Is it a bird..?

How did Champagnekate go at Scotts? That is the question on everyone's mind. Surfing off the point...or did the Nor-Easter wreck it for everyone? That blasted wind certainly made for some bumpy waves on Sunday. The Grommet had me out at Red Head (my second frustrating session that day) in the afternoon where I managed to have a nice chat whilst bobbing round and watching her plummet head long into shore dump. You have no fear when you are a grom. Thats how she got all those waves and I didn't. You know how it is.

At least thats my story.

Meanwhile, Surferboy is keen. The kind of keen that he'll happily go surfing with his mum keen. God I love that. Thats the benefit of being a surfermum hey? Not many kids get to say (proudly I hope) they went surfing with their mum.

On the particular session photographed above he was surfing with his old man. How I laughed through the viewfinder when I saw I had taken a photo of Surferboy flying.

SM

To Die for

The surfermum Honeycomb Icecream recipe:

(A traditional surfermum weekend away desert)

To make the honeycomb, put 75g castor sugar (doncha hate recipes that requrie you to weigh stuff? I just guess this bit!) and 2 tbsp golden syrup into a pan and warm until the sugar dissolves, then turn up the heat until it starts to form a caramel. The longer yuo leave it the more caramelly it becomes, but don't leave it too long as it will burn. You want it golden.

Now, chuck in 2tbspns sifted bicarbonate of soda (don't be heavy handed with this or you will end up with the bitter taste of bicarb) and stir well, then pour onto baking paper and allow to cool. It will look like a big brown lump.

For the ice cream, whip 600ml cream until it becomes thick, but not fully whipped. Fold in the secret ingredient - 3 tbspn vodka - and 200ml condensed milk and whisk until firm. You can use less vodka if there are kids involved, 1-2 tbspn will still do the trick. Lets face it, you are unlikely to get away with this with your kids in the house! Break up the honeycomb into bits and fold it into the ice cream. Freeze for at least 8 hours - there's no need to churn.

Proven to impress friends.
SM

Credit goes to the "Accidental vegetarian" for this recipe. Thanks Simon Rimmer.

Another fine day in paradise

Glassy conditions at Crescent- a little smaller but oh so clean, alot warmer and no crowds - what a fine way to finish a magic week!!

Great to be alive!! by the travelling surfer Bel.

Sooo Great to be alive!! A girls surfing weekend surrounded by fabulous women with just enough time to unpack, repack and head to Crescent with my family. With the promise of a southerly change on the way the vibe and anticipation was palpable...and so it delivered. Wednesday arvo proved to be not for the light hearted because of the freezing currents and cold winds a blowin' but you cannot let a good wave go by. To add to the pain wetsuit was still wet from the morning brrrrr... I swear my bones were so cold they were playing tunes that I last heard at Carla's jam session!! Thursday just got better and better with the sun even peeping out at times to thaw our blood in readiness for another session. The length of those rides will keep me dream'n all through the night. Home tomorrow but not before we embrace the surfing lifestyle for one more day until we can do it all again........ Sooooo Great to be Alive - I Love My Life............

Cheers to the super surfermums for a fabulous weekend.

It was rather fortuatous of me to secure a spot at the Cellito Surf Classic on the Surfermums Smiths Lakes Surfing/Yoga/Laughter weekend. My absolute favourite part of weekend was of course the visiting possum-I'm sure everyone would agree-ha ha ha ha ha

Another Excellent Weekend

What a brilliant weekend!
Once again the surf gods looked kindly upon the little Mobsters and let there be just enough surf for us - but not enough to attract many others. Ahh...thats what we like - Cellito to ourselves.

Look out for footage of the Grom who will turn up in a surfer movie very soon. She got so many great waves that she is considering surfing on the MumPro tour. :)

Here she is conquering one of her fears: a cute and cuddly possum. Yes, believe it or not, she will drop down 6 foot waves without a second thought but should a possum rub up against her leg she will jump out of her skin.


