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The Game

Once upon a time a long time ago there was a electronic table game called Pac Man. It had funny little characters that you controlled by hand paddles. The object was to maneuver them through a maze like structure while consuming every thing in their way. Points were scored based on the length of time you were able to stay in the game. 

My husband has been a waterman all of his life. He grew up in a small beach town on the west coast known as "the most southwesterly city" in the United States. We could see the Tijuana Bull ring from the beach and back in those days you could walk there on a low tide day. He surfed from the time he could carry a board to the water and along with his dad rode some of the biggest waves over a mile off shore. On the days there were no waves, he would surf up and down the beach while being towed behind a jeep. He learned to scuba dive and would bring home the fresh catch of the day as well as filling our refrigerator with abalone and lobster. 

He sailed in small boat races on the east coast. Surfed the frigid waters off Rhode Island and learned to ski on the blue ice of Vermont. He bought his first Hobie Cat and with me in tow raced in the first regattas. Our first boat was christened the Turtle, due to the fact it was upside down so much of the time. Later, it was wind surfing and snow boarding.

Stand up paddling is for calm water. He is a stand up surfer and regularly surfs in overhead surf on some of the prettiest beaches I have ever seen. As an early bird there are many mornings he has the waves to himself before the rest of the world begins to rise.

His newest undertaking is kite surfing. Your upper body is being pulled in one direction by a kite, while your lower body is strapped to a flat board skimming the waters surface. I liken it to one foot on a skate and the other on a banana peel. And yes, there have been a few mishaps and at least one lost board.

One of the things I love about his adventures is that they have taken us to places we probably would never have seen. In the early days it was to some luscious tropical island with crystal blue water and warm breezes. Most recently we visited the not so exotic Lone Star state. Surprisingly, the SPI lagoon is warm and wide with long stretches of flat water and some of the country's friendliest people. The newest spot is in Baja, four hours south of the border. Just drive to the end of a dirt road and take a right through the sand dunes. As you pop out onto the sandy beach you can't believe your eyes. You can drive your car on a deserted beach that goes on for mile, after mile, after mile. The warm air is tempered by the heavy wind and might be the most perfect spot on earth. 

With an eye to the sky, wind gauge in hand, he is in hot pursuit of the perfect wind. This Pac Man is racking up the points and is still in the game.