We worked and practiced for about 3 hours then took a little jaunt around the sea wall enjoying the clapotis then surfing back into the pond at the west end. We ended, of course, at Bid Daddy-o's for great food and great conversation.

Another great day on the water. For the newbies, for the rest of us that just got to practice what we don't.

Thanks to all--
    Mike Brown
    Steve Holtzman

PS: Over the years most us have reported our trips as they happened. The boring ones and the exciting ones when there has been carnage, near misses and when things have just plain gone to s..t (fill in the blanks). This has turned off some people, some of you have sent emails that we are too "extreme" and the like.

A recent newbie reported that he was initially wary of joining one of our announced paddles because of what he had perceived from our trip reports but found us to be congenial and helpful and did all things with the utmost in safety in mind including our equipment requirements, entry and landing techniques and safety procedures on the water when the blue bird weather disappeared.

In all the sports and activities that I have been involved with the only thing that has come close to the camaraderie and helpfulness of everybody has been rodeo and that was a long time ago. What we do is considered extreme by some, but it is in the interest of safety and skill, not adrenaline, endorphin or testosterone rushes. We are all here and basically whole because of the group dynamic and evolution of skill and practice, the looking out for one another on the water and the propagation of what we have learned from the skilled instructors who have taught us and who we have advised new folk to take lessons from. These are my thoughts and I hope what we have done today and will do in the future will make this a better sport and a safer sport for those who participate.

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