Excellent food, fabulous company, and perhaps a little more laughing than usual this time. Thanks Jules. Thank you Batgirl for the champagne, and thankyou to the lovely surfermums. You make excellent fun.
SM

Girls -please send any photos you would like on the blog. And don't forget to comment. And your dog. ;)

The birthday bash!

What a great night Champagnekate! Nice to celebrate in style with gorgeous people.

What a handsome couple!
Note the champagne cork and combi in the hairdo at the end of the night.


Some people!
SM

Another day in Paradise

 Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NoNo Its a WHALE!!!!!! A few whales put on a nice performance for us ladies this morning.

 Even though it was small,the sunshine and clear waters gave us no choice but to follow its orders and head in. Nice shot of the board Bel.......

Shell watching how its done..... Nah.. She caught a beautiful green wave today,all the way in...... 

I love Melbourne

I haven't taken any surfing photos lately. Has anyone got any they would like to submit? Nevertheless I have taken a few Melbourne snaps after Husband and I spent a couple of nights there to see the Vienna Art and Design exhibition. The exhibition was fab, but Melbourne is just sensational! I love the the trams, the shopping, the MCG precinct, and how centrally located everything seems to be. We saw Ned Kelly's armour, free outdoor music, discovered a brilliant underground bar (I am sure there are millions of them!) that sold Heinekin for $10 a jug!, and got kicked out of the MCG!

When I say kicked out, what I mean is that we were walking past the MCG after one of their semi finals, the place was locked up except for the open 'members' door. Of course, not being one to miss an opportunity, Husband suggested we cruise in, make our way down to the pitch and check it out. This all sounded fine. To me. Not to the paranoid security guard who thought we were terrorists. Some friendly Geelong members insisted to him that we were their guests and managed to smuggle us over to gaze down at the hallowed turf. Then we got kicked out.

Everything is abuzz in the lead up to the big event this weekend! Champagnekate is turning 21 again and it should be a blast! See you there.

SM

How good was the weekend?!!

Oh joy, oh joy! I live for weekends now. And they don't come much better than this.

This weekend provided the perfect conditions for surfermums to finally get out in the water - no soccer, no netball and hot nor-westers that force you to hit the beach. Most surfermums took the opportunity to hit the waves - I think I saw them all this weekend bar the Grommie, who no doubt was surfing in some secret spot honing her skills to showcase on the girls weekend away. Yes, the big weekend is coming up. Stay posted for details, its gonna rip!
SM

Just another day in Paradise!

After a 16km bike ride around our local area,tri-athelete surfermum and tri-hard surfermum had no energy left to carry boards into the crystal clear redhead waters!! Save that for another day.

I have no photo to prove it but pirate wench surfermum and the french maid ventured into the waters on Tuesday morning to surf Blackhead Point,. We didn't get a lot but veteran Steve Smith and Jimmy were seen catching waves from way out back all the way into the shore. Awesome!!!

Ahh Spring..!

Got some nice waves at my local this morning. Check out the big fella doing the carve. It's good when you get it...
SM

Too Funny!

Thank you to my beautiful friends and family. We drummed, we laughed, we ate and drank. This is why I love you.
SM

Waves at Red Head...ssh, don't tell anyone.

Finally got a pre-work-morning-surf yesterday! And at the dignified time of 9am - I love a post bus stop surf! Annie and I finally made good of that bank at Red Head that has had the better of us lately. You know the one I mean Franbaby?

I know you all would have been pondering on the big question of what to where to the big party?! I am going with a furry creature theme. For no apparent reason. So far I have heard of a genie, a warthog, someone with the cooky idea of wearing the colours of the rubix cube, and someone else in a hot pink 70's ski suit. Only one of these is true.

So, what are you wearing? Am I going to have to amuse myself here?!

Rest assured that if your outfit is too flambouyant for drumming, you can step into it post drums.

