Saturday 21st May and off the back of surfing Woolamai and with it being mid tide I decide to check out a few of the breaks on the Island. My venturing round to Flynns reef and surfies point proves fruitless however as there is not enough swell. In the end I head to Forrest Caves which is about 2 or 3 kms down from Woolamai, righ off the main Phillip Island Rd. Forrest Caves must have one of the ugliest approaches you will ever find to a beach - it sits on a desolate stretch of the main road and you enter down a dirt road into a car park behind grassy dunes with no view of the beach. It's very uninviting. Today however, climbing up the steep step to the platfrom lookout to the beach, the actual beach looks fantastic - skies are blue and you can see down both ways from the beach across the numerous breaks the Isalnd has. The swell is slightly more consistent, on the fuller tide but the off-shore breeze has picked up and so the sets are holding up a bit. There are about 10-15 blokes out but stretched across three group spots in the water.
I head out straight from the bottom of the stairs to the beach and get out the back smoothly - I really notice the water temp on my hands paddling out (it's down to 15 at the moment in Melbourne) but I am quickly warmed up. Again I just enjoy feeling the sun and looking at the magnificent day. I struggle to catch a wave as they either hold up on me or I give way to blokes on the inside. Eventually I get two in pretty quick succession and the waves are breaking right with some good rides if you nail the take off in right position - one of my rides does this and I go down the line right, keeping low to get some speed up and take it right down the line before it breaks and crashes. I have more long periods of near misses and just flat spots before the highlight of my day is watching a bloke in his early forties I reckon nail a 1 metre wave and go hard and low right and just about tube it - it's a great ride and both myself and another bloke out talk to him about it. He doesn't think he tubed it but in his own words "it was a beauty, mate". I get a small ride and after 50 or so minutes out decide to call it quits and come in.
A good day all round and with 15 more breaks to go I think doubling up is the only way I'm going to make it.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Break 34 - Woolamai, Phillip Island
May 21st and it's a ripper day in Melbourne. Perfect Autumn day with sun out, reasonably clear, blue skies, a light wind and termperature is about 20 degrees Celsius. It's Phillip Island again today as the forecast is for waves between 1/2 to 1 metre and long waits between sets. I head off about 8.00 am, travelling solo and the low tide was also at 8.00 am.
I get to the Island in about 90 mins., the road is great and the trip would be even quicker if there wasn't always road works somewhere on the trip. I head to Woolamai and turn into the first car park and there's about 15 cars there. The surf looks fantastic in that the sun is out and its very clean - the waves are pretty infrequent and small but on a day like today you just have to get wet.
I venture out straight in front of the steps down from the car park and with the wait between sets and size of the swell - 2 foot, it's a breeze getting out. I am sitting there just enjoying the beauty of the day, looking at the beach with the view right down to the surf club in the distance and further on to the black cliffs at the end of Woolamai. My quiet contemplation is then broken by a local seal darting through the water right in front of me. It's a great sight and whilst a I do think seal=shark, I try and put that thought out of my head and focus instead on getting a wave.
I do manage eventually to catch a few waves including a great floater across the top of a breaking wave as I am heading right- it gave me a real buzz, and it is just unfortunate that I have no idea how I did it and so am unlikely to replicate it anytime soon. Still a young bloke out with me looked at me afterwards as though he thought it was pretty impressive. Catch a coupe of good waves going right in what is about a 60 minute surf. Really enjoyable and contrasts a bit with my previous wild Woolamai experiences.
I get out the water feeling like some food but first have to get out of my wetsuit which now has a ribbon attached to the zipper after the original leash broke about 6 weeks ago - this proves a major drama, and it takes me about 15 minutes to wrestle out the of suit and I decide then I will buy a new wettie. I head to Full Circle in Woolamai, via the coffee/food shop up the road which has great pies and burgers and is worth checking out - coffee was pretty good too. I check out the wetties and end up with an upgrade on my 5 year old ripcurl 3/4 with traditional zip up the back - I try the new chest zip wetties but find it too hard to actually get out.
It's such a great day I decide I'll have another surf and so break 35 is just around the corner.
