Surf Trip I 2003

From ICCC

For the whole year we have been hoping for rain on Wales trips and had none but yet when we go to Devon and want sunshine we get dumped on... typical. There was a not surprisingly a high drop out rate when people thought about camping in the rain. Never mind - more Tesco values chops for the rest of us.

We set off in reasonable time but still only leaving 4 hours to do a 4 hrs 10 minute journey (according to the AA) to ensure we got to the campsite before it shut. Somehow though we made it in 3 hrs 59 minutes, this is either due to some expert driving or the fact that Theo would not let us stop anywhere on the way except for a F1 style fuel stop prompting Jim at some point to prove that one can of lager equals one and a half cans of urine!! After a near altercation with the campsite man we got pitched and waited for James to arrive, had a couple of beers and went to bed.

The rain stopped at some point and by morning it was dry and we hit the pub for breakfast. The surf at Croyde was looking a respectable few feet so we all got kitted out and headed in. After some pretty impressive surfing by the boys and a slightly less impressive performance by the girls everybody had had enough and some of the kids amongst us decided that kite flying would be more fun. The challenge being to stand as near to the kite as possible without being hit. Theo was too hungover to appreciate this bit and was hit on the head but has no memory of the event - concussion or too much beer? James and Rob had very close shaves and ended up on there backs in the sand much to everybody's amusement.

Then the Cup Final and the breakfast pub were calling us so there was a compulsory few afternoon beers followed by more beers, kite flying and a BBQ at the campsite. A seed was planted and in typical IC engineer style a kite was to be made. Several hours, kebab sticks and Tesco carrier bags later there was a poor effort at a kite from Rob and Asa. Looked good but shame it didn't fly!! This was topped by the cheaper version, sort of like a carrier bag attached to a piece of string from Kath, Theo and Harry. Not to be outdone Rob and Asa had a few confidential and technical discussions and, nobody wants to admit this, they had a pretty impressive kite.

We then realised we had spent too long playing and not enough time drinking so hit the pub. An excellent venue with a late license in someone's upstairs bedroom (or so it seemed). After James, Rob and Harry's tent party back at the campsite everybody retired in preparation to the kite test flight the next day.

After pasties for breakfast and a new kite purchase in case of emergencies we went to Saunton Sands. The value kite was superb and had quite an audience from passers by, and even managed numerous stunts before the kebab sticks could hold it no longer and it broke. At which point somebody must have mentioned we were here to surf so we did. The surf was not quite as good as Saturday but provided a few hours entertainment for all. After ice-creams we headed home via the pub and then Ruth's for homemade carrot cake and tea - very civilised. Another excellent trip with new toys discovered, whoever would have thought that a kite could provide so many hours of fun. Wait until the next trip..... there are rumours of broom handles and bin bags for a bigger better version!