SM

PS. Northcoast Surfermums - you absence will be noted. :)

August Surf Report

Hi Ladies, another glorious day here at Hallidays – sun is shining, warmth has returned and the swell well it’s not cooperating, it has disappeared....... the picture says it all........

So what’s a MOBster to do??? Dust off the other equipment in the shed that also starts with a B. Yep AC Turv and I hit the local tracks on the mountain bikes.

We had a glorious 1 ½ hour ride – aim was Tuncurry Tip, via the back road....up hills, carrying bikes over fences, (don’t tell Land Care), over fallen logs, through and around puddles, getting bogged in the sand, crashing into the bracken – oh what fun! Yes this was an epic morning (nearly got to the Tip, but the girly bits were objecting). My companion rode extremely well, I’m impressed, learnt how to use the gears all 24 of them, getting on and off, riding with no hands – yes it was done (not telling for how long as you had to be there) I can see another ‘Annie’sconnedus’ Anaconda MOB Team in the making!

We finished off our ride with a leisurely swim – laps in the Blackhead pool (had to wash the mud off) before heading home for a much needed snack/lunch shower and rest ready for work.

Fingers crossed the swell improves, as the water temp and weather are too good and the girly bits need a break!

Whaddup Acturvs?

I reminded myself of Batgirl today. It wasn't because I was stylishly carving S bends on the face of waves, and it wasn't because I was doing the grapevine along my board, hanging ten, then doing the grapevine back. It was because I had a child on the beach eating their breakfast before school while I went surfing!

She poured her hot milk out of the thermos, sugared the weetbix and contentedly sat in the light of the rising sun and ate brekky. God love her, then she did her homework! Thats the kind of place we live in. One person walked past with a dog, the noisy swimmers (you know who I mean?) were down the beach a little, and other than that, the place was ours.

Of course Champagnekate caught the first and best wave, while middle child and I watched in awe. Her hair was blown back by the speed of the wave and we just saw her disappear off towards shore. Noice.

What of the Acturvs? Where are you Cathy? Can you post...or comment? Post a picture if you can.

Had a surf in the middle of Blackie the other afternoon. Husband (bless im) rang me at work to tell me he was going surfing with Middle Child. I was to get home quick and run down the beach in my wettie, then he would give me his board and he would run home in order to go and pick up Youngest from school excursion. Franbaby saw me run off down the road like a mad woman and politely refrained from telling me that Id forgotten my board. :) Its days like these...

SM

“Surf Diamond Reef great! Coming??” - a word from Annie

- a no time for cameras so thought this is close enough

Ok Mobette’s,
Tuesday – the day three of us head out to get some waves – what a morning – after a big weekend, for me that is – Tri season has finished and so did I – another challenge conquered.
Haven’t surfed the reef in ages – at 8.54am I received a text message from ACTurv
“Surf Diamond Reef great! Coming??”
Well I’d had just showered, washed and blow dried my hair.... all ready for a hard slog working on the computer..... What’s a girl to do...... Get amongst it like any one would, and I did. Nice full waves, first wave, it’s been a while, so a couple of strong paddles and up I pop, easy as, carve some turns lefts and rights, the wave continues, wow, what a feeling – a smile, a grin appears on the face and wow, cut back off the wave and paddle out to do it again.
Next wave, Sullo says, “it’s yours, get in the zone”, it was a good wave, again I paddle and pop up, wow, this is big – fast and full – wooo hooo – carve a few turns, it goes on and on, now the white wash is catching me, wave closes out, but I keep riding – the power, the beauty of the sea....... the grin is bigger this time. I paddle out again, to see ACTurv and Jules catch one in together – what a morning. Got out the back, behind the break, the blokes were impressed – they even said so – said the wave’s face was 8-9 foot – it was bigger than me (I’m 5’3”) – ahhh, now we girls know that blokes don’t go around and say things like that!, especially to you out there behind the break. Now I’m sitting here ready to start work feeling like nothing else matters..... I can still see the wave, the sun glistening across the face of the wave, the warm water..... good friends – at peace with the world.......