I get to the Island in about 90 mins., the road is great and the trip would be even quicker if there wasn't always road works somewhere on the trip. I head to Woolamai and turn into the first car park and there's about 15 cars there. The surf looks fantastic in that the sun is out and its very clean - the waves are pretty infrequent and small but on a day like today you just have to get wet.
I venture out straight in front of the steps down from the car park and with the wait between sets and size of the swell - 2 foot, it's a breeze getting out. I am sitting there just enjoying the beauty of the day, looking at the beach with the view right down to the surf club in the distance and further on to the black cliffs at the end of Woolamai. My quiet contemplation is then broken by a local seal darting through the water right in front of me. It's a great sight and whilst a I do think seal=shark, I try and put that thought out of my head and focus instead on getting a wave.
I do manage eventually to catch a few waves including a great floater across the top of a breaking wave as I am heading right- it gave me a real buzz, and it is just unfortunate that I have no idea how I did it and so am unlikely to replicate it anytime soon. Still a young bloke out with me looked at me afterwards as though he thought it was pretty impressive. Catch a coupe of good waves going right in what is about a 60 minute surf. Really enjoyable and contrasts a bit with my previous wild Woolamai experiences.
I get out the water feeling like some food but first have to get out of my wetsuit which now has a ribbon attached to the zipper after the original leash broke about 6 weeks ago - this proves a major drama, and it takes me about 15 minutes to wrestle out the of suit and I decide then I will buy a new wettie. I head to Full Circle in Woolamai, via the coffee/food shop up the road which has great pies and burgers and is worth checking out - coffee was pretty good too. I check out the wetties and end up with an upgrade on my 5 year old ripcurl 3/4 with traditional zip up the back - I try the new chest zip wetties but find it too hard to actually get out.
It's such a great day I decide I'll have another surf and so break 35 is just around the corner.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Break 33 - Summerlands, Phillip Island
1st May and today it's off to Phillip Island again. I'm on my own today as Sam has footy and I'll try and get back for that at 1.30 and so head off at about 8.00 am. I make pretty good time to the Island but once there I meander a bit checking out Woolamai, Forest Caves and Flynns's reef before I settle on Summerlands, better known as the home of the fairy penguin parade.
Summerlands has a point break, breaking over a shallow rocky reef and is accessed by walking down the boardwalk leading to the penguin parade. Today there are two people out and the waves are mainly about 2 ft with the odd 1 meter set rolling through. I head out pretty easily and sit out the back waiting for a set to come through. After about 10 mins and some waiting in turn a wave comes through and I'm up and heading right down the line - it's a pretty short ride and then goes to whitwater. There are some good rides out there though and you can ride all the way from the out the back into the beach - about 30 meters or so. A good fat 1 meter comes through and I'm up quickly but just as quickly I loose it and go splatt onto my back, on the left hand side of my board. I'm getting a bit frustrated now.
I chill out and paddle slowly out the back and wait my turn. I get two small rides and then at last get onto a good wave and go gliding right and then the wave breaks and reforms as I go right and I'm able to go up and turn down and find myself then shooting across the small, transparent, green wall for 10 meters as I come into the beach. A great way to finish and I decide to head for Smiths to get my usual coffee and a feed.
The challenge is still there to get to fifty and I think my family is giving up - for me the next Month of may will determine it and I think I need to be at 38 at least.
Summerlands has a point break, breaking over a shallow rocky reef and is accessed by walking down the boardwalk leading to the penguin parade. Today there are two people out and the waves are mainly about 2 ft with the odd 1 meter set rolling through. I head out pretty easily and sit out the back waiting for a set to come through. After about 10 mins and some waiting in turn a wave comes through and I'm up and heading right down the line - it's a pretty short ride and then goes to whitwater. There are some good rides out there though and you can ride all the way from the out the back into the beach - about 30 meters or so. A good fat 1 meter comes through and I'm up quickly but just as quickly I loose it and go splatt onto my back, on the left hand side of my board. I'm getting a bit frustrated now.
