Girls Gone Wild ~ Lancelin 2011

The trip this January was the best yet. Conditions a week out were generally looking pretty good and we were all excited. Then Tropical Cyclone Bodhi... (forgotten it's name already) reared its ugly head and it was looking like we'd be stuck inside waiting out the storm. It hit Friday night, waking up the light sleepers with lightning outside the window and heavy rain.

But the next morning dawned; sunny, hot and a little windy. We checked the back beach which looked uninspiring. It was decided, with much bravado about knowing the way, that we'd head up to Wedge.  At the very least we had 2 4WDs for security, if very little know-how. We got there relatively easily and ended up parking behind the dune. There were plenty of waves to be had just over the hill and there wasn't any beach to drive on anyway - the high tide from the cyclone.

What we found...

Paradise

The waves were a little fat this first day, but still super fun and we basically had the place to ourselves.

There was just enough time to get back to our rental and cook up a bbq storm before the real storm rolled in and the power went out. Wind, rain, lightning, plus thunder this time. A much needed trip to the bottle-o, via the beach to check the carnage. Onshore mess. By the time we got back home, the wind was conspicuous in its absence. A perhaps unwise decision to indulge in champagne slushies before two of us raced back down to the back beach for an arvo session.
No wind.
The empty car park quickly filled as we slip-slop-slapped, as though surfers everywhere had received the 'all-clear' signal.
We found a peak to ourselves and passed a happy hour surfing glassy waves under a glassy sky.

 

The power eventually came back on around 9pm. All the pubs were closed and nothing was open for dinner. Instead doughnuts and CCs were on the menu.

Sunday was windy. Kinda NW, which isn't good. We felt that we'd make a go of it anyway and head straight back to Wedge. Protected by a northern groyne it was super fun and less fat than the day before. Helped along by the fact that I'd taken out my 6'8 the day before, surfing my 7'6 this day was so much fun. Best surf I've had since Gnaraloo. Things were really clicking and I was getting some great turns and carving happening.

We're all chomping at the bit to get back up there. But do we wait for another cyclone?