….Two surf trips , One hell of a great time
In the last week or so I have driven 783 miles for surfing. I feel like I don’t want to see the inside of the car for a little while.
Road tripping
My blind date in Cornwall came and went in a flash of sunshine, chatter, surf and blue sky. Before I knew it I was dropping Aussie Surf Chick off at Taunton station, back at work, and 180 miles from the nearest surf almost as if the trip had never happened.
The night I got back after an excruciating 7.5 hour drive on the hottest day of the year I got into bed, deposited sand from various parts of my body into the clean sheets and drifted off to sleep. As I sank into the mattress I felt a not unpleasant ache in my shoulders as my brain, still believing me to be on the water, gently rocked back and forth in my head like a bobbing boat. As usual the Landlocked blues kicked in the moment I woke up for work the next day. This time, it wasn’t to last too long though.
A few days after arriving back from Cornwall, with washing still hanging all over the house because of the rain, food shopping still not done and sleep still not caught up on Landlocked Surf Girl suggested a day trip to Devon.
Alternative use for a leash
So, on Sunday morning at 11am after a 200 mile drive (thankfully not me driving) we pulled into Braunton and into torrential rain, thunder and sheets of lightening. On the journey down I wondered if this was what life would be like now I can drive. Two surf trips in one week is normal to those who live by the coast and they would be reading this thinking so what. To someone who lives so far away from the coast and sometimes goes 4 months without a surf and who recently couldn’t get anywhere without masses of planning and mainly relying on public transport, this was a momentous week!
The tale of both of my trips is way too long for a post and shall stay instead in my head, suffice to say they consisted of waves, sun, fun, food, laughs, hanging out with friends old and new, a few bruises and many discoveries and ideas for future trips . I surfed 4 breaks I hadn’t been to before and I tried 5 boards ( including my Malcom) over both trips. This has now led to an unhealthy obsession with a particular board I’m going to have to buy! Well, Malcom does get lonely, he needs a friend. If anyone wants to buy it for me for my birthday that would be great!
Apart from a hand/head/foot tan and a car full of sand this is what I took from my trips:
When driving to Cornwall from the Midlands add 3 hours to the sat nav, the sat nav does not know about Cornish time or tractors!
Surf spots change so quickly, if it looks good now get in don’t have a little rest because in 2 hours it will be flat or a mess. Equally if it looks shit right now that doesn’t mean it will look shit in an hour
The Beached Lamb Cafe do the best breakfasts and have the loveliest staff and they even list ‘sprinkes of sunshine’ as ingredients in their menu
Devon is not too far for a day trip
A gopro is not for posers, far from it. It makes you look like a massive manatee and catches all your mad faces but, it’s great fun to look at afterwards
I feel really at home in Newquay and could totally see myself down there for 6 weeks next summer
Sunsets on a west coast beach are awesome, always watch the sunset, never turn down a chance to watch a great sunset
So, that was ‘2 trips week’ . Next up is my 3rd, so it must be annual now, Birthday trip to South Wales only two weeks today!
Surf, Sea & Shenanigans 
Reblogged this on Surfabella.
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Great post! Wow when you put it into context how many miles you drove! I remember feeling so stoked the first time I surfed twice in one week. Such an amazing feeling..just when you are getting over the first trip, its onto the next! Loved surfing with you, had such a great time and I love the things you took away here from both trips and yes…the Beached Lamb does the best breakfasts! 🙂 xxx
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