I chill out and paddle slowly out the back and wait my turn. I get two small rides and then at last get onto a good wave and go gliding right and then the wave breaks and reforms as I go right and I'm able to go up and turn down and find myself then shooting across the small, transparent, green wall for 10 meters as I come into the beach. A great way to finish and I decide to head for Smiths to get my usual coffee and a feed.
The challenge is still there to get to fifty and I think my family is giving up - for me the next Month of may will determine it and I think I need to be at 38 at least.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Break 32 - Berry's beach, Phillip Island
Monday 25th April and after a surf at Surf Beach, Sam and I head to Smiths's beach for our usual lunch and coffee and it doesn't dissapoint - the best wraps, fish and chips and coffee on the island, a must visit at Phillip Island. After filling up we head left from Smiths down back beach road and past the grand prix track; we see Berry's Beach Rd and decide to check it out, having driven past it countless times on the way to Cat Bay. Berry's Beach is a great visit - a winding track down to the beach through scrub to emerge into a semi-circular beach with red cliff down the end, green hills in backdrop and black rock point on the right. The break today is all close outs but Sam and I head out anyway and sit about 3/4 of the way out and cathc some reforms. We both get a few waves but more than anything just enjoy the setting, the sun and probably for me the last chance for some time to wear a summer wettie in mild water. Really enjoyable 45 mins in the water, less for the waves and more for juts finding another great Victorian beach. There is a walk from Berry's beach round to Pyramid rock and that looks fantastic.
Today is Break 32 and I think I'm still on track, although my family I think have given up on me and think of my quest for 50 as slightly Don Quixote in nature - futile quest of the old man. The next 6 weeks I think are crucial and so next weekend will try and double up again.
Today is Break 32 and I think I'm still on track, although my family I think have given up on me and think of my quest for 50 as slightly Don Quixote in nature - futile quest of the old man. The next 6 weeks I think are crucial and so next weekend will try and double up again.
Break 31 - Surf Beach, Phillip Island
Monday 25th and its another cracker day of the Easter Break. Saturday we went to Bells and saw some fantastic surfing in 3 meter Bells with Mick Fanning and Parko just awesome in their heats. Today Sam and I are heading to Phillip Island and the weather is forecast as sunny and low 20s. As we head off about 9.00 it's thick fog can you believe it. The fog breaks as we get close the Island and its blue skies all the way the Woolamai - the surf is just not there on low tide and we decide to try surf beach.
Surf beach is a great little beach. Typical of the Island with a stair case walk down to the beach, with the beach backed by cliffs of green, with black rocks around. Surfies point is on the point of the beach but Sam and I try the beachies where there are a half dozen blokes out. I am in the water with leash on and as I go to zip up the back of my wettie and head out the zip beaks and the wettie won't do up. I try and fasten the top and head out with a gaping back in the wetsuit. I get onto a wave and I'm up and away going right and then the wave dies and I drop down and fall out. As I hit the water my suit fills up and even my legs are swelled with water. I hop on the board and head in weighing a ton. I decide its no use going back out and am grateful I've got my summer wettie in the car for later. Sam stays out for about 20 mins and doesn't have much luck but there are some waves out there and it's a beach worth coming to.
I will try surfies point next time I'm back with a new wettie. Anyway it was great just sitting on the beach as the day is awesome and the beach view great.
Surf beach is a great little beach. Typical of the Island with a stair case walk down to the beach, with the beach backed by cliffs of green, with black rocks around. Surfies point is on the point of the beach but Sam and I try the beachies where there are a half dozen blokes out. I am in the water with leash on and as I go to zip up the back of my wettie and head out the zip beaks and the wettie won't do up. I try and fasten the top and head out with a gaping back in the wetsuit. I get onto a wave and I'm up and away going right and then the wave dies and I drop down and fall out. As I hit the water my suit fills up and even my legs are swelled with water. I hop on the board and head in weighing a ton. I decide its no use going back out and am grateful I've got my summer wettie in the car for later. Sam stays out for about 20 mins and doesn't have much luck but there are some waves out there and it's a beach worth coming to.
