Iceland from Sitka on Vimeo.

After a solid week of wind and waves, and then stunning blue skies, the only way to end the week is

with a few cold ones and dust off the BBQ. I am certain my physical malaise over the last week was a lot more psychological than I first realised. After offering my resignation, a weight seemed to lift from me.  I managed to put life in to perspective once more, and scored two great 4.5m sessions in the cross onshore in the long evenings. North Devon is a truly stunning place, and with days like today, the dark days of winter seem so very far behind.

Didn't even look out back today, just headed straight for the beach. Forecast has been on fire for the weekend although 2 degrees (35F) is enough to keep you on your toes. That said, all I could feel were blocks of ice where my feet should have been. A school boy error of too much haste, left me without boots and the dilemma of a short surf, or the drive of shame. I opted for the former, and can just about feel my toes again. Thank goodness for Finisterre socks, and thank you for the new ones that arrived (by coincidence) this very morning. 

I Believe I can Fly ( flight of the frenchies). Trailer from sebastien montaz-rosset on Vimeo.

 Why people waste perfectly good waves at 6.30 in the morning is beyond me. I scored an empty beach and chest high peelers in the perfect off-shores.

I have been fooling around with blogging now for perhaps a little too long, but viewing images and posts from so many sites, I still manage to stay inspired. Sadly the same cannot be said for Laura,  loosing interest a while back due to the ill words of one person in particular. This person posted anonymously for sometime on her blog and clearly followed it with fervour, yet could never find anything pleasant to say despite their clear (unhealthy) fascination with it. What has transpired over the past 20 or so months was the ability to finally find out who this person was, and finally close the loop as to why. Of course, what actually went on in their brain is their own mystery and something I have no desire to understand. Simply it is enough to say we now know, and can't quite figure out why this person would still continue to seek our friendship.

The image above is taken from pinterest - la vita e bella, and perhaps more purely reflects the good intentions of so many authors and readers in the blogosphere.  Long may this continue !

Been wanting to just get out and simply go to work or take the poor old dog for a walk, but it all seems just too difficult right now. The cold arctic wind seems to give little respite as the wind chimes have been continuous since our return, and only a handful of windsurfers making it out to the spot for a nice little clean wave session.  The only real bonus is that it is blue blue skies, appreciated all the more as it warms the back room. Take care out there !

Got this great link from my old friend Trevor, who despite living on the far western shores of Vancouver island, follows the European windsurf scene pretty keenly. What I like about this, and so many of the sessions I have scored in the past, is that it harks back to when I first became interested in windsurfing. It was the ability to enjoy the very worst of the weather conditions, which is an important facet living in the UK. So when I see proper windsurfing like this getting the publicity it deserves, it takes me back to the times of hunting and tracking weather conditions, from the 5 am Coast guard reports at Sheringham point through the dark days of mid winter.

Broke out the CC slider to make use of the small but clean conditions this morning. I usually only reserve the long board for warm summer days in the height of the small swell season, but I couldn't resist today particularly after reading CP's post on Adventures in Trim.

The reason I love winter so much, and these cold days of Easterlies, is the ability to catch some of the best waves of the year, with literally an empty line up.  Today was just perfection in .5 of a degree C.

Sad news returning home today, an elder statesmen of the cliffs passed away last night. Roger loved this place more than most and his sage words have resonated with me for sometime; 

'Don't ever grow old'. 

Rest in peace to a true gentlemen.

Somewhere between waist and shoulder high (these were perfect Al conditions - who is kidding himself on the LA county beach breaks) and so much fun in blue sky. 

A week of solid swell, offshores, combined with mild temperatures and yes even blues skies. But come to the weekend, and its a biting breeze and a hefty paddle out, with cold grey skies offering little sympathy for the office dweller.