FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH, SAT 04JULY2015

Foiled again...

Loc: North Churches

Time: 1400-1530

Conditions: 3 FT, onshore, uncrowded

     Last year, Bri and I walked around El Segundo with our favorite German family in the world. “I don’t want to do that this year,” said Bri a couple of days ago. I agreed. Nothing wrong with enjoying the neighborhood fireworks, but . . . we just wanted to do something else.

     Everyone had plans, solo plans, doing their own thing. I couldn’t think of anything. I would have been fine just chilling at the house, but . . . we do that everyday. Bri deserves a good Fourth. We should do something. What are we, losers? So why not hit Trestles? According to Surfline, there’s a little south swell coming in. Should be good.

#

     Since the tide is drained in the morning, and we went to bed really late, Bri and I take our time and hit the road around 0900. High tide’s also at noon, but we’re not really expecting much swell today. It’s all about tomorrow the fifth that the swell is supposed to fill in.

     When we get to Churches, we’re surprised to see how vacant the beach is, maybe not by normal standards but definitely for a holiday. It’s overcast. The tide’s swamped out, but despite the onshore wind, the water’s still clean. Soft peaks are breaking, and a handful of longboarders are getting their fill. Looks promising. We Vox Klaude and call Rick, letting them know that the swell’s already showing.

     The plan is to set up shop right in front of North Churches, our favorite spot. There’s no rush. The tide’s gonna go down in a couple of hours, so we snack, read, and enjoy the sun. About an hour in, the wind picks up, and the surf turns choppy. A few people paddle out, but they have to manufacture all of their rides. The magic left’s not working. A few rights section out but hold shape for pumps and some carves, good for regular footers. Those racy sections are manageable on my forehand, but I surf those like shit on my rear.

     The wind settles a little, so we paddle out around 1400, mid tide. The new swell’s starting to show more. Sets are coming in at four feet. Non-classic, long lines roll in. No signature Churches’ peaks. I hate the idea of coming all the way down here for surf and getting skunked. At least Bri’s on a good board for the way it’s breaking. Anything resembling shape is catchable for her.

     After an hour and a half, we get out and wait for the surf to improve on the tide push, but it doesn’t. Something about the angle. Swell’s coming in too lined up. Or . . . it’s just nature. Sometimes you get it when it’s good and sometimes you don’t. Surfline’s not always right.

     So we get skunked on The Fourth, but for what it’s worth we had a nice time sitting on the beach. I read through a magazine and a couple of short stories from a book. Everything’s closed for dinner, so we end up at Denny’s. Meanwhile, Klaude Voxes me and says that local was pretty fun this morning. It’s okay though because tomorrow we’re gonna score.

#

     It’s July 5^th, 0515, and we’re up. We repack the wagon and deflate the air mattress. Pulling up to Churches, all the parking’s already taken. The tide’s drained out. It’s overcast. There’s a light onshore wind, and the surf . . . it hasn’t changed. Yesterday’s swell was the new swell. It’s coming in the same, too lined, no peaks, no shape.

     We take a gangster vote and make an O.G. call to head back to the South Bay. Yesterday was good, so today should be better with the swell officially here.

     We make it to Manhattan Beach fast, and before us, looking down the hill at the beach, are crumbly, low tide, two-foot drainers. It just . . . it’s fucking horrible.

     We bum it the rest of the day at home. We’re not going anywhere, save picking up some groceries. Rick went up north to Point Mugu solo, the only person I know who actually caught decent surf today.

     And was the call going down south worth it? Maybe you don’t have to celebrate the fourth or leave the house to do anything. The surf might be where you already are.