Tuesday, November 23, 2010

What is the minimum for happiness?

I didn't do the bus thing last weekend because I "carpooled" to the beach with my wife. I still intend to give the bus a try, but later.
I got some waves this weekend but it was a drive then a drive south to Rockaway. Rockaway was waist to shoulder high with sw wind blowing offshore and the low tide helping the small waves hit the sandbar. The waves were about as good as it gets, but the crowd was at critical mass. I went out o. The buttons and had trouble getting waves. A combination of out of shape, off timing, and tight crowd made the session less than perfect, but still pleanty gun enough.

The crowds have me down. Not just in the water but traffic driving to work too. I need to remind myself what it is that I'm doing and why I'm doing it. My first though is, "How much of this can I purge and still be happy?" less stuff requires less work which means more free time. I need to ponder on this awhile

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Public Transport

This isn't meant to be a rant on what is wrong with public transportation, although it may sound like it. It's really a mark of where I'm at right now in figuring out how to make a "bus to beach" situation work.
The background to this is that I'm getting deeper into the science of climate change. In doing so I'm getting a look at what is projected to happen to our lives in the next 50-100 years. The news that is pushing me to action after a year or more of driving every day is this; ~5 years ago the IPCC created projections of CO2 emissions which included: decreased CO2 emissions, same rate CO2 emsisions, and increased rate of CO2 emissions. Most people figured we would be somewhere between less and same. As of now our CO2 is higher that what was considered a high estimate ~5 years ago. That is not a projection, that's the way it is with no room for argument.
So, what can I do? I don't think technology is the best answer, although it will be important for limiting climate change due to human actions. I think the best answer, one that hits all angles at the same time (and instantly, as in right now) is to reduce consumption. I could go on and on about this but I wont, and I'll now return to the more directly surf related talk.
So, how can I take public transport (PT) to the beach? Well, I've already purchased a drybag backpack for cleanly transporting my wet wetsuit. Next I've decided that at least at first I'll forego the surfboard and shoot for either bodysurf or matsurf. Lastly I've mapped out my path, which to be honest is surprisingly direct with only two busses to ride and less than a mile total walk required for a few surf spots. The downsides are many and obvious, but the one I have the most trouble with is the cost. It will be $6 each way, $12! In the car I figure it would be 1.5 gallon of gas @ $3.25 + bridge fare @ $5 so $9.90. Now, I still have a car so I'm still paying for insurance, and a bus takes you one place only. If the surf isn't good there then I'm kinda screwed. I've given up my freedom and paid extra for it!
(The one thing I havn't looked at is the bus transfer system. For no extra charge I can get one transfer ticket. So, perhaps I could take the bus to spot A, then decide to check spot B, which wouldn't cost any extra.)
Okay, that's enough for now. I'm hoping to get my mojo up and do this move this weekend.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Bonzer BumbleBee

I have ridden the new Bonzer enough now to know it's not for me. It works with big shoulders and softer take-offs, but what board doesn't? I missed some runaway waves not because the board isn't fast enough but because I couldn't nail the late drop solid enough to start projecting across the face early enough to make it. The board may be fast once in the pocket, but if I can't get there then who cares? Float isn't the problem like the last Bonzer I had, and I wasn't struggling with burying the nose. It is really just a problem with hanging at the top and then not feeling solid once I got over the edge.
Ride wise I have nothing much good or bad to say about it. The good is that it doesn't automatically outrun the section. The bad is that it will release off the face if I get too steep and up on a rail. Mostly I found it to be rather blah. Combine that with the droping in problem and this one is being released.
I'm sure there are other waves and other surfers for which this would be a great board, but for me, where I surf, it doesn't fit the bill.