Hello Hello!

Last night I did a really fun thing. REALLY FUN! Eldest and I saw The Cat Empire play at The Enmore Theatre! It was such a blast, the place was jumping! And I mean that literally -the old floorboards were bouncing people all over the place! These guys play such a fun brand of music you can't help but groove and bounce. They brought the house down! (not literally but I wouldn't put it past the old Enmore!)



There's the spiritual leader Harry (he sometimes looks like he is praying when he holds the microphone with two hands at his chest, head bowed) with his alternate vocal sounds, amazing magic trumpet, and damn clever lyrics. Felix, does as damn fine job of being the clean cut front man - sexy voice, reggae drums, and fabulously gorgeous! Combine this with the other exceptional talents (drums!! keyboard!! double bass!! DJ dude! trumpet! trombone!) and you can't help but bump and groove with a smile on your face! It was great to see these guys enjoying themselves too. They would smile and nod in time with the drum/keyboard solo admiringly - like they enjoyed making this music! Ya gotta love it.

More smiling, more music please.

I'm alive, I’m alive, Im alive,
and my eyes want to cry,
and the night and the sky is so high
and life is sublime...

They play funky, earthy fun. You can't help but jump... Think I'll get them for my 40th. They'll come wont they??

SM
Going off to ring Felix.

Delightful Mother's Day

This day last year I was stuck in front of this computer screen studying all day long while other mums were surfing in the lovely Autumn sunshine. I hoped next years would be better.

Well, it was! Today I had the best Mother's Day ever! It started off with green eggs and ham in bed this morning. Thank you Dr Zeuss and those guys on tele that inspired my family to prepare this lovely breakfast (well, me really - I had it all organised so that they couldn't go wrong. ;) The green comes from spinach and parsley - not creme de menth as Husband suggested!

Then we went surfing at Crowdy with Acturv and co. Husbands minded kids and mums lolled about in the perfect conditions and leisurely tried our hands at a few right handers. Of course we pulled these off easily and would've pleased the crowd no end - had there been any people there! We almost had the place to ourselves. Its good if you can get it.

It was a classic Autumn day today - the sun warm and the water delightful. I hope all surfermums had a lovely day today whatever they did. And credit goes to the husbands for their contribution to making it possible. They know how we need to be spoiled now and then eh? ;)

SM

Dreaming

Finally got this photo off my silly videocam.This is the place where you walk down all the stairs past the shops/restaurants that have been built on the edge of the cliff for the tourist trade, and eventually you find steps leading down to the inside of a cave. It was low tide when we were and we walked through the cave (sandy bottom) and its like a mini beach - you just paddle out. The best part about it though was looking back up at the white cliffs all around, its awesome. I could see the chapel which I forgot to look for when I was back on land and didn't see again. Silly of me not to take the waterproof camera down and get a shot. Anyway, its in my mind.

Have settled back into regular life and all is going well. Sea is big - too big for me but maybe it will change the shape of the banks and we will get some fun out of it eventually.

Heres hoping.

SM
PS. My thoughts and love go out to our Pommy MOB member and her Mum.

Bye bye Bali

Catching the red eye express tonight and not looking forward to it! 11.15pm flight plus lose 2 hours in time and then drive 4 hours home. Fun.

Hopefully we will be exhausted enough not to notice. We went white water rafting today and it was hell fun! Middle child has found his future vocation - as a white water rafting instructor. You get to have this kinda fun every day!

Bali has alot going for it, there is so much to do - diving, surfing, shopping, eating, rafting, biking and all that stuff. And there are no flies! (mozzies have not been a problem, touch wood) The only problem is the humidity, oh, and the traffic. I won't miss that. And also I am a little sick of nasi goreng and mie goreng and all the other gorengs. But it has been fun...and it will be nice to get home too.

Got lotsa photos but alot are on the other camera and didn't bring the connection... So check out the cheeky monkey from the monkey forest and the Ayung River gorge - Awesome!!

