Well , well ole dawgs it’s been a while since we touched base . The lock down continues over here ,but it’s a lot looser than Melbourne ,that’s for sure . Schools , offices , gyms and organised sport are still shut off . Restaurants are open as long as they can provide outside dining . It’s kinda cool with the streets set up alfresco style .While it’s still warm I think this has added to the ambience . The streets are abuzz , providing a sense of positivity that is dearly needed .Can I say that this is safe or full proof ? I think I’ll keep my head in the sand on that one .We are allowed to travel anywhere within the state or country . The road trip has been the holiday of choice . I’ve heard the renting of motor homes has gone through the roof . Without organised sport it’s like the kids have had to step back in time and play how we ( gen x’s) used to . It’s bikes , skateboards and surf boards to the fore …. that’s when you get them off their electronics .
The kids are back to online school but before that we’ve been very outdoorsy . There’s been day trips to new surf locations .Newport beach ….tick that box . I was impressed with the mini point breaks ,punchy sandbars and I was truly blown away by the standard of the kids down there . I’ve never seen better and that’s something I didn’t want to admit . ……No photos of this joint as yours truly was too busy in the water . We also hit Dana Point , another spot just over an hour south of us . I’d remembered this location from the 1st summer we got here when a woman long boarding was attacked by a great white shark . Her leg was badly mauled . Leroy had already done a couple of previous day trips with friends .
The day I joined Leroy and his mates Dana Point exceeded my expectations . It was prettier than I had imagined . White sands , beautiful green water , palm trees , gentle rolling waves , kids , girls , lots of girls surfing . There’s an out door cafe and bar perfectly set up in front . If you’re not catching waves , you’re washing down a beer gazing out to those who do . I long boarded on Billy’s spare board . Just as we hit the water there’s a bit of a commotion on the beach . A poor seal had hauled himself onto the shore with his side completely bitten out .Ahhh well there’s a thousand out , I’ll take my chances , the kids too . It turns out to be a great day . Dana point is a cool surf town ,a great spot for kids and families and yes ….there is wildlife in the water but I’d definitely go back .
Fate would have it that our new neighbours in the back alley would just happen to be Australian . Dan , Mimi and young Fox moved in just before the lockdown . Dans a keen surfer . He invites me to go camping down at San Onofre with his work buddies ( an architectural firm ) . I say yes and I hate fucking camping .
San Onofre is a stretch of loamy cliffs that sit along side a major freeway on the way to San Diego . If you’ve ever driven along here you may have noticed the tents . The military base Camp Pendleton is on one side of the freeway ,on the other side sits a nuclear power plant . a It’s an imposing site . The camp sites are really just a small 5m by 5 m space at the edge of a bitumen car space that runs parallel to the back of scrubby dunes . I sleep in the car . After long boarding for hours , drinking shitloads , dropping a gummy I get 3 hours of broken sleep . Fuck I hate camping .
The following day we surf again . Mercifully we call it quits and go home a night early . Yep it was fun , good company too but you can keep sleeping on a shitty mattress , sharing two toilets with 100 campers ,the constant dirt , sand and shit stuck between your toes , ears and arse hole ..Camping is over rated .San Onofre ….it’s over rated too .
There you go pups , I’m probably rubbing your noses in it a bit , but our lockdowns a bit different to Australia’s . I guess time will tell as to who has the right approach . At the moment we aren’t doing it too bad ….that is until we get sick , the odds say it’s more likely over here .
aussiehowieinla 