Last Writes?, the Target's notes

Castles moat at 39th. 7/22/2015

   It was a perfect beach day. Bright, warm sun; a gentle breeze. People everywhere just enjoying themselves. Best day of the year on the sand and that somehow seems fitting. Waves clean. A bit small-scale... knee high in a shallow low tide. But, it doesn't matter the conditions today. An anything goes type of day and DWatt is in the hunt. No matter how good or bad the last ride he wants...no, he needs one more ride. Today crowds, conditions, or time of sunset doesn't matter. Just one more tasty wave to savor. "Just one more ride, 'cause it may be the last ride." For a while anyway.

Clawin' for every ounce, 7/22/2015

    A little over fifteen years ago a bunch of guys who worked together decided to test the waters of a raging Atlantic the day after a Hurricane passed off the coast. Grabbing their BZ Bodyboards they headed out. May not have been the best idea, but they had such a good time several of them decided to go again several weeks later. Wattman was one of those guys. After several more weeks I, along with several others were brought into the fold and Team OCBZ was formed.

2001- "Glory Days, yeah they pass you by. Glory Days, in the wink of a 
young girl's eye."    -Bruce Springsteen.

  Week in and week out eleven or more guys appeared on the beach and afterwards we all headed to Smitty Mcgee's for dollar Yuenglings and wings.  To be truthful the next 8 years were really just an excuse to drink for most of the group but a good time was always had by everyone.  As time passed  the group got smaller; layoffs, job changes, relocation's all played a factor but a core group stayed intact until the day in September, 2008 when the plant closed and all of us were put into the wind. Truthfully, by this point there were three of us left standing. The Skeleton Crew was actually born. Cheeks, DWatt, and Hard Target.

2004

For the next couple of years the three faithful showed up every week. Rain or shine. Rippin' the waves. Feeding the post-surf machine with Wings and Beer. Then Cheeks' path took a change of course.  It happens. We keep in touch. But, now the Skeleton Crew was down to two.  

2014

   It's a wonder how two such different people, Wattman and myself, Hard Target, could form any type of crew. Watt is outgoing and spontaneous, sometimes boisterous. I'm quiet and reserved; a thinking man's thinking man. Never one to be part of a group. But what we have here is more than just two guys that like the beach, and a cold beer. Just a good 'ole fashion friendship.  None of that faux Bro crap. None of that, "if you help me, some day I might help you." Just two guys who are always straight up with each other and never had to ask for help because it was always offered before the question came out. Two guys who celebrated the good times; enjoyed the fun times. And when the bad times happen, the hard times hit, which we have had our share, we were still there. Real Friendship is a funny thing, you know it when you see it but its hard to replicate.
   We have had several versions of our blog over the years. A website, MySpace, and the Blog. Only a few people have known about our site. Those who would appreciate our journeys. Over the years many more have somehow found us on the web. We thank all who have followed. During the early years DWatt did all the heavy lifting; writing and publishing the website all by himself. During the last five I have taken over most of the of the writing. I also handled the "target shooting" (picture) duties. Thus, the majority of what has been posted has started with me. Each week, a theme and a review based on our Journey for that night. Watt's job as editor has been to punch up my writing, making any corrections but never changing the theme I had chosen. Watt has also taken pride in picking the beach location and the night's Bar/Restaurant. I can honestly say that I have been to places I would have never even thought about entering.  We have partaken in birthday parties, free shots from our barkeeps, talked to complete strangers about every topic under the sun, seen bathrooms that belong in third world countries, listened to great music, and watched countless games on TV...some even memorable. And no matter how good or  bad the  place was we always had a good time. We hope our readers have enjoyed our Journeys and adventures each week. We never took ourselves too seriously. It was always about the Stoke.
   However, another change is afoot. This time it is Wattman that will be following a new path. Moving to Chicago. A new job, and a marriage in the future. So for now, our weekly soirees are coming to an end. Yeah, we'll do visits (like maybe next week), reunions, and occasional updates to the blog. And the Watt's plan is to move back within seven years; reboot the Journal. I have no problem with that. Time will tell. For the rest of the evening there was only one thing to do. Return to the womb. Smitty's, the place where it all started. One more for old times sake. We ordered our Miller Lites and BBQ Wings. Reminisced over the past 15 years. Hours passed and like the end to a movie, people faded as the bar emptied out. Time for us to leave. Headed out into the night. Not "goodbye", but "until next time." 

The Womb, 2015

   I'm closing with these two thoughts: First- we hope that sometime in their lives, others can find their own Crew. No matter how big or small having this type of ride is amazing. Second- I will always be grateful to be part of our Crew. It was an incredible journey that I will never forget.

THE RATING: A

WE WERE AT ONE TIME ELEVEN STRONG. BUT, ONE BY ONE THEY HAVE FALLEN OFF UNTIL ALL THAT IS LEFT ARE TWO...  THE LAST ONES STANDING.... THE SKELETON CREW!

Come Get Yours, cuts from the Target's notepad

The floater that didn't. 66th St. Holidays. 7/16/2015

   Waves! Beatings! This week we had lots of both. Big pounding waves. Waves that rolled in semi-clean, jacked up, and then swallowed you whole. Well, the Wattman anyway. He had no problem making it into the line-up. Again and again turning into the next swell only to come up empty. And if he had been in need of a good beating, this session provided it. Lisa had again joined us and I gotta say, a nice night, good conversation... I for one, didn't mind the thumping Watt was getting. At this point, of our season we are losing more than a minute a day of sunlight, so the ass whupping was on a clock. Darkness setting in was his, and our sign to make the call and head on in.

