Surf Trip II 2003

From ICCC

It was dark and stormy night, the wind howled through the rigging and the waves crashed against the hull. The Captain came up onto the deck and said "Crew, Crew, Gather round crew!" And this is what he said:

It was a balmy evening in June, Our Hero's birthday, the canoe club met at an earlier than usual time and changed plans to cruise down to Bristolish to Asa's rather lovely abode for a BBQ. Then on to Croyde for a bit of a surf if the perky swellcast was to be believed. What they'd failed to take into account was the 3 devils that sit at Hugh's shoulder and are responible for his misdeeds almost entirely were somehow coming in the bus. So the trip down to bristol took on a Cheech and Chong aspect as countless following motorcyclists had to stop for the munchies. Mark escaped in John's car and hugh headed down with Charlotte + sarah unaware of the beast he'd unleashed. They ate a meal in the pub while they waited for Asa then joined all at Casa Denton for a magnificent bbq that put all barbeques ever to shame.

From the cooking device through the cooking to the meat cooked it was amazing and the bit's of greenery that usually grace the side of your plate in politeness were in fact each worthy of a meal in itself. While everyone digested the devils sat on Hugh's shoulder and then pudding was delcared. The existance of the "pudding stomach" has been a contencious issue amongst anatomists, but I would like to put forward the 3 pudding stmoch hypothesis. Banoffee Pie was the best pie ever, chocolate cheesecake and something else I skewered off Sinan's plate! After not being allowed to tell my theory of the origin of the universe, even on my birthday, (incredibly tasty Lasagna) some strange liquor was consumed, then we all fell into our assingned sleeping patches and passed out.

A late by recent canoe club standards start left us at the mercy of M5 roadworks but we arrived in Saunton to be greeted by hicksy and Lou who'd been there for ages! hicksy went for a surf but noone else felt inspired until Catherine justin and Leo arrived and Hugh and Justin hired a couple of longboards and proceeded to show everyone how it was done!

At 7ish we retired to a campsite in Woolacombe, sorted the bbq and John did his best to meet the standards of the previous night. A tall task but eventually all were full and we drank some more beer and admired the fantastic sunset over the sea before realising the time and the Need to go to Woolacombe for Marisco Disco. Hicksy's 20 minute walk turned into a 40 minute trek, so some fell by the wayside and drank until an unspecified hour in a nearby pub. The Woolacombe hardcore made it all the way down, enjoyed a drink and the delights of Marisco's. No abba and steps to be heard, just full on funky house and many drunk people. None more than us, especially Sarah and James, who should be named and Shamed for highlighting their mutual desperation. We retired to the campsite via a taxi that cost a tenner, but it seemed cheap given the yomping great hill that was in our way. In Rik's Tent some loud SHhhing at each other occured only to find the next morning that most people were probably still on the beach below the campsite.

Sunday and Croyde, Some excellent beach cricket was played with some erratic displays from all but John who quietly picked up some wickets, played some shot's and sportlingly hit out. The Surf had picked up to a very respectable 3' with maybe some 4' in the sets. however the boats stayed firmly on the roof and only the surf boards were removed. These were able to provide all users with some big rinsings and some fast rides when eventually waves were caught.

After a shockingly fat cream tea in Pollys we all retired to our respective vehicles for the long journey home with plenty of time to inspect our new skin colours and wished we'd used a higher sun block factor. (except smug me who's finally learn't his lesson!)

Many thanks to all for making the trip such a good one. I for one will return to North Devon again, and will always have time for Marisco Disco, surf and longing in the sun.