Shattered, session notes from the Rogue.

"Fear before the calm. Calm before the storm. Storm before the ride."  -SU Mag
Autumn tranquility before Michael's arrival. Sunrise on the St. Martins; Shell Gut Point, 10/8/2018

   Post equinoxal weather has been shattering conditions all over the place the last couple weeks. Hurricane Michael...but 1mph under a Cat 5 as it slammed into the Florida Panhandle. Left Mexico Beach looking like a war zone. Prayers gotta go out to the people in Michael's path. Then it headed up the west side of the Right Coast. Floodin.' Drenchin.' Creating all kinds of sloppy havoc.

After all that, hard to complain about shattered surf conditions. However, I looked at the surf report...walked out on the beach...with the exception of a day or two, sectioned, chopped up swell for most of the month. Tis the season.

Paddling into the slopes; head high sets rolled thru all night. Holiday's and 66th, 10/4/2018.

"Moulinex me." Late takeoff on the way to gettin' torqued, 10/4/2018.

AND look at Me, 
I'm in Tatters, Yeah
I've been Battered
What does it Matter
Does it Matter, 
uh-Huh
Does it Matter,
uh-Huh,
I'm a Shattered
- the Rolling Stones



Head high the first week. Painful working sesh. Spent good amount of time takin' it on the head (as I was climbing out at dusk some dude, who had sense to leave earlier before the loss of light, gave me "credit" for paddling back out despite the beating). About waist or so this past week. A few respectable rides. Almost got covered. Still devoured and regurgitated periodically. Appreciated what I was able to squeeze out of the evening.

A strong northbound current kept fins and lines separate.
 Thigh high wrap-up at daylight's end. 65th Street, 10/10/2018.

The last of the warm weather brews are both a couple of local choices. Big Oyster Brewery kicked in with their Belgian Witbier, Solar Power. Hazy orange-gold, with a fast dissipating finger thick white head. Strong aromas of zesty lemon and orange. Juiced oranges mixed with coriander in the taste. Sweet, but not too. Very drinkable at 6% ABV. Enough hop presence (approx. 20 IBUs) to finish crisp. I put off trying this one until it appeared in a mixed six. Not disappointed. Rated a 
solid B.

Wai Ola. The "water of life." Beer of life? Maybe? Crooked Hammock makes the effort with this Cali Style Coconut Ale. Poured a surprising golden amber with about a one finger fizzy head. Could smell a slight aroma of coconut...like very slight. Grass and malts detectable. 20 IBUs of up front hop bitterness in the initial taste. Not like an IPA. Closer to a pilsner. Grains, and more malts. Definitely a brew that's better cold. 5.5% and sessionable, and it took more than one to grow on me. Not bad. Not a jump out at'cha good. Rated a C+/B-.

   Post Thursday (10/4) pounding. O.City hosting the Endless Summer Cruisers. A veritable deluge of automotive muscle. Back in high school; deep rumble of the duals (exhaust), throaty hum of the 305, cruisin' Ocean Highway again. Radio blastin'. Six pack in the back. Car full of friends. Good times, good times.

We had flames comin' from out of the side.
Feel the tension. Man! What a ride!
I said, "Look out boys, I've got a license to fly!"
And that Caddy pulled over and let us by.
-Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen