¡Cuatro amigos en San Onofre!

[billie_morini]

Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to experience is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

¡Cuatro amigos en San Onofre! (Four Friends at San Onofre)

An intrepid group of Surfing Waves Forum members recently convened to share the stoke. San O is quite possibly the 4th best longboard break on our water planet. It's clearly #1 in the hearts of Los Cuatro Amigos!

From left to right: billie_morini, IB_Surfer, Oldie, & BaNZ

[billie_morini]

Gratuitous artistic SoCAL surf photo! In reality, los amigos were waking up, warming up with strong black coffee, and waiting for tide to recede so the waves can build.

[jaffa1949]

A nice photo for Jaffa to see first look this morning!

[billie_morini]

Surf is building. The intrepid amigos head out to conquer sweet morning swells.

[billie_morini]

Miso the Wonder Dog determined the morning was too cold for surf and hunkered down. Miso is the furriest member of BaNZ' household. She dreams of growing as large, strong, and brave as Roxy Ridgeback (billie's huge Rhodesian Ridgeback).

[jaffa1949]

This morning coffee is being held in Frostrian conditions,

, our local surf break lately.
Well met in SanO

[billie_morini]

The fire pit is ready for the return of cold surfing amigos. The larger pieces of wood in the blue box and placed on the concrete ring are maple. billie saves the wood from Winter gardening activities for times like these. The maple was seasoned (aged) for more than two years. Los amigos will share at least one photo showing how well it burns.

[billie_morini]

Oldie paddling out! Just 24 hours earlier, he was enjoying(?) near freezing air temperatures and snow flurries back in Das Vaterland (Germany) on the Continent. Oldie is quite the surfing safarist because this is not his first San O adventure. However, the remaining tres amigos believe it is the best time he has ever had at San O. They are also certain, their companionship assures no future surfing by Oldie at San O will ever exceed this most excellent day!

[billie_morini]

Small set rolling in. Two constants at San O: 1) numerous peeling waves, and 2) friendly surfers in lineup and on shore.

[billie_morini]

Random photo shot. Sweet waves are compliments of San O at the Old Man section. Meanwhile, BaNZ, IB_Surfer, and Oldie are catching morning waves several hundred yards to the south of this field of vision.

[billie_morini]

Oldie returning from 1st session! The chilly morning helped stave jet lag. This is one happy surfer that caught some pretty waves and used them as Kanaloa intended. (Kanaloa is the Hawaiian god of the sea.)

[jaffa1949]

Hey I like the fire pit idea, Beach fires are often illegal around Oz, and sadly if they do occur are in the sand, burying them after the fire, risks burning walkers feet and summer winds can blow hot coals and sparks into tinder dry bush land in summer, big risk!

We do often have free electric BBQs at popular beaches! Shrimp on the barbie!

Oldie much better off than his nearest waves, !

[billie_morini]

Another gratuitous SoCAL beach photo. This photo facilitates a game. Find the:
A) volleyball net
B) tiki hut
C) VW pop up camper van
D) palm tree

[jaffa1949]

How many times has the Tiki hut burnt down and been rebuilt?

[billie_morini]

We'll pause for a moment. Los Cuatro amigos took a break to warm, share on-shore camaraderie, and enjoy monster burritos provided by Mrs. Morini. Mrs. Morini knows monster burritos are 1 of 2 SoCAL surfer diet staples. The other diet staple is fish tacos. Thanks to Mrs. Morini, los amigos also enjoyed pistachios, mochi crackers, jerky, ginger ale, red bull, cashews, apples, and more. Thanks to Mrs. BaNZ, los amigos enjoyed hot black tea, dried squid, and other good things. A little bit later, following session #2, los Cuatro amigos enjoyed billie morini's famous santa barbara margaritas ( ).

[billie_morini]

Stealing some of Oldie's thunder. billie discovered he possesses a very limited number of Oldie's professional quality photo. The first of these shows how pretty my little love is. This little toy wants to go anywhere and everywhere with her master, BaNZ. billie is her 2nd love.

[billie_morini]

billie tending the warming fire after the 2nd session.

[billie_morini]

Good, warm start!

[Oldie]

Oh Man, what a treat. You walk your dog in the middle of the night during snow fall, hop on the plane for a 11h flight to LA, realize your forgot your driving license so you have to take an uberexpensive Uber to St Clemente, and then this. At and veryveryvery early (and chilly) sunrise hour a fantastic person picks you up, you connect immediately to talk endlessley over various topics, and you land in SanO. He reveals that not only he has arranged surfing company, but prepared delicious burritos, delightful Margaritas, brought beer, nuts, water, wood for a fireplace and whatever you can think about you might need for a true Californian surf experience. And then Banz and IB_Surfer join not only as great supporters in the lineup for this completely out-of-form beginner (last surf 7 months ago). But are truly great people to hang out with on a sunny afternoon. SanO also helps with benign conditions. It does not stop there , the people at the HB Surf museum could not been more enthusiastic and more supportive (this forum now has a place in their records - see picture), the breakfast at the Sugar Shack not better with perfect service. After an almost(..) statistically relevant survey, Billie has proof that most young people now surf longboards, and the young guns at the pier do great stuff with mediocre conditions. Thank you sooooo much Billie, and thank you Banz and IB_surfer for being the best lineup companions in the world. Here's hoping for a repeat in 2023!

[IB_Surfer]

Fun times, multiple peaks with waist/chest high sets and occasional shoulder standouts. The morning was brisk and windy but the sun came up and the wind tempered, making for perfect conditions. The dawn patrol was leaving as we entered the lineup. Plenty of waves for everyone, an awesome days for “surfing waves”. Great to connect, see you again!!