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