State of Kāua (Transition), tales from the Watt.

Convergence; Sail, Surf, Sea, and Stoke. Late evening water-time. 47th Street Break, 8/29/2019.

Summer's end's around the bend just flyin'
The swimmin' suits are on the line just dryin'
I'll meet you there for our conversation
I hope I didn't ruin your whole vacation
-John Prine, Summer's End

   Two weeks ago I spoke of the hint of Summer's end. While I was in denial, and LWatt didn't want it, Target stubbornly clung to his intuition that Autumn was fast approaching. I must admit he was onto it, but in my mind Summer was hanging on, if only by the fingernails. This week however, the signs of Kāua were all around us. Hawaiian for transition, the evidence besieged us. It's that time of year. The beach was quieter; much less crowded as LWatt and Target took their seat at their usual 50 yards (OK, maybe 20 yards) from the barely encroaching water's edge pretty much with an unobstructed view. The OC Beach Patrol had reduced locations as students returned to college. Local business were feeling the effects of schools getting ready to open both in reduced number of tourists and reduced workforce. Hurricane Dorian was strengthening down in the Caribbean, but, it's effects were not yet being felt up our way. Our conditions this night were a bit better than they had been. No hard shore-break. Water still in the lower 70s.  Winds were at 5 knots or so. Waves, about thigh high-ish. Relaxing and pleasant, I found myself drifting in the lineup, staring at the horizon, being grateful for the evening. A last ride as the sun set, then we wrapped up and headed down south.

   Growing up in the area, I remember approaching this time of year. I could feel the anticipation of summer football camp, and the anxiety of the corresponding start of classes a couple of weeks later. At 18/19 years old (legal age for beer at that time), dives like this night's joint were the perfect locale to blow off excess steam. We are no longer 18, but our Crew appreciates where we are in life. Translation: tonight's dive was set for us to grab some comidas and vent the day's stresses with friends. The second of our "Boards" series, the original Guido's Burritos, located on 1st Street and the Boardwalk, was the objective of the evening's critique. Upbeat atmosphere, authentic recipes, intoxicating aromas...as you grow...get older...reality sets in. Or is it a level of doubt? I think the experience leads to the doubt. All was not blue skies over the rainbow. Or, across the border as in this evening's case. Our barkeep, all smiles and service, was ready with our beverages despite the regrettable fact that all taps were out-of-service due to lack of pressure. But, as the night progressed and the number of Millennials grew, so did the scarcity of our barkeep.

Thus our order, which consisted of the Bottomless Chips, Fresh Guacamole, and Handmade Salsa, Chicken Quesadillas, and Old Bay Agave Tijuana Wings, took nearly a millennial to be prepared and brought out to us. When the order arrived, it arrived in intervals, with the wings coming out last. This was not boding well. The chips were... chips; hard to f-up chips. And. they were warm which was good. The salsa and guac were fair. The quesadillas were better than last week, but not by a long stretch.

The wings had a very nice spicy-sweet taste with flecks of cilantro, but were small and as there were only six, small was downright corruptible. LWatt's Margarita was fair, Target's beer was average, my beer was warm. The taps were down. TVs were up, but the Redskins were losing. The music was unrecognizable, almost...Millennial. The tab, just sad. This was an establishment that seemed to be waiting for the Summer to end; a tavern in a state of Kāua. As we walked the Boards taking in the last of the summer upheaval, I could not help but reflect- I for one, would be hesitant to return, and I believe my Crew cohorts would concur. That is the gamble of our Journey. Sometimes we get diamonds. Sometimes we get coal. Or Boardwalk Guidos, whichever the case may be.

THE RATINGS-

Old Bay Agave Tijuana Wings: C+

Bottomless Chips, Salsa, & Guac: C

Chicken Quesadillas: B-

Beer: D+

Atmosphere: C+

Value: D+
Overall Score = 1.96

Someday I'll be eighteen, goin' on fifty-five... -Bryan Adams
End of Summer in the OC