few other things is constitutional law and order. pic #3 mike king: main man of the beach stops by and he and i visit, we have known each other for over a decade.
it is about 65 degrees out i have on ski clothes, water temp still over 80 degrees. we had a blast, michele her first surf camp, she is a rocket sientist from houston, honest. karen and terry in camp for their second camp both ladies needed prompting from me, they like the beach chairs and walks on the beach and with it over cast they waited until the sun shined on sunday around one in the afternoon then they went out and i was proud of them, they love it, especially since i tell them that to be a surfer girl all you have to do is let the board do the work and do a tummy ride.

pic 4 Joanna our photograper and florist, she brought a bocay of flowers from her garden to camp. she worked the board and did get some standups on sunday, i know she wasnt going to leave camp without a 30 foot or more ride.

mike doesnt look to chilly, he is on the beach nearly every day year round with his wife and dog. everybody knows him, and out in the lineup he is quite the presense, plus he can surf, he's big and older than me, famous surfboard manufactures give him boards to ride.

Allison and Katie gave it a good try, even though the waves where big and it was kind of stormy, they had fun in surf camp. Ken Jeffers made a standup on sunday with joanna and he was proud. shawn the best tide guide surfer is now charging the drop zone, i surfed him hard which ive done for 5 years now and he is going for it, really great to see...we had red tide thurs fri real bad. my lungs where raw and eyes red but waves where huge friday evening before sundown and about 10 of us where out getting maxxive ride.....well that is the season it is over for 2009.

surf camp #7 trinity university 2009

2009-10-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

this has always been one trip i especially look forward to each surfing season. trinity university. we worked hard to make this one happen. a month ago erica our new director and i got her staff members and we went up to the campus outdoor pool on a nice evening and goofed around in the pool, with students. pict #9 football practice was also going on down below the pool, and we could watch the team and cheerleaders and professors all out for the evening, reminded me of the 1940's. (although i wasnt around). so this friday night after dark the school van pulls up to camp, out come danielle staff, jessa staff, they are beside themselves to be in surf camp!!!!! out come, zuan xihaug he is from china, jose he is from paraguay, philip, helen and cleo....all is well, i have been here since thursday, surfing and getting everything setup.....weather will hold and be mild, and we have an east swell, putting up nice lines and on the outside 6-7 foot faces.... saturday morning at dawn and after cooffee and before any one else will get up, i go out pic #8 couldnt wait and it was supurb. later after leisurely break fast i take them up on the sand dunes for surf talk pic #7 . then a full day of practice and it was not long before cleo was getting standups, then jessa, then danielle, hellen a little while, philip imeadiatley, jose imediatley, ziang took him awhile. we surfed all day, excellent camp. pic #6 . after dinner we carved this pumbkin and choose danielle to surf it tomorrow, a trinity 4 year tradition, you have to wear it on your head and ride a wave pic #5 , and pic #4 . every one is quite tired and go to bed kind of early pic #3 surfboards resting at night. pic #2 a night crab near the surfers sleeping cots. next morning sunday i get daneille out of bed and she goes out and we surf the outside sets, and coming in we both grab a 6 footer from outside and ride it side by side all the way to dry sand, she was extatic, and is a surfer girl from now on pic #1 also jose in this pic. he was getting every wave....soooooo fantabulous camp..........

surf camp #6 2009 sept.

2009-09-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Have watched the break for 25 days, from the hotel's 8th story camera, its been practically flat. Arrived on the beach thurs. morn. and a tiny swell is making. Better than flat. So catch a few just to get the moves down. water cyrstal clear 85 degrees, air temp 85, no crowds. get half of camp set up before dark. reading tsar nicohlass II and alexandra his princess, read it three times already, and it is like 400 pages, but it is such a love story, and a unparralelde opulance describing moscow and russia at the turn of the century. lenin, stalin, rasputin, rothchilds etc. friday, waves still make me get out there, catch a ride, then soak, then catch another ride, it is really a idylic morning, huge schools of menhaden in the line up, and pelicans are diving and swarming and gorging, 3 - 4 hundered birds, real close. swell is from the east, current going south. camp up and ready for 5 surfer girls and joe. joe has been in camp before and is liking the sport. heather and julie arive early after getting a little lost on the beach. heather flew in from boston to be with her wonderful daughter. picture #4. mother/daughter surf camp. joe arrives, and has 3 cases of diet coke and regular coke and beer and a big pack of miss debbies honey buns. all i serve is health food, but joe is from mississpii, (no offense). i bum cokes and honey buns all weekend!!!! plus joe brought his vintage motorcycle catalog, we both had dirt bikes in the 60's and he has a restored bsa 650, a classic, and we have fun talking vintage bikes. later meridith, anita, and tangerine arrive and are happy to be in their first surf camp. picture #3 all the surfer girls at ease. this camp is booked thru leisure learning unlimited in houston, so i tease the ladies allittle, saying that they passed the leisure portion of the class, heather was the only one to take a nap though, she gets an "A+". so everyone is in camp, and they go into town for dinner, julie and heather someplace and the other girls someplace else, joe stays in camp and we bullshit. everyone does a little star gaziing and such before bedtime, and i get to talk a little about surfing, i never talk about sharks, but i tell the turtle stories, and explain about all the menhaden in the line up......around 2 a.m. we get a squall, 30 knot winds and a full 2 inches of rain, in about a hour. it is dry in their tent and no problem, they are all on cots and comfortable, i'm in my surfer truck, comfortable, mickey my dog is on duty gaurding the surf boards, but heather gets up in the rain and takes mickey in to her cot, she gives me a lecture next morning???? she helps me all weekend learning how to be a better dog owner, i am a cat person, but i'll learn.....saturday morn waves are going to be excellent for the bigineers, nice form on the wave, even though preety small. i rarely, let anyone use my board, but first i let merideth use it and i give her a push and she stands up, she weight maybe 105 and has good balance, now i let julie use my board, she is tall, i give her a push and she is up and surfing. anita weight 95 and i get her a ride, and tangerine i have on the green fin board and it works for her and she gets a couple of stand ups, heather gets a knee ride all the way to the beach, and joe is going for it all day, i dont help him as much as the ladies, and i see he is progressing. Pict #2 everybody . we do a walk down to the pier and surf all day long, this time of year is so fine, not hot, no crowds, good food, excellent sun tans. late evening everyone stays up late in the beach chairs, some are a little sore, with board rash, and rib bruises, common surfer dings. i have on the weather radio, we have been watching a lightining display to the north, the system by my educated guess should stall over the mainland, but the radio is reporting gale force winds with hail. i get help and we batten down the camp before going to bed. heather takes mickey inside. weather system did stall, and no problems through the night. morning is fabulous, and with an offshore wind, joe is flying to rio dijinero for business later today, so after a couple honey buns i take him out early for a surf before he has to leave. the ladies sleep in a little, but i ring the cow bell anyway, just because i like to, then i say, "surf camp five minutes" ha ha....really this last session that the ladies get to enjoy is more than classic, clear water, 2 1/2 foot swells that my longboards fit perfect in, we spend 2 hours with the pelicans and menhaden, and anita gets 47 rides, i just keep pushing her and she stands up every time!, merideth, has sore ribs but i push her 27 times and she shrieks like a surfer girl, julie is just getting ride after ride, i am letting her use my favorite board, tangerine gets 7 stand ups! heather gets some knee rides all the way to the beach and everyone yells "way to go heather"......wow excellent surf camp, lets do it again....pic #1 practice on the beach>>>>>>>yeah!!!!!

august 2009 surf camp #5

2009-08-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

Picture #1 tiny sun - big boat, sunrise august 12. Picture #2 all surfers made stand up rides. Patrick Peden the most with 27 rides. Linda Ware with 26 rides. Cally Simpson with one ride, but she did go 30 feet and got to sign the awning. Allen Simpson at least 25 rides. Elezina Cemer from Yugoslavia, about 5 rides with some help from me and then without any help. Major Minor (your author) 107 rides. ssssssssooo pretty fair weekend. wavves so,so, but wind not to high and waves didnt beat you to death, outside peaks monday morning 8 - 10 foot so good drops fairly fast rail rides. weather all trip long was mighty fine and not that hot, sleeping was cool. picture #3 the ranger station. Saturday night after dinner conversation was good, Elizina shared lots about having escaped from communism as a little girl. Linda and Cally are mothers and Cally a mother of two sons. Linda one son, one daughter and her daughter is quite a surfer, but was in california. These two ladies revealed a deep dark secret of high school agony years to the light of day. they explained to me that the reason boys wonder "what is wrong with me!" is because there is something wrong?///????? young males,,,,, dont have a frontal lobe.....and dont get one until we really need it, like after we have been drafted into wars, or been through hell, drank to much etc. then our bodies develop a frontal lobe. This information was welcomed by me, because now i know that it wasnt my fault all the mischief, disolution, embareasment, illiteracy etc... Picture #4 Allen Simpson age 14, no frontal lobe. Walking back to camp to change surfboards or come to talk with me. He is doing pretty well he got his drivers license last week, and monday has to be at school to band practice, he is one of 29 trumpeters on the squad, and in a band of, he said 200!!. but still no frontal lobe, for another 10 years. so i learned alot this weekend. also patrick during a converstation he and i had, he came up with a solution for our nation. He says, congress and the senate should have term limits of 12 years, no more career politicians........ nobody got sunburned and no one injured, although Linda did get a surfboard on her head after a wipeout, but all in all we all had fun and relaxed alot.......

HE IS HOOKED FOR LIFE, SURF CAMP #3 2009

2009-07-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

This first picture is not staged, Natalie (in pink) told me i had surfed her out. and she is now part of the beach, and the other ladies joined her, wellllll that is what i do best is get them on the water. this particular session we paddled out 300 yards from shore, to just see what it was like, and to show them where the line up is when a major tropical swell develops. so it is quite a bit of excersice out and back to shore.

Group photo. and everyone became a surfer, and could stand up!!!!!!!

Now to the heart of the story, Here is the man who is hooked for life by his lovely wife.......after surfing all day saturday, then having a fine evening meal, Keith took Natalie out in front of camp each with a fishing rod, I was impressed, very few men have the privelege of a wife to fish with. The rest of the camp eased into the beach chairs and enjoyed the surroundings. then sometime later, i see Keith approach, he is like cleaning his teeth with a toothpic or something, Natalie is trailing behind. Keith passes by our grandstand and mumbles something, but he isnt exactly cleaning his teeth????? He is holding on to something!!!!! It is a stainless steel fish hook gone clean through his lip..............and sticking out ,,,,,,the barb passed through and is visible,,,,Keith is mad, embarassed and wants no smart remarks. i follow him over to his pick up truck and he has grabbed his fishing pliers and is getting ready to operate. its getting dark too. i get him to let go of this huge piece of metal, and i hardly know what to say or do, again a real fish hook is in his lip. Now i dont say something like "that is supposed to be in the trouts lip"... no i dont say that at all, Keith is 6'3'' and 220 pounds. Natalie walks up almost in tears, well in tears....and we begin to learn the grit. because the lovely wife was complicit,,,,,,hooo yeah, she will never live this one down...Keith was changing lures on his line, and holding the hook between his teeth, a common practice, and according to his version of the story, Natalie 30 yards away, made a neophyte cast and bopped Keith on the back, which then snagged Keiths line and you can guess the rest, that is why we decided that "Keith is hooked for life, by Natalie" i took them to the hospital, keeping them seperated, i put Keith in the front seat and Nataile out of reach in the back seat, Keith was a gentleman and was not to rude to his wife on the drive to and from the hospital. I had the doctor save the hook after it was removed so that Keith and Natalie can show it to their 4 month old son Kade when he grows up.

