Cardiff Reef Winter Classic IV

We do an annual camping trip to San Elijo State Beach each winter. 2007 went well. We ate, hung out, played with the kids and surfed. Many good friends came and we enjoyed hangin around the campfire. Drew brought a trophy (Cardiff Cup) to award the person who best represented the spirit of the Cardiff Reef Winter Classic. The winner's name starts with a J and ends with an N.

See you in 2008 for the Cardiff Reef Winter Classic V....

Southern California Wildfires

Some pictures from the fires in October..............
Nothing came within 10 miles of our house. Lots of smoke and ash though. Everything in town shut down - no school, work, anything.


In between watching news reports Jon went surfing. With all the smoke in the air it felt like smoking a pack of cigarettes while excercising. It was a strange contrast of situations: The waves were some of the best all year and while surfers took advantage of the conditions there were burning homes in the distance. There was a quiet respect for what was going on outside our trivial water pursuit. There was just nothing else to do so why not surf?

So we went down to good ol' Baja for some sun and surf. We got both in addition to Bacon, Carne, Pancakes, Tecate and....Oh yeah -- waves. Mar Del Antonio San didn't let us down. Great Times with Great Friends. You know who you are. Mi Amigos......

Untitled

At The Harbor with Friends

Drew and Tanya, Adam, Kate and Ruby, Luna surfing.

Jon's new Takayama

A new longboard for those small days.

1st day of school

The kids have great teachers this year.

Border to the East Road

Alright....here we go....left SD and fought traffic for 2 hrs to get to the border. We need better freeways. Night fell as we passed Salsipuedes and entered Ensenada. Hotel Coronado was waiting for us. We stayed there 2 months ago and forgot our ice chest. The owner -- seeing us arrive told us he had our ice chest (amazing)-- good start for a trip.


Anyway.....pay attention on the road.







The Baja Trans-Peninsular Highway is the most dangerous highway on earth (i read that last year - most deaths). You have the lane you're in and that's it. I say, "whatever - Ive done it 65 times", but it's different when steering my entire family forward. I ran over a dead dog to assure not going head on with a semi or off a 200 ft cliff.





I decided to take the East Road (Later learned pre-runners for Baja 1000 race got stuck here for 1 week). I had heard this raod was rough but passable. Nice it was until about mile 15 when we traversed a 45 degree incline over sand, holes, volcanic rock and everything but dead bodies in a non 4x4 V6 Ford F150. We made the first obstacle and Lucy (who never worries) said "I thought we were gonna die back there". It is what it is.

I KNEW we'd be OK and that's why I continued against all better judgement. Who will walk the 25 miles outta here to find help? Lucy or Me? Me. The machine (truck) was still moving -- and so were we.

We were all in and we had supplies in case all hell broke loose. I wouldn't have done it otherwise...................

I promised I'd email Ford my story for marketing purposes. Then we made it to town.

We were alive!!!!!

First Day at the Beach

After almost dying and killing the F150 on the way in......We began to enjoy the reason for the trip. I may be an idiot but it's good to stretch yourself outta
"the normal easy" we wake up with each day. Life was not always as we know it. We were nowhere near the caveman but we all got a taste of it. Good for the soul.

Jon trying to find the mini tube..........Family enjoying every second for a few hours.

Aluminum Unknown

Future Beauty.......what was to come...............Lovin life.