"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experiences."
-Gordon B. Hinckley

Sunday, July 26

Riding Giants

This weekend we were lucky enough to be witness to one of the biggest swells to hit Newport in years. This phenomenon of 15-18, with the occasional 25+ footer consumed our weekend (and we loved every min of it), and each time we hit the beach to watch these giants and the people who tried to ride them---we found it harder and harder to go from sand to pavement and leave them behind (mostly because ever time we tried to leave they seemed to get bigger and bigger)! Below are some photos I took over the two days we were there. It was a bit hard for my little point and shoot to get a nice crisp close up sometimes, but I think it did really well! =)

This is from Balboa Pier Thursday night at around Midnight, we heard they were getting big and despit Brodys busy busy week, he was still up for a drive to check things out! And we were glad we did! As we were driving up the main street to A Street, (and other neighborhood) were completely flooded, and we thought "No, that can't be from the beach", but sure enough, it was! =)
The surf report for The Wedge on Friday, July 24th: 15-18 foot with the occasional 25+ wave

"The Wedge is not a wave -- it's a 20-foot-plus meat grinder dreamed up by the devil himself. It heaves, bends and pulverizes in ways that good little waves aren't supposed to act. The first time you swim or paddle out on a solid day, a typical thought might be, "Dang, is my chiropractor covered in my medical plan?" -Surfline.com

Can you spot the body boarder in the photo below?

Saturday July 25th- The rest of the cool crowd!! =) They went down beyond 3 towers
We just couldn't believe how big these waves were. We saw so many that were easily 25+ foot.
We really felt for these guys. There were so many people who just should not have been in the water---In the hours we were there watching they did about 4 rescues, and looked exhausted!
This was taken as we were trying to walk away, as you can see the water came as high as the crowds--and higher, it took me a sec to get my camera out again.....and then we headed back for more =)

It was SO pretty! We just LOVED it!!
Here is a video I put together real quick tonight, I still don't know how to save it or compress it so its not so pixilated on the web....the end clip, I think is the best!!
We had such a blast this weekend, just relaxing at the beach and watching these magnificent waves! We are so lucky to live so close to one of the worlds most famous spots for waves.
PS- I'm sure my posts will get shorter someday! ; )

1 comment:

Lacey said...

Ann these pictures are amazing. Jake and his step brother actually went and surfed these waves the Thursday before this weekend. Crazy right!