Oh yeah and surfing was fun to on this trip for Joe and Vanessa and Alex and Ashley and me......

surf camp #2 2009

2009-06-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

No bragging rights on this session. Caught a fair amount of waves but they where tough to get to. Wind was so high thursday thru monday. Lots of tidal movement as well plus for some reason the break was chocolate, you could see green clear water 600 yards out? So i arived early thursday and made it outside 400 yards to catch 8 - 10 foot wind waves, they where fun i'll admit but not clean long rides like last month. Oh well. ....Carol came by and we went to an AA meeting together thurs. nite. During the night a squall comes ashore, producing gusts of around 40 knots, with a rain of 1/4 inch. Friday i get camp up in fairly nice weather, windy but just on the shy side of being a problem, surf is the same, but nice to be here, this being my 10 th season. Nothing hurts on my body, unlike last year with my shoulder pain. the pain is Gone!!!! My teeth hurt a little but a month at the dentist will fix that someday, i hope soon. Mark and Martin from Houston appear at around noon??? Carol and i are drinking my expensive coffee, i usually open camp in the late evening. But the gents are welcomed into Surf Camp and find a beach chair, and join in on the discussion, whatever it was.

As the afternoon progresses and we ease into the chairs a little more we learn both these men are executive engineers from Marathon Oil. They are playing hooky today, friday!!! i am very proud of myself for hosting an outing that will encourage this behavior. And these fellows i think appreciate it as well. Before long they want a surf board brought down from the rack, and a short lesson, they both are athletic and are water skiers, snowboarders, snowskiers. Martin shared with me that after 30 years with the same employer he takes 6 weeks paid vacation, 10 days sick leave etc, etc, goes to company meetings around the globe etc . hurruaah i say, Mark the same and he and his wife have just bought their retirement home on the island of oahu just above one of the best surf breaks in the world for longboards, Wikiki....WWWOOOwwww. Later Audra, Lacey, and Chritine show up. and i introduce them to surf camp, but it is to late in the day to surf and i am not cooking tonite, so they go into town for dinner. All surfers for this camp are on the island, pretty good for the size of the econimic shake down going on today in this country. Every one else is being audited, what is the so called federal reserve system hiding from us. they need an audit, and the house of cards will come tumbling down...! No squall's friday night, in fact weather seems real steady, though windy as heck but not that bad, sleeping is fabulous, cool, zero bugs. Saturday morn, a few jelly fish on high tide mark, the stinging type. while out during first session, i explain why we all are itching, the jellyfish are pummeled in the impact zone and their legs are broken up and that is what gets on your skin and in your bathing suit, it itches, but not to bad. water is so warm and the waves are ridealbe. Mark and Martin have got rides and are standing up already, the ladies are instructed to "just let the board do the work" and you just ride along for funand enjoy a belly ride.... The waves are pounders, wave, after wave after wave, so i get everyone out after 30 minutes to rest and eat watermellon under the camp awning. The ladies are becoming tan, and looking like surfer girls. Many sessions are had today, along with a walk down to the pier and out all the way on the deck to watch the surfers below. My vanity has gotten a real large boost, i stopped by Ted's Boardhouse surf shop thursday and one of the gals pointed out some new surf wax, that is glow green, i bought some along with the standard, old, white wax that everyone else uses, but not me anymore, my deck is now getting glow green and it looks cool, looks way better than everyone else....by late afternoon my surfers are finding out that this is definitely a major athletic sport, so we start slowing things down, the ladies go over and get a real shower and i start preparing a grand dinner and everyone pitches in. After dinner and while enjoying the fine atmoshphere we all learn a new word, from Mark. Mark understandably is highly educated and oversees the planning, the procurement, the building of and installation every year of 100 million dollar investments of oil rig platforms out in the gulf of texas. Tonight he uses this new word "STICKTION" , yes that is right , sticktion, he swerars that this is a real word. i've never heard of it or used it although i kind of like it. DEF: (the physical dynamic of the surfboards ability to contnue on plane during a surfers attempt to "hang ten" on the nose of his or hers board and not wipeout by pearling). We dicsussed this word for awhile>>>>> "During the night we are annoyed by some rednecks, driving a fourwheeler around and around and around out in front of our camp pulling a drag, smoothing off the sand. we are to find out that next morning the area is roped off and a wedding takes place later in the day. I called it a "shotgun wedding", because lots of guests arrive and then the bride in a flowing white gown with train, she is barefoot, maybe pregnant, but the odd thing was that as we sat there in our beach chairs watching it all took place in about 20 minutes and then poof everybody left, no real party......Fathers day is tomorrow and also the first day of summer. Lacey this surf camp was not able to get a full 30 foot stand up ride. Beginning surfers who haven't done so are encouraged to do a repeat and keep coming to surf camp. Then they get to sign their name on the awning. An old tradition of Tide Guides, the main thing is to let the board do the work and beginners just do a belly ride. I guarantee that is what i did, and my learning curve is now 30 years or so. We all where champs as surf campers and had fun getting to know one another and the joys of walking barefoot and living life in the slow lane. This is the allure of the surf culture. We all had to say ariva derche, adios, good bye and we did so with good grace early afternoon on sunday. All will be missed, and that is one of the reasons i keep this log, so we can remember this weekend.......

UTSA May 2009 continued

2009-05-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

I suppose i should include a little script pertaining to actually kayaking. We probably covered 12 miles during the 3 days, and pretty effortless, although tiring, but no wind problems, so it was really fine. Sunrise's where right out of the water. Lots of reading, in the shade of our group tent. lots of talking and fun interactive word games. Fairly good food, i had asked Eliot Howard our UTSA director for this activity if i could be relieved of food chores, which he agreed so, i digested some velveta cheese, ate a few marshmellos, etc. but i was happy Kevin got the food delivered, hot and on time, with the help of the crew. I already miss our group and the trip, so we just have to go back......

UTSA May 2009 Kayak Kamp

2009-05-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

Fine friday morning. UTSA kayakers already at the marina, they stayed last night. I arrive in time for honey dew breakfast mellon. Kevin has the group moving and we are all delighted especially me that the winds are at our back for the 5 mile trek by kayak to my Shell Bar. There where numerous highlight to this expedition, but in writing this i am going to jump to the beauty baths we all indulged in.....(SEE PHOTO'S). This extra caricular activity is somewhat of a tradition during fair weather for the UTSA Kayakers, we've dived in the primordeal oze a couple of years in a row now, and it is fun. We let the mud bake on for awhile while giggleing on shore in the sunshine, then a good dip to make you beautiful again. We found this mud, during Saturdays circumnavigation of Steam Boat Island. Other highlights of this trip to me where just the forecast of steady weather, so for 3 whole days none of us where subject to much stress. How rare!!!!!

2009 FIRST SURF CAMP MAY

2009-05-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

The thrill isnt gone: Let me explain, this surfer has not left town for 6 months. Now i had watched an east wind for six days up in town. So when i arrived on the sand and came around the first sand dune, and could see my favorite break, it was big!!!! and had rythm. This is thursday before Memorial Weekend. I pull surf trailer into my favorite spot, in front of Ranger Station. I'm closer now to the break, the seas are alsmost glassy, and the swell is way overhead. Do a few chores tie up guard dog, uload favorite longboard which is already to go and i go. get up on first wave in front of camp after six months of doing real estate development and i wipeout. next wave is at least 100 yard 4 footer. i work my way down to the jpeir and spend two hours getting big rides, - 10 foot drops with about 10 of us out. Next day meet the new Nueces County Parks Director, we talk in my camp under the awning, things are well. Shawn Shulz and Chris Gueriky come into camp a day early to help me tomorrow put up the big tent. Shawn is Tide Guides model student, he surfs with me maybe 6 days a year, for 5 years now, and he is over the learning curve. So i push him so that someday when we get big surf he can get out there. Chris has a home garden and really produces a crop and has brought many vegatables and berries etc. for the camp to enjoy this weekend. His surfing is evolving, this is second season, in his recent life he shed over 70 pounds of his body and is looking trim. Victor and Rhoda arrive and Christian. I heard from Elizabeth, and she is going to be a day late. Every one gets a lesson Saturday afternoon, and the swell is still out there only half as big as yesterday, but excellent for biginners, so i get them going knowing the swell will be gone by monday. We eat well and surf well and enjoy this fabulous trip......

MORE, that's what they said !!!!! October 2008

2008-10-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

Last TIDE GUIDE surf camp of 2008, but Terry, and Karen have news for me. They want an extended 5 day surf camp next year. So due to popular demand I will comply with their wishes. It would be impossible to comprehend a finer weekend of surfing and beach time. October is theeeee month, I got here Thursday morn knowing the waves where happening, yea they where, I better pass the good vibes on because 8 -10 foot peaks got rode by a lot of us locals late Thursday evening down on the south side of the pier. The reason i write this blog is so that i can recall the good times. I didn't know many people out that eve, but lots of us where getting rides and all the way until dark, it was glassy and sets where consistent. Due to another east wind that blew all week and is now weakening, but excellent waves.

Friday i worked on camp in the morning before going out for session #1 and it was better than last evening, 10 foot peaks with dolphins jumping out of the top. I had called Blake Pettis, Nueces County Parks director earlier this week. Since this swell was bound to happened and full moon as well I wanted his permission to set up surf camp up close to his new Ranger station. He said, not a problem, be sure to watch out for the tides though... Jamie and Linda and C.J. the lady rangers discussed the tides with me when i checked in Friday. I am taking a small gamble that there wont be a storm surge, so I'll go ahead and set up camp where i usually do, close to the water.

So all is well Friday afternoon. Camp is set up and i have enough energy to surf session #2 from out frontof camp and on down to the pier and then join the gang, I last about an hour and a half. My shoulder is doing so well, recovering from an injury. Camp begins to fill. Nathan Miller arrives, he is just getting into this sport and has brought his own new board, a nice 9'6" southern cal shape. He inspects camp and then goes into town with friends. Terry and KarenS. arrive and are thrilled to be on the beach and in a bonified surf camp, they are both my age, "no offense ladies", and i ask them if they can be my "high school reunion girl friends", sure, and we talk about things like that all weekend. Shawn Shulze and Jennifer get stuck in the soft sand about 50 yards from camp in Shawns mom's suburban, we push him out, I've tried to convince him to bring his Nissan sports car the hot rod one and put a surf rack on the roof, he won't, he also has a dune buggy and also a cj5 jeep, they all would look cool with a board on top but he always drives the burban. He and i try to calculate how many times he has been to surf camp, at least 7. Karen Crenshaw makes it on time this time, last month she didn't make it until 4 a.m.. Mary Trapp calls and she is getting close. So everyone is accounted for and now I can and will retire....

Sat. morn pre dawn, wind offshore, tide no problem, waves big time. Cowboy coffee for Terry, she said she probably wouldn't come if coffee couldn't be made on the beach, so i put a big spoonfull extra off grounds in just for her. Everyone asleep, a little nippy, i have on ski pants, and a hoody. Papaya, honey dew mellon, cantaloupe, oranges and the Tide Guide specialty strawberry stew all on the table before anyone is up. Now time for beach chair, i am not going to rush, nobody will get in the water until the sun is beating down, especially me in my ski clothes.

