Hurricane Bertha ... the first pulses arrive!

We were like kids on Christmas Eve last night. We can't sleep because we imagine how it will be in the morning. Bob and I were at Crossovers before the sun had even made its way up over the horizon. We compared notes as we sat in the water. I had said, "What the ...?" with the first glimpse of the ocean. I mean, it seemed like it should have looked bigger. Four foot bouys at fourteen seconds should equate to more than what I was looking at. Bob had said the same thing, as he walked onto the beach. But, every 20 minutes or so, this determined, slightly overhead set would march through to remind us that a Hurricane was spinning due east of us. It felt good to be back in something a little more challenging. It was like I was back at Santanas again, on a small day, only the water was 70 degrees (shiver) and an unappetizing shade of olive drab. Oh, well, it's waves! We surfed awhile, then decided the crowd was increasing and the sets of earlier were not happening, and we both paddled in to find another spot. Bob went to Matanzas, while I checked every spot inbetween. The pier looked smaller. Tenth street smaller still. Summerhaven was weak, and smaller, with longboarders feasting on it. Bob's car was in the lot at Matanzas, but as I looked over the ocean and considered the outgoing tide which equated to mucho paddling for just a few waves, I headed back north. A call to Karen changed everything. Come over for breakfast, she said, and then we'll let the tide come in and hit it in the park! And, that is what we did. We had so much fun, riding the bikes out to the beach and checking it, climbing over the broken walkover. I stepped on a rusty nail and it went right through my sandal and I thought I was doomed. I felt it go through to my foot, but when I looked, there was no blood. There was a perfect see through hole in my shoe, but no mark on me. What luck! So, we paddled out, and had a really fun session. This picture was of a smaller wave Bruce shot that I caught at the pier. Thanks, Bruce! Sorry my spray wasn't bigger. A couple hours later, the onshores arrived at 11:15am, and we paddled in. But, it was okay. I was shivering by then, and starving. What fun we had, pumping each other up about the waves we saw each other get. I am so lucky my best friend surfs!