Secret Surf Trip January 2000

From ICCC

Surf Lies were saying some big things about the surf in Devon this weekend, so we did the usual last-minute running around on Thursday and Friday to fill the car with people. In the end there were 4; me, Garth, Ross and Louise paddling, and Gaynor as team artist-in-residence and shuttle-bunny, whoops, I said I'd never call her that.

On Saturday morning Ross and Garth elected to head off to the Erme in South Devon (a mere 80 miles away) but Louise and I stayed at Putsborough to surf. The waves were good, not anywhere near as enormous as forecast but good fun. Small on Saturday a.m., 3 feet-ish at Putsborough, clean though. After low tide at lunchtime, the surf picked up, 5-6 feet by the end of the day, REALLY steep, bomber. The rip was working too, so a complete piece of [censored] to paddle out. Louise however found that learning to surf whilst the tide is on the ebb meant that she spent quite a bit of time sitting on the sand! She had some good rides though, and only swam a few times...

[1] Top of the Erme

We stayed in the pub from 5.30pm until >1am, how I managed to go paddling the next morning I'll never know. Ross and Garth had a good day on the Erme, by the sounds of it, although an expensive one for Ross as he lost yet another ukp250 excess on his car innsewerants. Garth found that rubbing his knuckles along sharp rocks was not a good idea, funny really, you'd have though he'd have figured it out without trying it.

On Sunday morning, Saunton 5-6 feet, light onshore wind, very "setty" and very long rides on the green. Again, there was a nice rip working so a doddle paddling out, although Garth and Ross were too dim to realise this and spent ages battling out through the waves, getting a right spanking in the process.

[2] The top section of the Erme is pretty low

[3] The 'slot drop' - the start of the river proper

Fun and frolix and free camping at a secret location. A good one.