Surf camp idle time, couple boards brought down from the rack, to look at while we listen to the waves and eat. Shawn has some car wax in his kit, we waxed the bottom of both our boards in June and now again this fall, i am convinced that it helps pick up maybe 10% more speed. Both our boards are identical 10' 2" TIDE GUIDE CANE'S. Nathan is all ears for any tips on surfing, so i tell him to wax also, but he is new, so, he is not to embarrassed when i observed him waxing his hull with sticky bumps, which goes on the other side of the board, Shawn and i discreetly educate him that the car wax will work better on the hull than sticky bumps, so, he asks me, well now that the sticky bumps (wax) is on how do i get it off. Get the comb i reply, now he thinks we are giving him the business, I say, the comb, the board comb, then i show him the new one i just bought from Ted's Board House, and Nathan learns how to use the straight edge to clean the sticky bumps off the bottom. The surfers will be sharing a board this morning with their buddy. Terry and KarenS. are given "Mabel" my remodeled 10'6" cruiser. the morning warms up sufficiently and safety session is held up on the tallest sand dune, it is a fabulous morning and uncrowded, water is real warm and i have every one go for a swim before trying their boards. I give a demo for them and catch a couple waves and then turn them loose. Shawn and Nathan go outside, but i keep everyone else inside for now. Waves are great, and looking out to sea, 9 oil tankers are in the roadstead and at anchor, and annually the Houston Yacht club stages their October full moon regatta, from Houston to here, a few stragglers are entering the ship channel, but yesterday during the main stage of the race, i was privileged to watch at least 70 beautiful yachts under full sail and racing at 1 knot. There has remained so much water in the bays from the hurricanes last month and with this moon and at about 9 a.m. yesterday at ebb tide, the sail boats where foundering in a 5 knot falling current going against them. The finish line is only another mile up the channel, and these 70 yachts are neck and neck but only moving at 1 knot land speed. I didn't see any collisions which says a lot for their skill, Sunday a couple of skippers came into camp to ask about our party, and we learn they took first place in their division, Karen S. (no last name), antenna went up as these two Captains chatted with me, I was the harbour master on the island of Lanai, Hawaii for 4 years, anyway, Karen was quite interested in our guests and after they left with one of my business cards, she came out with a good one, cause she and Terry were wondering if these two guys where single. They had hired a boat crew to deliver their yacht back to Houston, giving them time on the beach, so Karen's parameters for a first mate are, and I quote "he is old, rich, ready to die and has no kids" ha ha. We all surf until noon on this Saturday morn and have a good time, then take a walk down to the pier for ice cream and to walk out on the deck to look down on the surfers. Then back to camp for two more sessions. Mary is now able to drop in then stand and ride, Karen Crenshaw this time is just knee boarding and pleased with that. Karen S. and Terry stay out and really try, they are getting drops and then some knee rides and plenty of belly rides, they just like it, thats all. Nathan goes down to the pier and surfs with some friends. Shawn broke the fin off his "Cane", we think Jennifer on an early morning belly ride, went all the way to shore and buried the fin in the sand, then it broke off later. So Shawn goes into town to Ted's and buys a second board a real collectors item, A Dewey Weber 9'6" he paddles out to me and i can tell i like it even before i knew it was a Weber, he asked me to surf it, i am pretty partial to extra long boards, but it made the waves, and would really be fun in big surf.
So dinner Time Shiskabobs, corn on the cob, and new potatoes, and Halloween Cookies.....Great Camp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sunday night coyotes where all over the beach, no one to bother them, also hunting the beach Monday night, I saw them two of them........

TRINITY UNIVERSITY HALOWEEN 2008 SURF CAMP

2008-10-16T00:35:00.000-07:00

""BALANCE"" Trinity University 2008

2008-10-15T03:57:00.000-07:00

It is all about ""BALANCE"" that is what Trinity University discussed this weekend. Apparently they chatted all the way down Friday afternoon in the 10 passenger van. Jessica and Ally and Kyle and Paul are in surf camp for the second time, well Jessica for the third time. Casey first time, Veronica, Andria, Emily,Jake also first time. Weather looks stable, tides stable, water clear and warm, a spawn of minnows though make the water look murky as they pass by in the billions, little 1 inch minnows, you look into the water and don't realize that the water is clear because the mass is so dense, lots of Spanish mackerel around to gulp them down, and the sea birds are swarming inside and outside the lineup. We put up some paper shinny Halloween skeletons in the tent, and every one finds a bunk or cot, except Kyle, he is trip leader and Tide Guide only has 8 cots so he dutifully agrees to spend the nights on the sand, well with a ground cloth and i brought him a camp mattress, none the less the cots are pretty nice. Waves today where OK. i am still very spoiled from two weeks ago when they were exceptional, but i made two sessions in between setting up camp today.
We stayed in the beach chairs Friday evening until maybe ten p.m. when i put my lights out, but i learned next morning that as usual trinity students do not go to bed early, and they or most of them hiked down to the jetty and then walked all the way out to the end of the jetty, this is not even easy during daylight, and then hiked back to camp before getting to bed.
Ally is up early and asking to get things rolling, she is goaly for the water polo team, and she did well surfing last year and so i had to tactfully say to her that we had to wait until everyone is up and had a safety session before we go out, as the waves are up and look real good. Paul is sleeping in so someone rings the cowbell and i yell "surf camp in five minutes".
Real deluxe morning to hang in surf camp and eat honey dew Mellon, papaya, cantaloupe, oranges, and strawberry stew and cowboy coffee. get boards down, students are going to share a board with a buddy this morning for safety, so boards are waxed and coffee is drunk and surf talk is shared. Waves are not going down they a re going up, current running toward pier, we do a safety session and a stretching session, Ally is beside herself, and finally gets to put a board in the water, she and Jessica are sharing "Mabel", and i might as well get this over with, Ally broke the nose off "Mabel". Here is what happened, i had modified Mabel earlier in the week. I chopped the front end in two places to give her some more banana, Mabel is 10' 6" and as Ally was dropping in that big front end i had modified could not take the drop and one section broke, and Ally was shocked, I was down the beach when is happened and i wondered why she and Jessica had got out, soon they began walking my way, and i got the story, Ally was so amazed that this happened, she didn't know what to expect when she told me, well i was a little perturbed, but not at her, i wanted that board in the water as it was perfect for Jessica especially, I asked Ally do you have both pieces?....So no harm done really, but I must admit i did not miss an opportunity the rest of the weekend to tease Ally about breaking one of my boards, haha....She is a good sport and she is taking the water polo team to Colorado later this month to a Collegiate meet, Veronica and Andria are also on the team. Veronica and Andria got a nice tan this weekend Ally already had one.
Paul is really glad to be at surf camp, and he shared with me that he has access to a wood shop and wants to build his own surfboard, so he is checking out mine, so that he will know more about what will work for him, he is surfing well....he is also a trip leader on this outing. Kyle and Casey are animals, I don't have to help them hardly at all, Casey was quarterback all through high school, and Kyle a running back, both of them walked across the sand "On their hands", before we went out for first session, and i mean walk, not just balance for a few seconds, then later in the after noon Casey had to do a back flip on the sand, I could hardly believe my eyes, Andria says, Casey you look like Tarzan. JOhnny Weismuller was the best Tarzan, OOOOOHHHHHOOOOOHHHHHHAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAA. Jake gets up already, and after lunch most every one else is up for at least a few feet, except Emily she made it up on sunday. Waves are really happening, so i ask Kyle and Paul to keep a good look out on everyone, I go out later in the day with Paul way outside past the pier for the bombs, and they are good, peaks 8 foot, I caught one all the way to the beach about 300 yards.
Nice afternoon Veronica, Emily, Andrea take naps, Ally Cant stay out of the water, she is an athlete, hard on equipment though, but that goes with the territory.
Evening and Shiskabobs and boiled new potatoes and corn on the cob, plenty to go around every one builds their own kabob. Emily carves our Halloween pumpkin while waiting for dinner, she does a surfer on the skin, not cut out eyes an teeth, you put a light inside and the surfer appears on the outside, very life like. Kyle goes into town before dinner, Paul has to have SOMORES roasted over the camp fire, I need more surf wax. Camp fire and everyone stays up a long time again except for me, i'm dead and in bed about ten, weather stable, tide, not a problem, lights out.
We all seem to gather around the kitchen table and talk and talk this morninign. This is what surf camp is really all about, people and words, laughing, teasing, Casey and Kyle have a plastic straw and plug them with papaya a shoot them at the girls, and then up at a swarm of seagulls. Waves pretty good sized this morn, I ask Kyle and Paul to keep the session down to 3o minutes. Today we do a Tradition of Trinity. Cut a large enough hole in the bottom of the pumpkin and select a "Pumpkin Head", Casey it turns out, to put the melon on and go out and catch a wave, Veronica gets a good photo. So this surf camp turns out great, they cant wait until next year......

SURF CAMP #6 2008

2008-10-07T19:16:00.001-07:00

Went down early again knowing it would be pumping. Arrived about 8 a.m. thurs morn. WWWWOOWWWWW I was right, got 10 -12 foot faces with this 6 day old east wind. Tidal Surge is a problem though, not much beach showing. I'll wait until tomorrow to set up camp, swell and high tide is predicted to subside. Not real tough getting outside thru the impact zone, since I started close to the jetty. It’s 400 yards out to the line up and I start getting some clean, clean bombs, excellent shaped waves, wind is almost offshore and stacking up the peaks, near vertical take off’s, ripping bottom turns, long fast rail rides 150 yards and more, best this year. A bit nervous alone way over here, so cut left on my take off’s and gain on the pier where couple of guys are out. I love this board, now in its fourth season, getting lots of rides, and I got into two barrels on a line high up on the shoulder of a big one, cant handle it anymore, out of gas and catch a final good ride, almost 400 yards on in and step off onto dry sand, not bad for a 56 year old bald guy. Mike King is getting his board ready and we shake hands he is one of my buds out in the line up, he will go way outside once in awhile, we talk, but I’m dead and I tell him I’ll see him later this afternoon. Drag my “cane” all the way back to camp. Then have a couple of business calls to make from the cab of the 4x4, rest a long while. Go back out for session two I run into Kevin another one of the guys I'll surf big waves with, he came down from Austin, talk with some other guys, two ladies are out here also, big sets coming thru where I am lined up, which is way outside most everyone else on this catcher board of mine.
Next morning tidal surge I think is predictable so I will pitch the camp today, but before doing so I must get out there, surf it. Get in the line up at the pier about 8 a.m., no teenagers on this Friday morning, just guys my age, about 20 of us, waves have dropped just slightly but no chop on the water and bombs coming thru, we just blast it, and inbetweens sets we talk about dealing with Wills and siblings, and Mike King and I talk about Briggs and Stratton lawn mowers and how to fix them, funny, sort of like being on a golf course. I can handle about two hours before I’m dead. so in I go to get my camp ready for guests tonight.
Tide is lowering back to normal, beach is very clean, hurricane Ike did the cleaning, and I understand from speaking to the rangers that their other beach park 10 miles south of where I am is a veritable junk yard and sort of wasteland from debris from Galveston. The jetties here probably deflected the current in combination with the Massive waves here, and the beach at the other park is a ugly mess of lumber, plastic, etc. I saw the photo’s, it would have jeopardized this surf camp immensely.
Camp is organized and up by two p.m.. wind is almost offshore and this nice swell is still rolling and will be happening tomorrow for my guests, I go out for session two and surf for about an hour, my right shoulder slight problem as it has been all summer so I come in and don’t over do it.
The gulf marine traffic in the channel is back to normal I guess, I can see 8 oil freighters at anchor in the roadstead way offshore, every hour one comes thru, and earlier a massive military cargo vessel entered the channel, just dwarfing every thing in scale, it may have been nuclear powered, completely navy grey, really an awesome piece of equipment, it just looks secret, no windows, no one visible.
A long about 5, Jason and Emily and Chad arrive. Jason and Emily will be married in Florida soon, Chad is Jason nephew, Chad is here on his birthday present from his folks, his 20th. He is a longboard skateboarder which I admire, and he is fit and agile so he will do well this weekend. They all go into town for dinner since Tide Guide doesn’t cook Friday nights. Nathan and Eileen arrive real late after I am asleep, they had to work late, Karen arrives about 3 a.m. Saturday morn, so every one has their drive over and can enjoy surf camp and the beach for the next two days……
This is Nathan and Eileens second surf camp, I get Nathan out on my newest board “Mabel” he reports that it is a piece of ----------, Nathan is in the legal profession, you know, a “lawyer”, so he doesn’t mince words. He takes out the Texan which he used last year and begins to get some waves. Actually I will agree with him about Mabel, so something has to be done, the next day Nathan was helping Eileen on Mabel and I was standing on the beach with Jason and I saw what would be needed to done to Mabe, cause Eileen was pearling when the board should have easily planed and made the drop for her. I’ll chop Mabel, which as of this writing has been accomplished, Mabel now has about 2 more inches of banana on the front of the board, I’ll try it this coming weekend with Trinity Universities annual Halloween surf camp, Mabel will be a winner, I am confident.
Karen is needing some help, the waves are still fairly large even on the second bar, so I decide to let her just get used to being out, and tomorrow I know the waves will have dropped and I can help her with the big green board. We all take a beach walk down to the pier for ice cream and to go out on the deck and watch the surfers. Then back to camp to sit in the shade or some people nap, waves will be good this evening. Great fall weather and no summer squalls I doubt in the late afternoon. Dinner of shiskabobs and new potatoes and corn on the cob is mighty fine, and sitting around camp after dark is really a treat for all.
Next morning waves have dropped but Nathan and I go out and it is fun and glassy but small, finally everyone else comes out and it is a lazy morning of surfing easy waves a just floating. Excellent camp…….

APPROACH THE SAND surf camp 4 2008

2008-08-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

APPROACH THE SAND surf camp 4 2008

One more time, another swell, this one “FAY”. Arrive just after dawn Thursday morning, and there sure is a little swell from the cane. Nice sets all day Thursday, caught 50+ waves, and nice longish rides 100 yards off the 3rd bar. Catch up on news with Linda my friend for many years and the park ranger, also pay beach rent and vendor pass for the month. Mickey is on his first surf camp duty, my new junk yard dog, to guard surf camp, a 15 pound miniature pincher, he was raised by two young girls and he is spoiled and not very mean. About my luck, but at least he barks, and luckily not loud and not to much, turns out over the weekend he is a good people pooch, just what I wanted, he will also be able to jump into the boat, he is 4. Have replaced more equipment since sinking the sea cow. This camp has my signature new stove and grill the one I am used to, and I built a new chuck box, its deluxe and what I’ve been used to for 17 years. My surf camp is nearly complete again, all I really want now is a different main tent, which I already have picked out. Just raise $3,000.00.
Friday surf still up, Fay has moved into Gulf again its near Alabama. Fun waves all day, in between session, almost finished reading the history of the last Russian Tsar, 500 pages. It disgusts me that a treaty was signed last week with Poland to base our missiles. World Events like this is pretty much what keeps me an surf bum, a professional one I guess, I learned this profession from the Austrian Ski Instructors who where brought over to Sun Valley, Idaho before WWII by Averill Harriman, to keep his clients in good company. These men where great and I new many of them, they were legendary, and their booming voices with accent could be heard all over Baldy mountain during lessons, some of them made a fortune, most of them did well and they all where prema donnas and loved it. They where probably the first ski bums.
I turn on my cell phone twice a month at about 3 p.m. on Friday afternoons, so on it goes in case my private class needs help. And about 7 Laura rings, and about 9 Laura rings, and then about 10 Laura rings, at 9 and 10 I was asleep in the surf mobile with the thing a majig in my hand to wake me, but I must have managed to be coherent because at 11 p.m. everybody arrives.
(SEE KOREAN NAMES in the photos, Monica is Asian and wrote me everyone’s name in that language). All is well Friday night, Hillary and I learn that she came to Shell Bar Kayak camp with Trinity University in 2001, she is with Scott who is a Electrical Engineer and a T A&M graduate.
Saturday it is with effortless ease I get breakfast and cowboy coffee out using the new gear, get ur done before sunrise, let everyone get up when they want. Waves look o.k., Fay not really producing today but still waves out there. Look down the beach and there is a surf contest being held, will go down later. Every one got their drive from Houston over with last night and now have beach time, island time, so no hurry, but later we get boards out and assigned and then each is waxed, and up to the tallest sand dune to view the break and talk surf. No seaweed finally, the drop zone is on the 2nd bar mostly, so I suggest that while the gulf remains glassy way outside, we make it thru the impact zone and go outside 500 yards and I can give them a lesson on how to hang out, I explain that the surfing culture made this phrase 50 years ago. So the proper way to hang out is, once outside is to either sit on your board and just contemplate your luck on being able to be on a top of a top notch longboard with your friends, in warm water with nothing more important to do that wait for a wave to ride. I show them some advanced hanging out, since we are Texans, this is how it is done, you slide off the board, then put your arms across the deck, then rest your chin on the deck and dangle your legs. You let the swells get all the pains out of your back, neck, brain etc. and just look at eyeball level to the water and listen how quiet it is out here.
After this lesson we go on in and get with it. All day long, plus check out surf contest, I mingle with the organizers, I am a business man underneath the cavalier exterior….I know one of the judges and surf with him occasionally and I ask a pretty surfer girl when the Masters event is, she says it is in September.
Late afternoon I’m helping Hillary and she has a little accident and gets a bump on the chin and cuts her inside lip a little, but we finally get her a good ride.
Dinner is knockout, shiskaboobs, corn on the cob, new potatoes. Jeremy later has chocolate chip cookies.
Sunday is so choice the gulf is glassy, but little ride able swell are coming in and every one gets rides, Mickey and I watch from the high tide line, I let Laura use my favorite board and she does well, and she is thrilled to be in surf camp instead of at the office. Luis is using the 11 foot couch potato and is getting some rides, he is no couch potato, 200 pound and practices some judo of some kind. Jeremy was a college swim team member and has power and he gets most every wave he goes for. Monica is very surfer girlish, not petite but almost, so she has to have the moves, and she had them Sunday and was getting some really pretty rides. Scott hadn’t bought a surf shirt and was using a cotton shirt so his takes offs where inhibited do to the drag and he struggled to drop in, so he needs to invest in surf gear next camp. …..great camp……..

Hurricane "DOLLLLLY" !!!

2008-07-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

pictures coming soon...

CANE # 16, for this surfer...Left my boat house at 3 a.m. thurs. morn. Easy driving, for awhile, then the cane. Reminded me of driving in blizzards up in Idaho to go ski. Forget about it, gusting 50 knots down by Oakville, I am in 2nd gear on the freeway!!!!!, pull over, get in the back and go to sleep until 7. Didn't want my surf-mobile to blow over in the middle of the night. I sunk a boat already this year, so yearnin now to play it safe. Saw Peter Holt yesterday, we watched the sky in San Antonio, the cane was getting near shore and category 2. He sent 70 game wardens with boats down to the Rio Grande Valley to help out. This thing is massive this morning and I'm glad it is 120 miles due west. I know that the surf is just out of control, so I'm going to take care of a little business in Aransas Pass. Stop by the Sea Academy to get some paper work for my Captains license. I get a chance to visit with Capt. Chuck West, the man who taught me last summer, he is a good ol’ boy all the way, and he wants to hear all about my sinking. We get along so I hold nothin back, and it felt good to talk, he told me to not be a stranger and to stop by again.....Dolly's storm surge was up to the dunes yesterday, the sand is still wet but I can park the surf-mobile later today in my favorite surf camp spot. I'm not going out today it just isn't possible, blowing almost a Gale and the waves are enormous. Sunny out, and Tide Guide can look forward to improving weather for the next week. I'll be here 6 days and take care of the Albro's family summer vacation, this is their third year and all nine of them are coming tomorrow. I think it was Dillon their 18 year old who started the surf camp tradition, the 30 foot rule. His step Dad Patrick spends to much time out in the water helping his daughters and his wife and brother and sister in law and not enough time practicing himself, and for the past two seasons he did not score a 30 foot glide. And Dillon teased him, I let people sign their names on the awning if they can surf 30 feet, but Dillon told Patrick he couldn't sign his until he rides 30 feet, it was funny, Heather his wife has signed and some of the girls so Patrick is under pressure this vacation.
Friday morning wind still howling from Dolly, it is so awesome to witness this system here from the beach. Waves are real knarly, I will wait until afternoon, and it should level out some, bought a new leash for my board from Ted's Boardhouse and we talked surfing, he had a terrific session on Tuesday when Dolly arrived. I get camp up and it looks mighty fine, so get out my favorite "Cane" and make it outside without to much trouble, it is big, peaks are 12 - 15 feet. But it is real bumpy, hard to line up, I get 10 massive drops, sort of out of control, a couple of long rides, two cut backs, and a couple of fast rail rides, one bottom turn I was leaned over so far with centrifical force I could drag my finger tips on the wave face, soooooo out of sight. Fast bottom turns is what this sport is all about. It is so bumpy that I literally am getting dizzy, a little dangerous so I surf a long one, almost to the sand, that would be 300 yards, WWWOOOOO.... Do some more chores around camp, a little reading, some eating, and watching the surf, I see another surfer going out, so wax up the "cane" and make it out again without to much of going over the terrifying falls, not quite as big but still 12 foot drops, still bumpy, real bad, this isn't a clean "CANE" but its rideable, so I get about 10 more and getting dizzy again, so on in to be safe.... Shower and clean clothes, Buddy and his wife Shawn arrive, Buddy and Patrick are brothers. We sit in the beach chairs and relax and soon a little after dark the main Albro family arrive and are glad to be in surf camp.
I had emailed Heather earlier in the week to verify the go ahead for camp, and to explain that Tide Guide max's out at 8 people. So one Albro would have to be designated to sleeping on a camping mattress instead of the luxurious cots. Shawn and Buddy and I had discussed this earlier and Shawn said, just wait and see, Heather will be on the camp pad. I actually thought this would prove untrue. But I guess mothers either just as soon skip a battle or they do things out of love, because Heather was on the camp pad both nights.....
After the Albro's get acquainted with camp and the new bathrooms across the sand road, we start telling stories. Cydni is 9, Sarah is 11, Hailey is about 16, Ashley is 18 and will be of to College, so I keep my stories about surfing light hearted for the girls sake, I tell them about the monster out there, the "TURTLES", last season 2 monsters jumped out of the line up and onto our boards, one of the events happened to me, and it scarred me so much I screamed. And I heard about another surfer who had his nose broken. The girls don't even ask about sharks....Then I tell them about the best surf band in the world, the Ventures, and the all time hit "wipeout". But maybe my fav is "walk don’t run". Maybe I like "Pipeline" best, I surfed Pipeline in Hawaii for two weeks in the 70's.
Early next morning, wind is still calling Dolly, no doubt about that, must be up in Mexico, but it is dragging this wind down here with her. Lots of Sargasso seaweed. I make strawberry stew, papaya, honey dew, oranges, cantaloupe, and black cowboy coffee. It's an hour and a half before the whole family is up and moving, so we sit in the beach chairs and take advantage of the island time. Sleeping down here is just great, it is almost cold at night. Cyndi wants a surfboard, so we pick out the Sanddollar for her, Sarah get the blue triple fin, they learn how to wax.
I have a new hat, I saw one of my lawyers Wednesday at his office, Duncan Weakley Bressler, years ago Edgar Duncan gave me a real nice palm weave hat. I've surfed it for so many years now that it needed retiring. So with Albro proceeds I went downtown and bought a Mexican Sombrero, also palm weave real nice. We gather the Albro’s and walk out of camp up to the top of a Sand Dune. Here I like to give surf lesson #1 and safety lesson #1. Waves I explain are way bigger than they look from up here. Green water is offshore about 1000 yards, still lots of sand and seaweed in the drop zone. We talk for awhile up here and enjoy the view. Patrick reminds his daughters to pay attention while I give the safety guidelines.