I will try surfies point next time I'm back with a new wettie. Anyway it was great just sitting on the beach as the day is awesome and the beach view great.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Break 30 - Point Lonsdale
Saturday 9th April and I've already surfed 13th Beach and had a great breakfast in Point Lonsdale. Lonsdale is about 20 mins from 13th Beach and is basically at the heads entrance to Port Phillip Bay. It's a great place for a visit - the town is nice and has plenty of places to eat and if you don't want to surf the lookout on the point is fantastic and Queensclif is just down the road.
I check out the surf and it's pretty much the same as 13th although the off-shore wind has picked up more and there's even fewer people out here. There are two blokes in the water where I head out and the wait between sets is even longer. It's about 1.00 pm as I hit the water. Like this morning the view and weather is great - you can see the lighthouse on the point and right across the heads to point nepean on the other side of the bay. The beach is really spectacular today.
The surf is not so spectacular and I catch probably about 6 waves in more than an hour in the surf. The left hander works really well and I don't know why I surf well on the backhand but is seem to. I get some really enjoyable rides going left and manage to stay low and get some great rides going down the line. I get out after more than an hour in the surf and I am buggered. It's a small hike up the hill past the surf club but I am really puffing as I go up. Two surfs in the day and I am back on track I reckon. 30 breaks down and 20 to go.
Bring on April I say and I am aiming to have 35 by the end of April/first week of May.
I check out the surf and it's pretty much the same as 13th although the off-shore wind has picked up more and there's even fewer people out here. There are two blokes in the water where I head out and the wait between sets is even longer. It's about 1.00 pm as I hit the water. Like this morning the view and weather is great - you can see the lighthouse on the point and right across the heads to point nepean on the other side of the bay. The beach is really spectacular today.
The surf is not so spectacular and I catch probably about 6 waves in more than an hour in the surf. The left hander works really well and I don't know why I surf well on the backhand but is seem to. I get some really enjoyable rides going left and manage to stay low and get some great rides going down the line. I get out after more than an hour in the surf and I am buggered. It's a small hike up the hill past the surf club but I am really puffing as I go up. Two surfs in the day and I am back on track I reckon. 30 breaks down and 20 to go.
Bring on April I say and I am aiming to have 35 by the end of April/first week of May.
Break 29 - Cylinders @ 13th Beach
Saturday 9th April - cracker of a day with a northerly wind and temp. expected to be high 20's. I head off early, a bit after 7.00 am and after gettuing coffee and petrol on the way get to 13th beach about 9.00 am. 13th beach is at barwon heads on the west coast, about 20 mins from Geelong heading towards the Port Phillip heads. Today 13th looks great - clear as a bell, small swell and hardly anyone out, presumably because of the small swell.
I hit the surf and there are 3 or 4 others out in the water. It's really a great spot - you can see down the coast towards the Torquay and up the other way towards Ocean Grove past the point at barwon heads. The waves are small - 2 foot and mainly even smaller and long waits betwen sets. On another day the wait might frustrate but today with the weather and knowing it might be the last day I can get away with my summer wetty, I just make the most of it. The waves are breaking left and right and the rides are short. I stay out for about an hour and get six or seven good waves, including a couple of great left handers - down low and managing to just sort of hang on the top of the wave a couple of times after going left for a while.
It's been a really enjoyable surf - the blokes out were nice and friendly and the scenery and surf make the day. The weather and surf are so good I decide to head to breakfast and then try Point Lonsdale.
I hit the surf and there are 3 or 4 others out in the water. It's really a great spot - you can see down the coast towards the Torquay and up the other way towards Ocean Grove past the point at barwon heads. The waves are small - 2 foot and mainly even smaller and long waits betwen sets. On another day the wait might frustrate but today with the weather and knowing it might be the last day I can get away with my summer wetty, I just make the most of it. The waves are breaking left and right and the rides are short. I stay out for about an hour and get six or seven good waves, including a couple of great left handers - down low and managing to just sort of hang on the top of the wave a couple of times after going left for a while.
It's been a really enjoyable surf - the blokes out were nice and friendly and the scenery and surf make the day. The weather and surf are so good I decide to head to breakfast and then try Point Lonsdale.
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