Strained, the Rogue's notes.

  First time in the water. The feeling of looking forward to that first glide. The briny smell of the ocean spray. Listening to the waves break around me as I pitched silently in the lineup... like a bobber that would never signal the catch. Sloppy day. Mid-50s water temps. Air in the 60s. Small, knee-high surf without any power; as disorganized as a drunken dive bar brawl. 

Strain/verb 1. to force (a part of one's body or oneself)

 to make a strenuous or unusually great effort.

No amount of push could stop the skid. Holiday's, 5/2/2019.

Usually I can squeeze a ride out of just about all conditions. Six months out of water shape, full suit, and trash waves, and for this sesh it was not to be. Sliding into a couple of mini-breakers didn't supply enough lift to finish. I felt like I put too much energy into a losing evening and with that in mind, after about 75 minutes I exited the surf feeling frustrated and annoyed. As they say..."there's always another wave." Guess it'll have to wait for another day.
   Back home. Grabbed a beer. Sat back... and imagined the next ticket to ride. RaR Brewing out of Cambridge, MD put forth a smooth Pale that put me in that mode. Country Ride poured a slightly cloudy honey-gold with an approximate finger plus white head. Aromas of pineapple, pine, and malt. Tasted the juicy citrus of the hops and caramel from the malt. Nice bite in the finish without being overly bitter. Refreshing carbonation and a fair amount of lacing around the glass as it went down. At 5.8%, very drinkable. Rated an A-. Now I need that next wave.

"There are better things in life than alcohol, but

alcohol makes up for not having them."

 -Terry Pratchett