I just lost 3 pages of this surf camp story....somehow on my computer...all for now.

"MABEL" surf camp #3 2008

2008-07-17T03:11:00.000-07:00

photo's coming soon.....bill

My Grandmother left me a roll of silver dollars. One of them was worth $400.00. So I turned this 1894 coin into a 10'7" cruiser longboard. This was its first time out. It has nice graphics and has "MABEL" on the front deck. I'm down here early again thurs. morn., tides are moderate, but lots of Sargasso seaweed, i set up close to the waters edge since the moon is in apogee. Real close to the water, the guests will walk out of the tent 50 feet to the high tide. Fun outside peaks to ride for me this morning, nothing to brag about, but lots of rides. Weather looks to be stable for 4 to 5 days. What a relief for Tide Guide. Camped next to me is a troop of Boy Scouts, Troop 352 from Justin, Texas 14 of them. I spoke to one of the leaders and it was decided that tomorrow after a field trip they are going on to an Air Force Base, they will then come over to my camp, and I'll talk with them about surfing, and I couldn't help it, I am going to get help waxing MABEL. I was going to have my customers do it, but eagle scouts, America doesn't produce anything better. So next day around noon they stop by. This board is really gorgeous and big. I went over to Ted's Boardhouse and bought wax this morning. So the scouts get to earn another merit badge and it is a lot of work for one person, but with a whole troop, no problem. First goes on one bar of base wax. Followed by a whole other bar of "sticky bumps". We have fun talking and the wax looks good. MABEL should be one of the favorite boards in my camp. The scouts leave but a few of them go fishing, FOR SEAGULLS, they tie a Cheetos on the line, throw it into the air, and after a while they have a seagull, i asked them if they used a hook and they said no.
Start getting phone calls from guests in early eve. Trouble finding their way. But here comes, Katy and her Mom Alice, they are tired of being in the car, and after they get settled in surf camp, they walk down the beach to the pier for dinner. Then come Tyler and her Mom Scottie. Later in the evening after the sun went down Katy and Tyler where playing with the sand crabs and Tyler got a good pinch and bloody foot, Her mother was afraid the sharks would get her darling daughter next morning, I said, she should be o.k. but well check her foot again in the morning. Joan arrives and this is her second surf camp and she is glad to be on the beach in surf camp again. Clint arrives, and this is his first surf camp, but not his last as he really got with it. Russel and Bandy arrive, this is Bandy's birthday present, turns out that on Sunday July 13 is her birthday and her surfing instructor ME. I am 56, she is maybe 26. So all is well friday nite great weather for everyone to sit in the beach chairs and look at the stars, Amanda called and she cant make it and has rescheduled for another surf camp later. Sleeping is exceptional, cool really, no bugs.
Well surf camp is on. Sat. Morn. after a great breakfast and lounging in the chairs, we do the safety march and surf talk and seaweed has drifted out, so looks like a good session. MABEL is given to Alice and Katy to share, We found some flowers up in the dunes, Katy has one in her pretty blonde hair, and I take one and wedge it onto a spot on MABEL. Off they go and boy i was right, this board is a winner, Alice is up about on the first try!!!!!! And Katy she is sixteen and light as a feather and no problem she is up!!!!!!! Thanks for the Silver Dollar MABEL. It is not easy out in the line up, we have 3 - 4 foot wind waves with a period of maybe 5 seconds, so you are getting beat up out there, although the water is so warm and enviting and it is a sunny day and it is a sand bottom, every one is having a great time. Russel and Bandy are doing well and getting some rides. Scottie and Tyler haven't had any shark attacks. Clint is a real athlete and he is getting some long rides on the outside break already. Joan is doing o.k. I fear her knees are going to be getting bruised, most women get knobby knees, until they learn to stand.
Some of them do 3 sessions, and as a group we walk down to the Pier for ice cream and out all the way to end of the deck for the view, we saw a tame pelican whom fisherman would toss bait minnows, and to watch this prehistoric thing open its crazy mouth up close was weird. All surfers are starving, I have been feeding them surfer food all day long, coconut, jicama and lime, pineapple, peanuts, papaya, oranges. One of my strategies in this operation is to get them hungy then what ever I feed them for dinner they think I am such a good cook. Because tonite we have Shiskabobs. Sun is getting lower in the sky no one wears a watch generally in surf camp. I begin getting dinner out, and this is a surf camp help out. I spot Tyler and her mother because most everyone else is up at the showers. I say Tyler (she just turned 13) UUUUHHHH, Tyler do you think you could help me shuck some corn. WWWWHHHaaaattttt, shuck this corn, you know peel off the husks. She looks at Scottie like I have rocks in my head. Scottie says, yes, help him. So we shuck 16 ears of corn. Tyler did not like the spoiled kernels on the top of the ear, I explained that if the farmer hadn't sprayed his field with DDT that there would be a worm on the top, instead of a few spoiled kernels. We get it shucked and into a bucket and I says, grab ahold. And I guide us over to the waters edge. She says wWWWWWWHHHHAAAATTTT are we doing, OH, lets fill this up with water, she says thats not water, yes it is, well I am not going in there I just took my shower and I cant get wet. Now I have a 8 year old daughter so this is practice for me. I says, well can we just go out a little ways, your legs wont get wet half way up to your knees. She says no, I says, OH, my shoulder hurts and i cant carry it alone. She says O.K.. But when we got back to the camp she told me she was really in a BBBAAAAADDDDD mood. WWWWWWHHHHHEEEEWWWW, this being a professional surfer has its hazards. We boiled sweet corn on the cob and new potatoes in saltwater and try it, it is excellent.!!!!! You dont need butter or salt, although some said they needed butter. Next build your own Shiskabobs. My friend up in town my butcher over the years now decided i needed in addition to beef sirloin tip, he says, you need chicken and pork tenderloin, i says, O.K. Bandy does not eat pork or beef so my butcher helped out on that one. Plenty of food even though Alice had to take Katy down to the Pier again since she was starved and bought her a hamburger, doesn't look like there is enough room in her tiny waistline for a burger and Surf camp Shiskabobs.

While Kabobobs are grilling us adults get to a little politics and education and health care and it was serious but fun. This is one thing about surf camp, these beach chairs in the shade with the sound of the surf, we get to talk and visit probably one of the better perks of camp. My idea of government education is the three RRR readin rightin rithmatic, anything more than that let em get it in the private sector. For president Jesse Ventura, he is a bonefide surfer, and for health care, preventative maintenance, like how bout universal surf camp.

Excellent meal nice sunset and beach chairs again. While lounging I reclaim my standing with Tyler, she and her mom will be going to Hawaii next year, so I teach her some Hawaiian. This is a fishs name, HUMU HUMU NUKU UKU AU PU AAPA. Then Merry Christmas, MELE KALIKIMAKA.

Next morning Clint and i get a session way outside and Katy made it out also, I give Clint my personal board and he stays out for a long surf. Joan has really gotten some swelling on her knees and has to be careful. Russel is to sunburned to go out this morning. I think he is just happy to have gotten Bandy out on her birthday. So all is well and it was a very fine surf camp..........

SURF CAMP #2 SUMMER SOLSTICE JUNE 20 2008

2008-06-26T06:33:00.000-07:00

Leisure Learning Unlimited and my 15th year in business together. This trip though I had cancelled, after sinking the "Sea Cow" this past winter, I lost all of my accumulated equipment of 18 years, but Ted the owner at LLU encouraged me to keep at it. So this surf camp has made a large enough booking to run. First days of summer with the solstice friday nite. And my birthday, I am 9, nine years without any booze or illegal substances. I celebrated with my summer home AA group on the island thursday nite before my surf camp began. I got 3 surf sessions in Thursday, the day i arrived down here, waves were tiny. Friday set up camp and surf 3 sessions, waves are tiny, but good for practice, I am having problems with right shoulder. Later in the morning Carol Blackwell arrives with her birtday boy, her son Chris, he is 20, I help Chris with his first surf session, Carol is going to organized a Women's Club surf camp, so she is inspecting and learing about Tide Guide"s surf camp. Shawn Shultze and a business client of his Chris Gurecky arrive about sundown friday nite. Shawn's 4th season, and he had me build him his own custom Tide Guide surfboard, identical to the one i use, it's beautiful. Later in the nite Jean calls and she and Ted where not able to leave the office early enough to begin the drive down and are tired, so they will arrive tomorrow morning. Real comfortable evening, nice breeze, sounds of the surf. Shawn and Chris stay up late under the stars, sitting in the beach chairs. In the Morning Jean and Ted arrive, but no hurry's here, we occupy the beach chairs and i let this drag on for a long time before surf lessons. Nothing like island time, course i talk the surf lingo, no politics or religion,barf barf barf. We find out important things like, are you a "goofy foot or regular foot", i teach them how to wax the boards i got down for them. Ted is a flight engineer at NASA, and Jean will be entering a hospital in houston as a Surgeon. Chris Gurecky operates a family owned machine shop and is a major supplier for Haliburton, Shawn operates his family owned Airconditioning business. Me I'm retarded, I mean retired, I mean i am the professor of surfing. Yesterday I walked down to Morgan Faulkners surf camp. He operates monday thru friday, and he mostly teaches the young crowd 8 - 16 year olds, Morgan and I get along and its good for the profession that guys like he and i know and respect each other, also i signed another contract with Nueces County this being my ninth year running a surf camp. The gulf is kinda glassy, but some little peaks are consistently rolling in, this is actually fantastic for the beginners, water is ssssoooooo warm and refreshing I love it, during the second session i lead all of us across the glassy surface and we make our way to the outside, probably 500 yards offshore. On a gentle day like this I'll take beginners out here just to sit. It is quite an experience for them, but as a group it makes you feel more confident. It is quiet, I suggest they get off their boards, dangle their legs, put their arms across the deck of the board, rest their chin on the deck, and as a famous surf term states "hang out". Now i do this all the time, but remember, Ted sits all day long in a flight control center and Jean, well she "heals" people, so this jumping off their board at my suggestion must be quite an experience. Out here is where i'll ride big surf i hope this season, this is where the 10 - 15 foot bombs peak up and roar thru. We can see Shawn and Chris 200 yards away, hanging out and its so quiet we can hear them talk. Back Ashore and after watermelon Ted is napping in the shade, on his cot, in the breeze, Jean is next to him studying human anatomy i suppose. Ya know i really could just guide napping camps, Carols son napped for 3 hours yesterday. Waves are nothing to brag about, except for a beginner, so before dinner we all get in another session, I believe everyone has stood up, Chris Gurecky has shared with us that over the past year he has lost a wopping 95 lbs. He is now up and riding in pretty good form, the famous surfboard of mine, I aptly named years ago, the "U.S.S. COUCH POTATO" i built this board especially for waves like today it is 11 feet in lenght, so Chris now is a surfer.
Dinner is new this season, Shiskabobs, i have a butcher friend cut up the meat for me, And guest Chris Gurecky is a home gardener and he has brought this years harvest of red potatoes, okra, onion, tomato. Dinner is great and we all stay up for awhile, but not to late.
Saturday is glassy and beautiful, the eleven foot "U.S.S COUCH POTATO" board is shared by all of us and from camp it appears that the surfer is walking on water, the small waves are just great and easy to catch. This was a GGGRRREEEAAATTT camp............