C U soon.
SM

More from Ubud

Went to the Monkey Forest yesterday - those little critters are ferocious when they see a banana! Middle child freaked out with one on his head - it was very funny.

I did a cooking course this morning and we made some amazing food. Husband now has grand expectations about bali food when we return home Small world story - there were only 20 of us in the course but I met someone I know from Wingham with her daughter. We are meeting this afternoon for a drink and swim at an apparently fabulous hotel and amazing pool. Should be fun.

The balinese are such happy people, we have learnt alot about their culture and traditions. I can see why people come here, they have a happy, peaceful aura. We could all learn to slow down and smile like the balinese.

Good to hear from Acturv on the previous posts comment section. I love to hear what the MOB get up to while I'm away. Has Batgirl been out at the Reef? Has Champagnekate moved into the mansion? What about Belbird and her Wave child, are they getting waves? Talk to me.
(Girls - Just sign in with a google account and make a New Post. There are no rules. Post a picture if you like. Have a play.)

SM

Ubud is gorgeous

Had a magic day in the mountains behind Ubud today. We had breakfast overlooking an active volcano (there was steam coming out!) and a beautiful elevated lake layng between volcanoes. Then we cycled down through the villages - 25 km! and then had a gorgeous lunch in the rice paddies.

Two days ago we were in Sanur where Molly and Ned and Bill went out in a boat the the reef and went surfing. After a tour of the reef (there weren't enough boards and after my day of days at Uluwatu I didn't care that I wasn't surfing!) I lay on the beach and had a massage and my nails done. Nice.

Food is fab, the hotel we are in now in Ubud is built into the side of the cliff that overlooks the river. It is truly gorgeous, very old and very balinese.

White water rafting tommorow and maybe some more shopping...

SM
Anyone brave enough to write on the blog?? Someone please tell Franbaby to have a read here because her email keeps bouncing back. Theres more photos but they take too long to download... how do you make em smaller?

Hope you are getting good waves. :)

Ya gotta go there!

Went surfing at Uluwatu yesterday - it was awesome!! It is the most amazing place I have seen so far in Bali. It is off the beaten track a little in the far southern tip of Bali, a mountainous area where the cliff edge drops away into crystal clear water and there are perfect left handers rolling in every moment.

I have never before been up close and personal to such fantastic surfers (except when I have been surfing with the MOB of course). I was alongside these Balinese boys whilst they were inside big barrels and yet I could just paddle a little way out of danger - just like it looks in the surfing films. They would hoot and holler in balinese to each other and were such a physical presence - cutting and thrusting, shooting out spray at anyone who looked like dropping in - that I don't know if it was deliberate to intimidate others (this was after all their break) or if that was just them at play. I have never seen anything like these guys in the surf - they were throwing their boards around like frisbees and shooting 10 feet into the air off the back of the wave when they were finished with it - hooting all the time. And then they grin at you. Cute.

To get to this spot you have to climb down the cliff. There are stairs that take you down through the restaurants that look out over this gorgeous piece of paradise and when you get to the bottom you swim out through a cave and paddle over the reef. Looking back up at the white cliffs is a perspective I was very pleased to have seen. It is quite special. So glad we had Danny and Gillian with us too because they were happy to have a couple of beers in the restaurant with the kids while Husband and I had a surf. And there are guys who take photos and sell them to you -so I had to buy the one of Husband and I on the same wave! What a memory! It was a very special day. When I go to an internet cafe I will try and put it up here.

Now, I would like one of you Mob/Bobsters to get on this blog and post some news of Australia. What is going on over there? Any waves? Come on...tell me.
SM

Greetings from Canguu, Bali

I am sitting in a little thatched roof hut writing this to you and the rain is so heavy that there is a constant drip of rain on my shoulder. Should I be worried? I'll just move a little to the left... Thats better. The modern asian experience huh?

Husband and I went surfing at Canguu twice today. The first time I was a little worried - but managed to act cool under pressure and pulled off a few impressive moves in front of an international crowd...

