the CREW's LAST WRITES: Angry Diversion, notes from the Watt.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Angry Diversion, notes from the Watt.

Readying to exit and keeping an eye on the horizon as the next set crashes in. Holidays and 66th, 9/22/2021.

The sun was out in the AM, but by the afternoon the clouds had moved in. We had moved the day to Wednesday, as the next day was looking like a rain-out. Still humid. This was the front that was going to rid us of the humidity. But for this evening, another session dealing with it. Winds were running about 10-15mph, with air temps in the upper 70s F. Water was still comfortable at just under 75F. But, as LWatt put it, the ocean was looking kinda angry. With a rip here and there, I found it easy to get into the empty lineup (Target would remind me, "it's empty for a reason").There was a hard current moving north, and the swell was heaving and choppy, making it difficult to get position, much less hold position. Seemed like for every shoulder I'd try to grab onto, the bottom would drop and I'd find myself dumped into a closing section. LWatt and Target's situation didn't pan out much better. Sitting in their low profile beach chairs, the wind was blowing sand, the tide was coming in, and though we had planned a little time before sunset, the clouds pretty much covered that up. The humidity and the cool winds made for a damp night on the beach. Needless to say, we folded up early. Even that exercise was a challenge for me as I had to keep one eye on the incoming as I wrapped the leash and exited the churning surf. We finally crossed to the other side...the streets of OC, with lighter winds, and the promise of a cold beverage...or two.

We headed to a well known establishment for the Crew; one block up and over, the Longboard Cafe in the 67th Street Town Center. We've been there a couple of times, the last of which was about two years ago. Sorta a favorite for us with all of the surf paraphernalia. And, the food is consistent. Although the joint was still somewhat full, we managed three chairs side by side at the bar. Our bartender was on the spot, but not too knowledgeable about the beer offerings. Fortunately, we could read, and managed to ascertain our drink preferences on our own.

Target's first issue was his beer...a Stella...cold, but no glass offered. My IPA was good...and cold...and in a glass...probably because it was a draft. Putting our order in we readied ourselves for a Crab Quesadilla, the Longboard Wings, and the Huntington Pier Cobb Salad. The salad came out plentiful, with chunks of veggies and grilled chicken. The wings were hot and came out with their house "addiction sauce" and blue cheese crumbles. However, the wings could have used more of the sauce which included honey, and made for a dry yet sticky experience. The star of the night was the quesadilla. Loaded with crab, our only suggestion would have been a little less cheese. No real music was playing and with only two TVs, the entertainment was limited. However, as usual our conversation was lively and we enjoyed the evening. Our surf season's end is fast approaching. Days are shorter, cooler weather's coming, and I for one, am hoping for better waves. There is always the promise of next week in this Journey.