U.T.S.A. School Kayak Camp Shell Bar May 2008

2008-06-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

Kevin, Pat, Kenza, Ruti, and Carlos and Me.

Departed the barn at 3:30 a.m.. Zero traffic practically all the way to the beach. Much better on my nerves, don't have to drive as fast. UTSA are all down there since last night, Eliot Assistant Director of O-REC likes them to mellow into this Tide Guide outing. Karen has roused the campers at about dawn, "No Camping Allowed", Kevin trip leader answers, but Bill said it was O.K.. Oh he did, well he always thinks he can do it his way........ha ha, i already had called Neal her husband on Tuesday, letting him know that we were coming, so its Neal's fault. Excellent weather, and i am relieved since i haven't guided since i sunk my "Sea Cow" this past winter. Eliot is the power behind this trip, helping me to get back on that horse!!!!
We are going primitive kayaking, self propelled. Light S.E. winds, and after one hour on the trail we pull into the sea grass shoreline for lunch. Migratory Wildlife are vacant, no ducks on the wing, now the marine life will begin migrating into the back bays, since water temps are rising. We take our time traveling to Shell Bar, and stop in the middle of Shoalwater bay a couple of times. Either myself or Kevin stand in the shallow water and resemble an anchor, holding on to every ones kayak so the wind wont blow them off, and we talk and rest. Finally ashore at Shell Bar things are inviting. Camp is easily pitched for the next three days, some exploring is done and then "We all settle under the shade canopy and take a wonderful 2 hour nap" wind blowing and just pleasant. I had explained to Eliot that nobody would be raving about the food we ate since i don't have the Sea Cow and the decadent amenities that went down with her. So at dinner just before sunset food is O.K.. Ruti is quiet interested in the celestial kingdom, and tonite the stars are dazzling, and with our nap we stay up, Kevin bought "so mores", you know the camp fire staple. Marsh mellows, chocolate, gram crackers sandwich, I sit quietly just out of the firelight, but Kevin is very thoughtful and feeds me this ritualistic concoction, gag, i don't refuse, but don't ask for seconds. Real enjoyable watching stars and not t.v.
Very pleasant morning S.E. winds light and cool. Basic breakfast, no coffee, since it brings on dehydration. Beach combing in the late morning with Ruti, Kenza, Pat and Myself, walked up the Santo Espiritu Bay front. We found Ruti a Straw hat. The girls picked up to loads of plastic trash, as their environmental contribution. I found two more oyster shell castles i call them, bleached and pretty, i keep a growing collection in my office.
Early afternoon paddling trip, turns into a circumnavigation of Grass Island. This Island is home to one of the pairs of Whooping Cranes during the winter. We stayed on the leeward shore for an hour or more, then Kevin went out through a pass into San Antonio Bay. He played in the small wind swell, then came back and suggested that we go outside and return on this side of Grass Island, it was safe, with winds onshore, so I agreeded to this change in course. He is trip leader for the University and this was a good call, this allowed the students to get some additional experience in the kayaks. Once back safely ashore on Shell Bar, another long nap for all of us under the shade and in the breeze.
Sunday morning we depart Shell Bar very early with a 15 knot starboard aft wind, and it is a cinch to cover the 5 miles back to Welders, I waved at him as he stood on his dock. Thanks UTSA for getting Tide Guide out on the bay again......

University of Texas at Surf Camp #1 2008

2008-04-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Never say Never, I gave up guiding after sinking the Sea Cow this winter. However Eliot Howard Associate Director of Outdoor Pursuits at the University encouraged me to continue. So we had a fabulous weekend of surfing. 10 students came down, Allen being trip leader, his second or third year at surf camp, he wore cut off jeans for surf pants, and you know he is a native texan. Friday before students arrived, I surfed some 12 foot bombs, didnt go out alone but surfed with a friend Vern from Hawaii. During the weekend we had superb weather and fine waves for the students on the inshore break, nice reliable sets of 3 to 4 feet, water temp 72. I changed the Saturday night menu, i could not eat any more vegetables and sausage, so now it is Shiskabobs, boiled corn on the cob, new potatoes boiled in sea water, and spanish rice. I signed a contract with Nueces County Park after 8 years of getting by. So hope things continue well this season as Tide Guide is Booked solid......

December 9 10 11 Shell Bar Kayak Tour 2007

2007-12-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

People do kayak tour in December. I had been corresponding for weeks with Judy Alson and she has hitched a ride from Houston with Danny Petkevich and his young eight year old son Cole, and they arrive on time, 9:30 a.m. Will Ellis has been here for a while and earlier he and I had a chance to talk. At fifteen to ten a sort of light roar is heard and as we look to the sky the noise pollution is the ruffle of no less than 6,000 arriving migratory waterfowl. The "V's" are so vast and the sounds growing more voluming that the birds are not aware of us down here and they blanket the sky and horizon as they wing past, this is just an awesome sight. I explain briefly that this is more or less the destination and end of the Central Flyway and this huge flock is finding this wildlife refuge a place to rest and feed. Dolphins appear in the water in front of us, the weather looks quite stable and i speculate that it will last past Sunday. I'm already wearing surfing pants. Boats are assigned and packed and instruction given. You all are now Captain of your own ship for the next 3 days I announce. Cole is riding aboard the Sea Cow with me and he thinks that is great. Danny and Will Shove off and then Judy. Judy makes it out from shore a ways and then begins going in circles, then she is blown off course and then ends up under the fish cleaning table, we get her untangled then she goes in circles again, and bumps into Welders dock, Cole and I render assistance, and Judy comes aboard with us on the Cow, she is just fine with that, we tow her boat. At Buffalo Pass as we putt along on this fine morning I shout, "Look at the Crabs". There on the sand shoreline are 6,000 crabs. These are the feed the Whooping Cranes gorge on all winter. There is another sort of light roar and these one inch crab move in mass through the salt grass. We all go ashore and this to is just awesome, Cole is stuffing them into his life jacket pockets, Danny is taking videos with his cell phone, this is just really facinating and interesting and we watch them for 15 minutes. A very nice two hour tour down to Shell Bar. With these short days, i hustle to get camp up, we all pitch in to prepare our vegetable soup and then put on the fresh sausage to cook. Dolphins are in the Tidal Pass and it is just astonishing to see them. Nice night to sit around the hot fire in the beach chairs and talk until the late hour of about eight thirty. Next day is opening of duck season and air boats lug past early and plenty of shooting later as we have cowboy coffee, and breakfast. Fishing is on the docket today, and we all take a nature walk and bring the fish net and minnow bucket. Bait is not plentiful so we have to walk quite aways. I cover a school and Cole loads about 10 mullet into the bucket, then we keep going and circumnavigate Shell Bar on foot, and it is a fine day out. After a lunch of Hot Tamales and fresh beans and crackers, Judy, Cole and I take the Cow and Danny paddles his kayak and we are going to circumnavigate Steamboat Island, Will is going to enjoy Shell Bar and a beach chair. I have brought a fish rod given to me by a good customer of mine and I throw a couple times and WWWWhhhhaaaammmm, Cole bring this fish in I say, and he lands a nice trout, and then a little latter a nice redfish. Once back at camp it is pretty warm and nice out and Danny decides now to swim across the tidal pass. Then i get brave and dive in. December 10th and the water isn't that bad, it was fun. Back on Shell Bar we all stand around this tidal pool and I have stocked a couple big blue crabs in it and they and all the minnow's entertain us for a long time, Danny and Cole snag a big one and I cook it for them. After dark Danny brings to our attention that there are lots of spiders here. Will has an L.E.D. so do I so does Danny, and he shows us that spiders eyes glow and he is right, i had no idea spiders eyes glow but if you get down on your hands and knees and follow your light beam sure enough there is a spider. Hot camp fire and Tide Guide Tea and lots of stars and stories, Will tells us about his occupation, he is a horse and large animal massage therapist and does quite well at it, Judy is from Israel and now manages a store in Houston, Danny is an electrical engineer for a computer company. Next morning it is sssssoooooo Sunday and real easy going. Danny gives his son a kayak lesson on the calm bay and also gives Judy a kayak lesson. WE take our time and finally get going about eleven, camp is staying up cause i am coming back to stay for a couple more days. Danny and Will paddle, Cole and Judy are aboard with me. I come to anchor to gas up and when raising anchor i feel the line give, i loose the hook, and cant find it again in the seaweed and mud, WoW how helpless a Captain is without an anchor on a big boat. Cole has been standing on the bow for three days now as we putt along, and today he falls in, Judy grabs him, we are in about 20 inches of water, I say we better go see you Dad, I get a sleeping bag out and Judy wraps him up, she loves it, she has a grown son of her own. Pretty good trip I'd Say......considering its December. All is well....Now I make the return trip to Shell Bar, on deck are duck decoys and brush for a blind...I am a recovered poacher. It's true!!!!! Today I do follow the rules and regulations. Its in my best interest since i know all three game wardens down here, and even know the Chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.....no reason for me to break the rules, but even with the best intentions, I had a once in a lifetime occurence. I got 3 ducks with one shot!!!!! And i was not flock shooting. It just happened and they where birds you can only bag one a day....Sssssooooooo i thought that i'll be here for three days, so i'll just put the gun away, and count the bagged birds at one a day. Best I could do....I've used dynamite to fish with and that's the truth, but not anymore. We were supposed to be blowing stumps out on a ranch in Idaho, but being teenagers and Dick Boyle not at the ranch one day, we fished instead of worked.