Actually it was just Husband and I and a pommie guy who was down the way a bit. But the point is - I did it! I surfed Canguu. This afternoon was bigger - 6 to 8 foot and I had a go at a gentler break but spent most of the time testing out the strength of my leg rope as I dived for cover under a couple of large sets. After that I hit the beach for a Bintang and watched Husband surf (the good wifey that I am).

Let me just say at this point that the beaches here at Canguu do not compare with what we have at home for beauty and clean water and white sand. The thing is though, there are fantastic waves everywhere you look! And big! And watching these guys surf is a spectacle in itself. You know how good Champagnekate surfs a right hander off the Rock? Well, these guys are almost that good!!

The food is fantastic and the smell is wafting over to me right now, so I will go eat some yummy indo tucker and get back to you another time.

Hope the surf is good with you.
SM
PS - Cant seem to upload photos... will work on it later.
Later: Nuh. It aint gonna do it. You will just have to imagine.

Surfermums get together

Crowdy Gap was picture perfect this morning - smooth, warm ocean, perfect little left and rights and no-one around for miles. Husband and I outlasted the kids - I love it when the kids are waiting patiently on the beach for the parents to have their fun and get out of the surf! You know all is right with the world when this happens. I hope there were lots of surfermums carving 'em up at Diamond this morning..?

Friday night was a blast! The company was fab but I gotta say I loved my champagne, 1/2 pizza, 1/2 tiramisu and coffee! Girl food huh? And very Italian I think. Twas great to see all nine surfermums there in one spot. That doesn't happen very often these days. And we wish Laura and her mum all the best over the next little while. Mums are very important. More than words can say.

Did you know there is a ripple of disquiet begining over the naming of the MOB. An underground rebel group wants to ditch the Mum title and replace it with Babes...or was it Boobs? Fair enough I say. I'm not in charge of the MOB, I only like to write about them.

I like the fact that we had our kids and then decided it wasn't enough to be minding them on the beach. We wanted a piece of the action! And in true Mum spirit we headed out and did it the mum way. Not with egos or testosterone - but with each other, a healthy sense of humour and absolutely no care for hair or makeup! I kinda think its the mum bit that makes our group special. And think of all the school holidays when we have been out surfing with our tribe. Theres been times when there has been 20 of us from ages 8 to... well, we won't mention. Now, that is childminding! Our kids will remember surfing with their mums. How good is that? My surferboy loves it!

After all these years (it has been years you know girls!) I think we surf pretty good, we have fun with it, and we never ever take it too seriously. Its just play. MOBS/BOBS whatever!

:) SM

PS. We need some new surfing pictures here. Anyone?

It's a Date!!

MOB Dinner Date

Friday 1st April

At the Bella

7pm

Let Carla or Kate know asap!!!

Surfermums take charge

Righto you lot!

By now you should have recieved your invitation to make your mark on the Surfermum blog - so let the world know what your Surfermum brain is thinking, upload photos at will (anything incriminating and you will be struck off, y'hear!), and get interactive!

Its easy. Just be polite, DONT YELL! (unless you mean to) and first names only, ok? Should be fun huh? Come on...who's going to be first? Sign in with your email address and then go to Posting and make a New Post (I think. Ring or email me with probs)

Waiting...
SM

Champs Again!

We did it again! Alan and the mighty Red Head Roar managed to sneak over the line millimetres ahead of the Odd Bods in the annual Community Dragon Boat event final to take victory for the second time running! We overcame a panicked start to find our usual faultless rhythm and seemed to come from behind to charge at the finish line. It came down to the wire in the end - what with the chop on the water, and the wind in our ears, it was hard to tell who won for a while! (How bout those clichés heh? I think I got them all in.)

Of course, there must be no doubt the underlying strength of the Roar can be partly attributed to a handful of Surfermums (Cathy, Fran, Annie, and yours truly) who had masses of pent up energy from frustrating weekends without surf. ;)

And, um, those big blokes might've helped too.

