Pay No Mind, the Rogue's session notes.

"There is a Taoist saying: The way to do is to be. I've come to believe that surfing is as deep and meaningful as one wants to make it. At the same time, surfing is as shallow and light as pure fun can be." - Gerry Lopez
Cruisin' the final frontside of the night. Pure fun. 66th Street and Holiday's, 6/25/2020. 

   It's good to get wet. This time of year provides ample opportunity. Just a matter of taking advantage. This week I did. Early on, got in some paddleboard time again...winds had picked up on my way home from work. Did a quick check. Water had a slight wind texture with the occasional passing boat wake. Dropped in. Headed out. Still wanted the core work so I stayed to the river more than in the past, but still explored a couple more of the Pines canals. Knew it would be glassy in the canals. Skeeters were biting if I got close to any of the wetland areas. Literally forces the whole social distancing thing. Peaceful though. Hard to beat a sunset on the water.

Sunset on Shell Gut Point, 6/24/2020.

   Hard to beat surfing at sunset along the Right Coast. Later in the week, watching the surf report, it looked like it was going to be low tide, ankle high, and mush. Not so much. Light winds outta the southeast, but being a little shifty eastward, they kept the mayflies away. Water was warm now. just under the mid-70sF. Still wearin' a rubber top. After the first couple rides, I probably coulda' done without. Being a bit of a puss during this sesh...but I'll get over by next time. Semi-clean swell that didn't roll over...just kinda broke into a slushie. No matter. Sets were coming in three to four atta time. Seemed like I could get' em in one after another...backsides here and there. Slow moving, relaxing front runners. Got there about 6:30pm... out until near 8:30pm. By this time, the winds had shifted northeast. Cooler- that was my sign to wrap it. Fun night. Glad I didn't pay no mind to to the report. Classic "gotta go to know" evening. Friday got here, the Wife and I were back out on the boat. Weather Channel showed winds until sunset. We went anyway. Dropping in at the ramp late in the day, we headed all the way out past Assateague's Verrazano Bridge towards South Point and Newport Bay. On the way back we did a few drifts through the bay. Couple crabs. No fish. Fishin' has not gone well this year, but we keep trying. Turned out to be a spectacular day on the water, so we payed no mind to the lack of bites. Great way to start a weekend. Time outta the water helps one to appreciate time on, or in the Big Blue. Summer getting started. Pay no mind to the reports. Gotta go to know.

    Summer brews are now inhabiting the 'frig. Grateful Dead music used to inhabit my college summer apartment back in the day. Dogfish Head payed homage to their American Beauty album with Hazy Ripple IPA. Dogfish Head is usually a top shelf brew, but this Beauty hit a tad on the sweet side. Poured a hazy (namesake) orange with a big, 2-finger plus, foamy white head. Smelled of orange citrus, sweet malt, and peppery spice. Tastes of lemongrass, papaya, mango...tropical fruits...and herbal hops (of course...it's Grateful Dead...it had to be herbal). Some graininess in the finish. Bitter...more so than the 35 IBUs dictated. Dry. Finished better than it started. At 7% alcohol, you could go psychodelic on a few of these. Rated a B.

   Not sure if the next up IPA could be considered local or not. Cape May Brewing is located right across the mouth of the Delaware Bay. My first of any of their beers, Cape May IPA poured a dark amber with a 2-finger, egg-shell colored head. Aromas of grapefruit zest, floral hops, and malt in the background. Lacing was thick and sticky covering the rim after the first sip. At 6.3%, it had no overpowering alcohol affects, going down very smooth. Flavors of mango and citrus on the front end, with the sweet bready malts balancing the taste. More of the 63 IBUs worth of earthy bitterness in the finish. My sixer did not last long. Rated a B+/A-.

The world looks better through a cool pair of shades

With some beer on a boat on a Saturday

-Ashton Shepherd

Or a Friday...the OC's commercial harbor and
marina, 6/26/2020.