SHELL BAR KAYAKING THANKSGIVING 2007

2007-12-03T16:23:00.000-08:00

A Arctic front is rushing this way. Tide Guide is at the shoreline early friday morning anyway. Large flights of wigeon out over the marsh, moving across the grey skyline, some shotgun rounds can be heard, probably Ted Dunams young son, Ted stops by riding on his golf car, good to see him and talk hunting and fishing and all. Pamela arrives, she is scheduled to take a kayak tour in the Seattle area this summer,so she wants a Texas Tour with me first. This is my first expedition to Shell Bar as Captain William Bradley "Major" Minor the III. I successfully completed the U.S. Coast Guard licensing program this summer. Cost me a bundle and I guess I learned something, sure had a great instructor Captain Chuck West out of Rockport, what an old salt. Here comes Jeff Mason and his friends, Jeff is a graduate surf camp student of Tide Guides and Davey and Laura from Scotland are with him, they pull me over to the trunk of their automobile and present me with a custom embroidered surf travel bag, it has "TIDE GUIDE" on the top. I'll use it at surf camp, but out here it would get muddy in one day, i don't mind sand on it at surf beach. Next is Lauren from Houston, I got a call earlier from Marjorie, she is scarred of the weather and does not want to come. We get boats assigned and adjusted and loaded, every one now is given the title "Captain of Your Own Ship" for the next 3 days. Sea Cow is Launched and it is great to be aboard and off we go, about a 15 knot north east wind, so the kayakers are sailed down the bays to Shell Bar, very fine day actually. Not cold not hot, i have my waders on so i can get on and off the Cow and not get wet. Nice lunch half way down. I was down 3 weeks ago and cut sunflowers and grass 2 feet high on shell bar, so i look forward to getting everyone there, and there is one less rattle snake out there, i tried to get him with the brush cutter but he kept ducking and got away, had to get my lead poison out finally. Arrival on Shell bar is great, it is such an interesting place, we see a pod of Dolphins feeding in the tidal pass. Camp goes up easily, and no doubt about it the arctic front will be on us after dark. It turns nasty but i have dinner ready with everyone help, we get the heater going in the Casa Grande Tent, turn on the L.E.D.'s and some says , this is cozy. It begins to rain, but dinner is great. About 4 a.m. it is a waterfall we get 7 inches overnight, doesn't stop a duck hunter, unbelievable these boys come by camp in the airboats a half hour before daylight. Camp is dry inside, I wear my duck hunting rain jacket and waders and get hot coffee, tea and strawberry stew going about daybreak, not cold out just windy and rainy not a problem i stay out almost all day long. Although about 3 p.m. Jeff and Davey land a 28 inch red drum and then i go inside after filleting this trophy and just sink into the beach chairs, waders come off and i am comfy. DANGER, DANGER, WARNING, WARNING, oh a disaster, Laren had to go to the "Cow Pie" to go to the bathroom and hollers back into the tent where we all are relaxing and she says, the cow pie tipped over. Oh God, a gust had flipped it where i keep iit on land. I know that it is unsanitary now, so I ask the ladies to use the beach until the storm subsides and i feel like going out and cleaning up, which i did later. Most every one sort of likes the constraints that mother nature has brought our way today. We all are busy people, so books come out, Jeff has a 70 page contract which he tears pages of to give to Davey to put in his shoes to absorb water. We have time to visit, and watch the Dolphins. Fresh Fish Dinner is just fab. But it was such a big fish, i save half of it on ice for Davey and Laura to take home. Our second night is comfortable and we all sleep well. We are prepared to get on the water early tomorrow and with the 7 inches of fresh water on the back bay it will make easy going for the Sea Cow. Next morning i take Laura and Laren aboard the Cow. The other paddlers will make a one mile crossing to the mainland and into a 15 - 20 knot head wind, but once across, they can tour up the shoreline in a wind shadow. Jeff in the lead boat, passes a Pair of majestic Whooping Cranes and not much farther a family of 3 Cranes, the family are bugleing and it is a real treat. It is cold out and Laura and Lauren are cold. But no rain and so we have a pleasant fall trip back to the marina. A great trip every one had a trip of a life time and a real outdoor experience, and for me A trip with weather like this once in a awhile is O.K. but I wouldn't want it to often.........I''ll be back, and I'll be seeing Jeff and Davey and Laura at surf camp in May.....

TRINITY UNIVERSITY (surf camp # 7) 2007

2007-11-05T15:20:00.001-08:00

OH, OH, OH....this is tide guides final SURFING camp of 2007, it has been an absolutely terrific season (Professor Minor surfed 40 days down here and rode probably a 1000 waves) this is more than i deserve, but what the hell I'm 55 already. Tonight the Houston Yaught Clubs Annual Regatta is arriving here in Port "A", having departed from Houston, and before dusk billowing sails fill the horizon, I have heard that the "Elisha" a original 150 foot square rigger is part of the regatta. This awesome display is visible from our front row seats in our beach chairs. Trinity has arrived in the School van, ten students Oliver, Jason, Jessica, Stephanie, Daniele, Paul, Jeff, Darren, Christen, Ally, and after introductions we walk in the darkness on the soft sand to the waters edge and chat. Waves are nearly flat tonight, so we can let the tide wash our feet. Next morning a swell has arrived. Tide Guide has eased up on a long standing tradition, i usually cease and desist surfing once the water temp drops below 80. Saturday morning the temp is 72, YYYYYOOOOwwwww, but once in and with this building swell it feels OK. Everybody is having a blast. We do 3 sessions. Sitting around the camp fire after a hardy dinner Saturday night, Stephanie asks a question? WHAT IS THE WORD FOR THE SOUND OF A WAVE. No one could answer her, and i can guarantee nobody gets into Trinity University who is a dummy. But still no answer, so we are working on it, we even decided that it would be OK to coin our own word. Sunday Oliver carries on a Trinity tradition, he had carved a pumpkin last evening while every one ate some-mores. And now he cuts open the bottom and puts it on his head and then goes out for a surf, and he stands up. Waves have bumped up this morning to 10 foot outside, to much for students and i ask them to stay on the inside, Jason and Oliver assume duties in camp while some students are sleeping in, i go out at 8.30 a.m. and get some dynamite waves, big drops, i surf for over an hour, this will be my last surf this year and its a hit.....!!!!!

LEISURE LEARNING UNLIMITED (surf camp # 6) 2007

2007-11-05T15:01:00.001-08:00

Jeff Mason, Davey McGaughey, Laura Speirs returned for their second surf camp of this season, Davey with a brand new board of his own, they arrive before sundown, and get in a session and waves are fair, and to quote Mr. Mason "any day at surf camp is better than a day in the office". Derek and Shannon arrive for their second Tide Guide Surf Camp of this season, and I am amazed, they have bought their own surf boards, out for a session they go before sundown. After sundown, Ying Hu and Karen Reeves arrive for their first go at surfing. Troy Donavan arrives for second surf camp of season. Then father daughter James and Jennifer arrive. On saturday we had warm water and fair waves, if you could make it outside there where 6 to 8 foot drops. inside where most everyone surfed the periods where 4 to 5 seconds so quite challenging for the new surfers. Ying Hu on the SandDollar made it outside with me and she was brave and since she is so light she was launched into quite a few waves and stood up on a couple. Jeff, Davey, and Troy are doing great. Laura is having fun on shore cheering on Davey. Just a great day. During mid day in between session 3 and 4 we all walked down to the Fishing Pier to go all the way out to the end for the great view and to talk. We were minding our own business leaning against the railing watching surfers below us. However, above us, on a light post perched a large Pelican. I am wearing my new surf sombrero custom made palm weave. I begin to hear "rain drops", then i hear screams and screeches.......and all of a sudden a aroma or odor. I look up and this Pelican is minding his own business, just sitting there getting some sun, after having squirted out a few minnows. I see Ying Hu running down the deck, bent over holding her mouth. Now i dont want to seem insensitive or unaffected but I am a fisherman and please i dont want to seem like i really enjoy the scent of minnows, but actually i dont mind it, but Ying is gagging, well I am getting a little chukle out of it all, and she and Karen will say I am exagerating but Ying threw up, and then she ran off the pier and jumped in the gulf. Sunday real blown out, and I the big tandem board out, i work with James and he stands up on two short rides, although long enough to join the "30 foot club", Jennifer stood up, but not quite 30 feet. Karen had some fun launches. i had a blast and used the USS COUCH POTATO tide guides 12 foot tandem board on sunday. all you have to do is get it moving, drop it in, all 12 feet of it, bang on the back deck to keep it from pearling and then it will cruise all the way to shore.....!!!!!!!!

LEISURE LEARNING UNLIMITED surf camp #5 2007

2007-09-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

I can count to 20 during summers, because I'm usually barefoot. And if I remmeber plus or minus a year, LEISURE LEARNING UNLIMITED has produced more surfers for TIDE GUIDE than tide guide and this business relationship has lasted 15 years, with hundreds of graduates. This weekend Shawn Shulze from Rosenburg arrived after dark and has the 10' 2" 'CANE" he had me build for him, he is surfing well now after 3 years at camp, and I have him pumped up for his first ride on a real Hurrican swell someday soon. Robin Fortenberry and his wife Mellisa arrive, this is Robins 41st birthday present. The two cousins Tracy and Leslie arrive. We are missing two teenage boys, before we all retire just before midnight.
Dawn's waves look good. Starbuck/Cowboy coffee brewed and some cinamon tea. Strawberry Stew, and lots of fresh fruit. Surfers are allowed to sleep in. Beach still real clean since Hurricane Dean washed it a month ago. Yesterday I was out and a surfer told me about his brother who had a turtle fly out of the water and break his nose, we have had two collisions with these monsters this summer during Tide Guide Surf Camp. Weather this camp is so stable that I feel I can relax all weekend, light winds, not that hot, cool nights, fair waves, warm warm water, soft sand and its September and the first day of fall starts Sunday.......
After every one is up and has had curative time in Tide Guides custom beach chairs. I ring the camp cow bell "surf camp 30 minutes". We still have no teenagers in camp, they had signed up and where looking forward to this surf camp. Get boards down and assigned, this is a fun experience for everyone since they mostly have never even touched a surfboard, I have them comb and wax....Then on this perfect morning we climb up the familiar sand dune behind camp to look at our beach break, to talk about surfing and enjoy the sights.
With all surfers with their boards at waters edge, I say set your boards down and lets all go for a swim, I carry my board out, and as they duck waves and swim I catch a couple waves for them to observe, stand up and turn around surfing backwards to show off, whatever "I'm 55 already, bald, no flat belly". But I can surf as good as I want...
Now its their turn and we do a long 1 1/2 hour session, the rip takes us all the way down to the Fishing Pier. Long walk back dragging surfboards. We do 3 sessions as a group this fine day, and Shawn and Robin do 4. Robin has shared with us that next August he will compete in a authentic Iron Man competition up in Canada. This is just awsome to me. About 5:00 p.m. everyone is Pretty worn out and every one has some color now on their skin to show off at work. Tracy is going to be in a wedding pretty soon so she will look real sporty. Mellissa reports while over at the showers that a tiny green frog jumped onto the sink while she was brushing her teeth. Terrific dinner, Shawn brought Louisiana "boodang" sausage, very good. Beach chairs out under the stars, and we drink ice coffee and relax and chat, and most of us have some ibuprophen.
Early dawn on this first day of fall waves have dropped except for a small wind swell. Cow Bell goes off, "surf camp 30 minutes". This time, we all gather as a group, then paddle together 300 yards offshore to look for dolphins, Tracy and Leslie can't believe they are out here this far from shore, Shawn, Robin and Mellissa went 200 yards past us, it is real quiet out this far, we can hear them talking and Shawns laugh travels for miles.