   Headed on over to West OC Harbor and Crab Alley. A previous Journey destination of about two years prior. No one in the bar, but as we heard they were out of crabs upon entering, this was no surprise. Small talk with our barkeep revealed it had been a slow summer so far as well. However, the 80's music and cold drinks took us away from the impending drabness.  Ordered up the BBQ Wings, Old Bay Wings, and the Fish Tacos. Hmmm... Wings were hot and meaty. Average good. Not bad, but no charm to be found. The tacos, well; go buy fish sticks, some lettuce and cheap salsa, throw it all in a soft tortilla. Like I said. Good music. Nice view of the harbor and city lights. Cold beer. But...early night.  No highlight reel here. The Journey moves on.

THE RATINGS - 

BBQ/Old Bay Wings: C+

Fish Tacos: C-

Beer: B-

Atmosphere: C+

Overall Score = 2.25

Bored Shorts, cuts from the Target's notepad.

Scrounging the short timers. Knee-high quick cuts at Holidays. 67th Break. 7/9/2015

   Awesome night. I had been looking forward to beach time. Mild temps in the lower 80's inland. Mid-seventies along the shoreline. As I crossed the dune line at 67th I caught glimpse of a pair of beach chairs, one of which was reserved for me. This session the Wattman brought his fiance Lisa, for the show...if you want to call it that. Small knee skinners that made for short boring right handers, few more boring left handers, and a quick head shot here and there. Watt's always good for at least one head shot per sesh. To be honest, he caught practically a whole summer's worth, enough of 'em that I began to feign the pics since my chat with Lisa, and the pleasant evening did much more to hold my interest. Between the multiple short sets, the talk, and the sweet stoke of the night, it was a late one; almost 9pm, sun setting. We headed to our destination.

   Upscaled it this week. Hooked, on 80th Street and bayside next to South Moon Under. Perfect night to dine at the outside bar. Reggae music. Shark Week on the tube. Drink selection outdoors was limited but about a half dozen micro-drafts on tap inside, which they had no problem getting us a couple. As Lisa enjoyed herself refreshing Grapefruit Crush we ordered a threesome of food choices: Whole Jerk Wings, Crab Dip with Old Bay Crostini, and Bacon Wrapped Scallops. These were just appetizers and did more than enough to fill us. DWatt liked the wings, but I was not impressed with having to pull my food apart to eat it.  Whole wings, not separated as the traditional. Too much work (got better things to do!). The crab dip was very good, but the scallops were off the chain good. Finished up the night paying the rather expensive tab, enjoying the bay breezes, the music, sharks, BS-ing, etc. Nice.

THE RATINGS - 

Whole Jerk Wings: C+

Crab Dip: B

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops: A

Beer: B-

Atmosphere: B-

Overall Score = 2.95

Think Fast, notes from the Watt

"Pump it up when you don't really need it. Pump it up until you can feel it."  - Elvis Costello
66th Street, Holiday's - On the rise. 7/1/2015

   Crossing the dunes exposed us to a vision in the longing- set after set of clean, righteous, frontside barrels. Opportunities. I couldn't wait to get in. Water around 73F, tide coming in, waist to chest. Like to be able to say that on the best evening of our season so far, I was carving 'em up left and right. Well, at least right. But it was more like a hammer session. Especially a few of the times paddling out into the lineup. Strong current flowing north made it difficult to hold position. Wait too long and I was halfway to Timbuktu...or at least a few blocks down. Walk back. And all it took was a decent spin down a line and...walk back. Many times the middle of the set was closing out (an observation that helped getting past the break later on). Took a couple of those on the head. Walk back. 

Gotta think fast, adjust faster, loosen up, don't hesitate, or opportunities get lost in the washer. Did manage to catch a few. The longest hitched on to a second smaller curl that brought me practically to shore. There it was, the Stoke of the session. The sun was fading. I was done. We headed out for some beer and grub.

   The initial pick of the night was Higgins Crab House on 31st and Ocean Highway. Recently remodeled, it featured a roof-top tiki bar. Perfect locale for a couple of cold summer craft beers. If their prices had been a little more reasonable we would have stayed.

 

As such, we headed down to the Cork Bar. We had hit this place in February, but their kitchen had not yet opened for the season. Now, on the cusp of the biggest weekend of the summer...

July 4th...and celebrating their 50th year, the Cork Bar was gearing up. And we were there. If this place doesn't have the iciest, coldest draft in town it's definitely in the running. We got two. In addition, some Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Wings and a Flat Iron Steak Wrap. Food service was slow although ya can't go wrong with Ray's, but the Steak was a disappointment. Cold...most likely had been sitting. TVs full of the Orioles, and an internet jukebox playing serious classic rock all night. Gotta hand it to those bartenders... they kept it turned up. Truly a classic OC dive bar. With an extended surf session, and this our 2nd stop of the night, the meter was running and the Fairy Godmother of Metermaids was hanging'round ready to turn our parking receipts into tickets. This Journey closed, and we were off. Til next sesh.

THE RATINGS - 

Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Wings: B

Flat Iron Steak Wrap: C

Beer: B

Atmosphere: A-

Overall Score = 2.94