Gone Viral, the Rogue's notes.

"Let go, let God. No fear. All is well."  -a Prayer
St. Martin River sunrise, 03/2020.

   A reminder that summer is comin'. Eighty-four degrees on Friday. Granted, Spring just sprung on Thursday. Regardless, there was no holding back the fever to hit the outdoors that warm weather brings. Everyone felt it. Then Saturday, it rained. With it, a cold front. Sunday, high winds, choppy waters, both bayside and on the ocean. Careful to realize, the waters are still cold. Don't get carried away with short-sighted excitement. Need to take the proper precautions before just paddling out. Reminded me, it is all about protection and containment. That is the emphasis on the COVID-19 outbreak. Together we feel it. Together we fight it. 

This pandemic has tossed the world over the falls and we all seem to be taking it on the head again and again as outbreak after outbreak, fatality after fatality, slams our last decade plus of prosperity to the bottom. Held down. Feeling like our heads are going to explode. Drowning with fear. We need to be there for our fellow humans. Put out a hand. Pull each other to the surface. Draw in the fresh air. The Inertia's Zach Weisberg said it best, "hard times bring people together." We can do this. Together. Always another wave. So climb back on your board. Face the horizon. Feel the slow undulation of the ocean beneath you. The cool water on your legs and fingertips. The briny smell of the sea's salt. Watch for the next set with optimism and hope. It will be better. You will be better. The world will be better. Get in position. Start paddling. Let go. Let God. 

Get ready. Next set's comin'. 
Summer will be here...again.

DST Surf Check, the Rogue's notes.

Don't do hoods, but a little warmer and would've loved to have been sliding down this textured ramp.
Somewhere along the OC's coastline. T. Layton pic, 3/7/2020.

   First surf check of Daylight Savings Time 2020. Very mild winter. Ocean temps already near 49F. Days on the Shore hovering in the upper 60s, lower 70s this past week. Nights in the lower 60s. It's the nights that make the difference. Front end of the month had some nice head high surf.

DST surf check- 66th Street, OCMD. Swell no bueno, 3/11/2020.

Back to small, knee to thigh surf though. More often than not recently. Have to admit though, wish the conditions were similar. On an upbeat note, water temps near five-oh means much closer to that first ride of the new year. Not sure if I will get it in March, but even early April will set me a record on our slice of the Right Coast. 
   Watchin' the surf report near daily. From the house. On the laptop, beer in hand. Teleporter Hazelnut Porter. From another Chi-Town suburbs brewery, Forge Brewhouse far west of Chicago...in Sycamore...or DeKalb, depending on what you know. I knew Sycamore where they started. Found it in when I was doin' the Midwest sales thing. Found the beer on our Christmas trip at Oakhurst Liquors in Aurora, IL. nearby where we lived. Sorta. I digress. Silky, opaque, near black, brown pour. Finger-plus light brown head. Aromas were thick with chocolate and Nutella. Light graininess in the background. Upon first swig, flavors of mocha and hazelnut. Malts and grains. Just the right amount of hop balance in the finish. Will say, not a hazelnut fan, but combined with the added cocoa nibs, this one satisfied. Did not slam me in the head, even at 6.2%. Rated it a B/B+.

   'Nuther brewski that I found to be fantastic: DuClaw Brewing's Spruce Willis. As was on the front of the can, AND the famous movie quote: "Yippe Ki-Yay Mother F%#*er!" At 8.2% ABV, a big Double IPA with a hazy pale-orange pour. Near 2-finger fizzy head. Strong notes of mango, and what I called tropical pine...pine trees in the sand and on the shore, all in the smells that wafted from this delicious brew. Tasted of sweet papaya, citrus, and the resins associated with spruced up pine tips. 50 sticky IBUs. Fat with juicy, grapefruity hops. Nice maltiness to balance the bitterness. Pine nuts be damned, I still need another! Rated an A.

"Welcome to the party, pal!"
-John McClane