Real good surf camp #5.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, surf camp #4 2007

2007-09-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

This camp had no hazardous weather conditions as the weekend for the camp approached. Thirteen campus students arrive at 9:10 p.m. friday eve. I had gotten nervous at 9:00 p.m. and made a call to Eliot Howard the University director for this camp and left a message, and then both vans arrive ten minutes later with happy campers, somehow I knew that would happen (the travelers where in town and eating out and then stopped at one of the souvenier shops). Trip leader Carlos and I had met last week, and we walk everyone in the darkness down to waters edge, and everyone loves the feel of the 86 degree surf water, they enjoy their arrival. Camp is already and more tents are pitched, and 8 students get to stay in the Tide Guide Casa Grande (with cots). Pirateing is a in thing this year apparetnly on Campus and two Pirate Flags are hoisted around camp. New L.E.D. lights are shinning and alluminating camp, My primitive kerosene TIKI Torch adds to the ambiance. Lights out for me shortly after they arive, but some students walked down to the pier, camp is low on surf wax for tomorrow so I had asked Rob whom is also a staff on this trip if they would buy some at the surf shack on the pier.
Real terrific morning, surf picked up overnite. Carlos has a group at the tide line and he is leading a TAI CI practice, I join this for sure, as I can use the strecthing. Beautiful birds are diving into the water in front of us, the waves sound southing, and the sun is not to hot yet.
Starbucks coffee, strawberry stew, fresh fruits, and the waves are going to last all day so I won't rush surf camp. A good reason to come to surf camp is to be on island time, I learned that a long time ago. At 8:30 a.m. I ring the cow bell and shout "surf camp in 20 minutes".
All 14 of us trail up to the highest sand dune behind camp. A steep climb uphill and I tell them this is a 20 foot wave, we walk through beach morning glory, and quite a few students have picked a flower and have them in their hair "Hawiian Style". I give a surf and saftey talk up here and a "Goofy Foot Test", I have had all of them select a buddy to share a board with during this camp, and then I demonstrate with one of the ladies, I tell her to imagine there is a surfboard on the sand in front of her, then to close her eyes and pretend she is going to step onto the board. I give her a gentle shove forward, she happens to put her right foot forward first, which might mean that she would be a goofy foot. All the students do this test with their buddy. I explain that now the back foot is where you will put the string that is attached to the surfboard. On down the dunes through the morning glory and over to camp for more demonstrations and board assignments and board combing and waxing. Some of the guys are getting impatient to get on the water, so I speed it up, but I cant help it, I'm and old guy, even though I have some classic and enviable longbaords, I'm to lazy to carry the things, I drag them, holding one end up, even my own "CANE" worth $1,200.00 I drag across the sand, this really unnerves some friends of mine. So I announce "here is your first bad habit in surfing" if you want you can drag the board. Later in the day, this makes more sense to some. Although some won't drag the board, must be liverals..... O.K. surf camp #4, session #1 and waves are sweet, not to big, no crowds. We stay out 1 1/2 hours. Then into camp for watermellon, I ring the bell again, "second session 20 minutes". Second session great, Carlos gets to try my board, as he had brought his own 6' 10". My "CANE" is 10' 2". he likes the length especially on these smaller waves. Back in for surfer lunch, real lite. Then we take a walk, everyone joins and we stroll down to the pier for a break. Back for Session #3. Some go out for session #4.
Sunday before dawn Jonas and Chris have slipped into the surf in front of camp, swam out 300 yards and head for the pier 1500 yards away, then back to shore, and then a run back to camp, then 50 sit ups. Jonas will be joining the Air Force upon graduation. I don't detect a cowardly bone in his body, he also found a shark tooth beach combing. Surf Camp is in major Island Time, so I hold off ringing surf camp bell for awhile. Nina finds a shark tooth while beach combing. Carlos and I get Nina and her girlfriend Sal and grab the biggest board in camp, and we plan to get Nina on a wave, she gets out to the second bar about waist deep at this tide with us and we get her on the board, but it still is pretty intimidating and she gets wiped-out. Carlos and I know when to cease pressing the point, Nina weighs 100 pounds or so when she is wet, and she announces, I am fine just being at surf camp, and I don't intend on getting back on that surfboard. We all laugh.
Well I don't know what else to write, plus thats enough, it was a great camp.....

HURRICANE DEAN "SURF CAMP #3 2007"

2007-08-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

This system reached category 5, lucky for us looking forward to this weekends surf camp #3, the "CANE" went ashore at lower latitudes in Mexico. I watched it carefully and was hoping i wouldn't have to cancel. I arrived on the beach Thursday afternoon, 24 hours ago the storm surge had 2 feet of water where our camp would be set up. The surge was gone and the beach swept beautifully clean, and all that remained were large 12 maybe some 15 foot faces, just awesome. Mr. Minor wasted little time after arrival and got his "Cane" out and into the line up, some 400 yards offshore. With my 10 foot Tide Guide Gun, I can drop into the outside bombs. Drops where vertical, waves would jack up in peaks, you had to move around out there to stay in the drop zone. Quite bumpy on the faces of this summer swell due to east winds, so not many people out here. Surfed an hour and a half before i was out of strenght.
Next morning I made the dawn patrol to meet with my big wave surf partner Kevin, there is less wind, and swell still in the 12 foot range, fairly clean and some terrific fast rail rides after long bottom turns, just what us longboarders come down here for. Saw a couple of old surf friends, makes you feel a little safer out here.
While I was out surfing some human being stole a board off the surf camp trailer. I've been doing this for 8 years, so I'm not to surprised i guess, it is one of my best boards though, a 12 foot teaching board. Constable Jim Rector filed a report, and Ranger Linda Davis and Ranger Jamie at the Ranger Station helped later in the day retrieve the board, what luck, i did not press charges against the people who had it.
First surf students in camp are Nancy and Mike, then Tiffany and her 15 year old cousin Kelsey call me after dark for directions, they where just getting off the fairy boat and i asked them if they could see the moon, and to just follow it, meaning drive east until they hit the beach, they thought that was a fun way to get to their first surf camp. Nate and Eileen arrive, and Mary Beth and her sister Kari. All students make it and i am glad we will have camp.
Saturday morning Dean is gone, however some nice rideable wind swell is up and everyone is out with me by 9:00a.m.. Four sessions are surfed, every one is doing well and with some help from Tide Guide most everyone has been able to stand up. After lunch Kelsy applied two different sun tan lotions and she had a cosmetic reaction and a slight rash on her face so she stays in camp in the shade, and Kari is a little amazed by the size of the waves and the size of the longboard i gave her, so she is just happy to watch her Big Sister Mary Beth surf. Mike is riding well and Nancy has gotten up, Eileen is a natural and Nate will not be outdone and he is going for lots of waves. Tiffany is using the Sand Dollar a 8 foot board just perfect for her and she has made some beautiful drops and carves. All is well we had a fabulous time at surf camp #3.

TIDE GUIDE "SURF CAMP" # 2

2007-07-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

ieJune 22, 23, 24. We missed the rain by one day, this has perhaps been one of the wettest summers in texas for a long long time. Also heavy winds unti today friday, so when i arrived this afternoon there where 8 to 10 foot peaks out there, pretty tough to get out and the line up was 300 yards offshore, but i went out and caught some bombs. But got a little nervous, I made a decision couple of years ago that i wouldnt surf alone when its big, since i now support a 7 year old daughter. So i was nervous because the leash i had on was old. So i rode a big one in, and drove over to the Board House and boght a new one. All guests arrived, some after dark, but all is well. Saturday morn still overcast but no rain. Shawn Shultz, this is year 4, and he had me build him a "Cane" 10 foot 2 inch just like mine. wind has dropped from yesterday, the waves are pouring in, so i get all my new guests, acquainted on shore with the etiquette of surfing and then take the new ones out on the second sand bar and watch and help them. We do 3 forty minute sessions, then take a walk together down to the fishing pier to watch other surfers from up on the deck of the pier, and to have some ice cream from the snack bar. Back for session #4. Conditions have really cleaned up, and i get, Minh Phan, Derek and Shannon Englert set up again on the 2nd bar, Shawn Girl friend Laeni is staying ashore, and Shawn and I are going out to the outside lineup. OOOOOHHHH man, this turns out to be my best session this year, clean 8 some 10 foot peaks and clean drops, i had a blast, and Shawn is picking up a couple and he is getting it. Now what is the deal with these turtles, with my head down on the deck and paddling about as hard as possible to get back out thru the impact zone, I get Konked on the head by a turtle, about as big as a Stetson, I screamed, and the monster flapped its flippers on my bald head. This happened to Davie McGaughey last month. Surf camp # 2 was excellent.

TIDE GUIDE "SURF CAMP" # 1 2007

2007-07-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

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This is Tide Guides 8th season running bonafide surf camps. 2 nights and 2 days on the beach, and surfing the shore break at Port Aransas, Texas. Very pleased to have some return surfers in camp, Jeff Mason, must be year number 4 now, he is a Hewlett Packard man during the week in Houston or somewhere on the globe, and is becoming a promising surfer. On Saturday both he and I rode a wave side by side, and in control enough to talk, so this is what makes these safari's so much fun. One of Jeff's colleages, Davie McGaughey whom hails from Scotland, was learning with us and had a sea turtle jump out of the water and land on the deck of his longboard, bumping into him. Davies girlfriend had a thick Scottish accent and a couple times i had to ask her "Could you please say that agian". We had a father, Daughter Toby and Kara Meyers with us. Kara surfed a little bit with her father Saturday, and then she became a little uncomfortable with the Sargassam Seaweed we had this trip. It was quite thick 50 feet out from shore, and she couldn't stand having it in her long pretty hair, she said, "i had to wash my hair 4 times". But she got up on the board and her father was proud of her. Troy Donovan, graduated class and rode his longboard over the 30 feet. Any one who can do this gets to sign their name on the awning in camp. So he is now in the 30 foot club. I had a chance to talk with Morgan Faulkner, we've known each other for a few years now, he runs a surf camp, and gets lots of the young kids, so he and i talk and have a good relationship. Also met Ted, the owner of the new surf shop in town. Surf camp #1 was great.

May 18-20 2007 Shell Bar Kayak Trip

2007-06-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

Tide Guide met the University of Texas, San Antonio at the usaul rendezvous, friday morning. Weather will hold, something I can tell from all these years guiding down here. Six students and my friend and UTSA assistant outdoor director Eliot Howard are all set to paddle down to Shell Bar. And we are paddling even myself this time (see: "Mr. Minor Recieves a Citation"). I have'nt paddled down there and back in ten years. I've forgiven the Game Wardens by now even.

East wind so we glide down all the way to Shell Bar. Saturday we circumnavigated Steam Boat Island during the afternoon. Eliot had been talking about Eskimo Rolling this 17' Tide Guide kayak, and while flowing with an flooding tide, thru Steamboat Pass he executed a complete role, "well done".

Wind shifted, Sunday morning and is aft of starboard beam for an easy paddle back to the marina.