Break 12- Point Impossible

Thursday 30th 2010 and I plan to set out early from home at 6.45.  The day gets off to a weird start when I go out the front and move Sue's car into the street,  then go inside to get my Board on the roof.  The next thing the paper is chucked high into the driveway from a car that delivers the paper.  The driver is watching the paper fly up across the driveway and into our rosebush on the right hand side and you guessed it - he drives straight into Sue's car parked in the street.  It was like something out of a british comedy series or one of those funniest home video shows.  I couldn't believe it!  The driver was a young bloke and he was in a mixture of shock and clear annoyance with himself for doing something so stupid.  Fortunately he was only going about 10 km an hour and so no harm to him and Sue's car has a decent wack and scratches on the rear bumper.  I hope it's not an omen for the day.

I decide to go by myself today as I have headed off early (it's pretty near impossible in school holidays to get Sam up before 10.00 am).  Today, I thought I would try 13th Beach down on the west coast at Barwon Heads, just before you get to Ocean Grove (Break no.2).  13th is a beach break and very reliable for waves - they moved the Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro there one year and its about an hour and a half drive from Melbourne (about 110 km I guess down the Geelong freeway most of the way).   I make pretty good time and am driving into the car park at 13th a bit after 8.30.  It's not a great site - the waves are messy and the high tide is not making it any better either.  I drive along the further car parks and whilst there are a few out, it is too rough for me and I decide to try Point Impossible, which is further down heading towards Torquay. 

It takes about 15 mins to get to Point Impossible which is down a sealed dirt track, signposted Point Impossible on the road between Barwon Heads and Torquay.  Point Impossible is a rocky reef break with the river on left of the car park and more rocks on the right eventually turning into some beach about 30 meters up on the right.  The steps from the car park lead down to a rocky foreshore and then its a paddle out the back.  The waves are breaking about 30 meters out, straight in front of the car park and its a right hander break. 

I should mention that today I'm trying the new Board I got for Christmas from Sue and the boys - its a 9'1'' McTavish Fireball and it looks fanatastic.  It was an unbelievable present and I was blown away to receive it.  Here's some information on the fireball and I'll post a picture of my Board at a later date http://www.mctavish.com.au/custom-fireball.php .  Specal thanks to the guy at Mordy surf for helping Sue pick out the Board and also for my Board bag and some tips when I went to pick up the Board - it's a great shop and check it out if your ever down that way, as they were super friendly and helpful. 

I head out, having spent a couple of minutes waxing up the new Board.  There's a decent break between sets which makes it easy to get out and the waves are about 1 meter.  I have my booties on which was a good move because it's very rocky under foot on the way out.  There's five people out - three of old blokes, like me on longboards, a young fella on a shortboard and a woman of 30-40 on a 7'6" or 8 foot board.  The waves roll in, in good sets of 3 to 4 and so there's plenty of opportunity to get a wave to yourself.  I try a smaller wave that comes through, paddle hard, just get on and keep paddling and I'm away, get up quickly and move right, then turn up and down the face and try and head through the whitewater to the rebreaking wave but crash out.  A good ride and I'm so impressed with the Board - steady to get up, but also it really enabled me to get onto the wave in the first place.   I spend about 45 mins out and get another 3 or 4 good rides and do a fair bit of paddling.  It's a really good surf and add Point Impossible to your list of destinations down the West coast.   I'm getting out with my Board, when I slip and wack my Board against a rock - sure enough I've put a ding in it, about half way up on the face and it's an indentation that will need some ding repair goo wacked into it.  I guess that was on the cards given this mornings omen. 

I get changed and head into Torquay to get a ding repair kit and breakfast - Torquay is about 10-15 mins.  I have breakfast opposite the surfshop set up on the highway at a place called Bomboras and it's very good - a coffee and bacon and egg roll all for under $10!  Break 12 down and it's time to head home.  The goal is twenty to twenty five before the end of January and then that will leave 25- 30 in 6 and a bit months and I reckon that is doable, but we will have to wait and see.