Thank you to Alan and the crew for making a long day worth it in the end - I hope there won't be too many sore heads in the morning. And thankyou to all of our supporters...mostly the kids -who had a blast playing in the river for a change!

SM

Surf was rubbish anyway.

A night at Frenchy's

New year, new job, kids sport, a 4oth one week, a fiftieth the next... is everyone in the same whirlwind that I am in? I haven't stopped since that wild French Maid had us all drinking cocktails in the pool with our eyelashes and wigs still on!

And, yes, we had our clothes on too!

It was an all star cast - John and Yoko, Capt'n Jack Sparrow, Mark Antony, and that pale faced hooded guy from "The Da Vinci Code" (did no one else pick that??!) And I must mention the special guest appearance by Darth Vader, who went home a couple of kilos lighter by sweating it out in that outfit! Impressive for February. A naughty school girl jumped in the pool in her uniform along with that crazy Yoko while the two gypsies looked into their crystal ball and foresaw that their destiny lay on the lounge with a strict rotation of creamy cocktails placed in their hands. Now and then that Angel from the cream cheese add would drift down with a dreamy look in her eyes (or was that from the new man she had on her arm..?), slug a cocktail down and drift off again into the night.




Quote of the night: A bold Movie Director was introduced to a buxom Pirate Wench and noticed the beautiful tattoo on her left bosom. "Is that real?" he asked pointing at the tattoo on her breast. "Yes," she replied with a gleam in her eye and indicated to her other breast, "and this ones real too!" ;)






Check out Yoko on the left - typical of her to be slurping the dregs out of the Daiquiri bucket at the end of the night, don't you think?

Oh well, the surf is rubbish but life is good. I start late on Wednesdays so will hopefully see some of you in the water.

Most interesting cocktail? A Martian Hard-on! Green and creamy...*#@*!
SM

Surfing The Pass @ Byron Bay

What fun! What fun! Took the family surfing at Byron (twice!) while visiting friends at Mullumbimby during the week, it was fantastic! The water was turquoise and warm, I had to shed my wetsuit top and go cossies and boardies. I love it when its like that. (Still managed to look like a surfing dag with hat n' all- but it was fun!)

All the way home I was trying to work out how I can arrange a girls surfing trip up there. I'm picturing a house at Wategoes beach ($$$!) and up at dawn to be the first (only?!) surfers out there for a time. That would be awesome! It is soooo good for long boards. You gotta do it girls.

The only problem is the amount of other surfers who also think its awesome. You get the grommets who are so madly paddling in a world of their own and don't look ahead and nearly paddle into you; you get the stand up paddle boards which are as wide as a bus and their owners think they own the wave (one dickhead consistently would paddle straight toward me as if I wasnt there - I just wiggled my little finger at him and all us girls nodded in agreement). Then there are the dive boats that are constantly taking tourists out to see the under water sights at Julian Rocks. And there are also groups of out of control canoeists who think they can surf the waves into shore. Two of these happy (but lethal) killers nearly took me out and were thrown out of the boat, but popped up (damn those life jackets!) with huge grins on their faces like killing random surfers was the best fun ever!!

But, on a positive note, there were plenty of girl surfers (yay!) carving their way up and down the Bay. These women were really stylin' up, even Byron Bill noted there were some damn good surfer gals out there (Gee thanks Bill!! hee hee).

Byron Bill was bought a beaded necklace and told to mellow out man! which he did nicely. At one stage we had Byron Bill, Big Bad Ben, Magic Morgan and Snazzy Shaz under the tree at the Beach Hotel sippin on cold beers while the other gals did some quick shoppin. The kids were getting their kicks on free cans of Monster over the road in the park. After a hard morning of surfing The Pass, it don't get much better.

Ned Boy, exhausted and sun burnt, but fully self actualised from surfing with Jack and Blake at Byron Bay, said it was the best day of his life. Thats him in the picture above. Nice.

SM