After skiing yesterday, Mike and I went to the Fire & Ice bar down in the new Heavenly village. I was feeling better and the beer was going down easy. We met up with Chris so he could get his stuff out of Mike's truck as he was spending the night with vendors at the Embassy Suites. Then Mike and I headed back to the ski house.
Mike fired up the hot tub, but due to the rank smell coming out of it, Joe and I declined to join him. Mike said he added chlorine and it did seem to quell the smell, but we stayed out. A bit later Eric got back to the house and joined Mike in the hot tub. Unbeknownst to me -- and that was a good thing -- Eric went commando. Two guys in a tub and one naked, there's something wrong with that!
When Eric did finally emerge from the hot tub and put on some clothes, he quickly reached for a baloon and a box of small metal canisters. I asked, "What's that?"
"Whip-its," he said.
I couldn't believe it, but this guy was readying a hit of nitrous oxide. But even more amazing was the fact that Joe, seeing Eric's baloon, pulled out a whipped-cream canister and administered a nitrous hit to himself. Then Eric tries another hit via Joe's cannister. Shortly thereafter, Ed and Nicole join in. Was this really happening.? Maybe I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd.
A few hours later, Therese and Beth show up. Beth was so drunk she immediately went to bed. Therese stayed up for a while to try the nitrous paraphenilia. Then she said she was going to take a shower and disappeared for a long while. The next time I saw her that, she was wet and scantily wrapped in a towel looking for her clothes in the dryer, only they weren't there. It appears that all of the vicadin she was taking for a toothache combined with the beer and margaritas she drank after skiing didn't mix well and she forgot where she put her clothes. I don't think she found them until Sunday morning.
Mike and I didn't drink much last night, even with all of the other drugs and entertainment around us. We both felt much better this morning, and finally met up with Chris and headed over to Kirkwood. No breathalyzer needed this morning, we were sober. A few hours of skiing later, I was headed back to the Bay to the safe haven of my 300 sf cave.
I woke this morning with an axe in my head, but I couldn't feel it yet because I was still drunk. On the way to Heavenly at around 8:30 AM this morning, my police-grade FC-10 breathalyzer indicated I had 0.121% alcohol content in my blood stream. Good thing Mike was driving because he only had 0.062% alcohol in his blood stream, legal in California and Nevada.
Yes, last night went late. I had a few beers in the late afternoon, and Mike and Chris showed up around 9:00 PM. Then Joe and Kim showed up. Mike mixed a few margaritas, then I had some more beer. Ed, Nicole and Eric showed up around 11:00. Then around midnight, Therese, Jill and Beth rolled in. We popped a bottle of wine. Things were getting blurry and the Scrabble game was ugly. It's a tough game when you can't even spell "if".
I started to feel the axe in my head around 10:00 AM. I tried to shake it off, but beer-tequila-wine hangovers are persistent. Mike had a beer with lunch. I couldn't fathom the thought. So when Mike ordered another, I took off for a little more skiing. But the lines were getting long. Shortly thereafter, I joined Mike. A cold Coors Light took the edge off.
I got a great day of skiing in at Heavenly yesterday and managed afterwards to stay away from the casinos. I don't think there will be a second chance on this trip, afterall, I'm now on a fixed income...
The snow started falling late last night, probably 4-5 inches. Eight more inches of snow fell this morning. I slept in late, and eased into the shower. What?! No hot water? What an outrage! How could this be, there is no one else here. I took a luke-warm shower and decided to check the thermostat on the hot water heater. The only problem was that the water heater is behind a huge pile of snow off the back deck.
Having a lot of free time on this day, I dug out the hot tub, then the hot water heater. After contorting my body to get in the shed around the water heater, I found the setting somewhere between "low" and "C". I cranked it up to "C". Ahhh, hot water is a good thing.
I thought about skiing this afternoon after it stopped snowing, but I would get to Kirkwood too late to make it worthwhile. Then I decided to try to find an internet cafe to check e-mail and post my blog. But no luck. Then Jeff called me and suggested I try the local library. What a great idea! South Lake Tahoe's public library has nine PC's with pretty quick internet access.
Now time for a few beers. The rest of the weekend ski gang gets in late tonight.
I drove up to South Lake Tahoe today to hang out at my ski lease and get ready to ski tomorrow. I arrived around 4:00 PM, and with nothing else to do, I headed over to Harrah's at Stateline to try my luck. Too bad I didn't have my first unemployment check 'cause I couldda used it. Three hours, four beers and $500 later, I headed back to the ski house for a little R&R.
Got in late last night. When I did, I went straight to bed. Ahhh, the cool air and my cushy bed felt nice. It's just too bad I have a 300 sf apartment and not a 3000 sf house. Oh well, this is going to have to do for a while. Well, when I'm at home, anyway. But I don't plan to be home much while I'm on this undefined vacation.
The last day of Safari Surf School was upon me. Yesterday was a bit rough with the late lesson and the wind. And the wind was still blowing. Lise was determined to get me down to the beach for one last hurrah. But my ribs were killing me and my stomach mussles ached like never before. Even with the missed lessons, surfing was taking its toll on my unconditioned body.
Rusty and Irena went ahead of me as I grabbed my board. A few minutes behind, Lise and I followed. Rusty and Irena had gone down the beach to the south, and area Lise didn't particulary like, but we joined them. We immediately paddled to the outside. We waited for waves. I paddled in front of my first wave and caught it, but I slipped upon getting up on my board and I went crashing down in the surf. I got back up and paddled back out. Then I tried to catch another wave. It broke early and smashed over me. I was thrust deeper in the water than I thought, and when I thought I should be up at the top I shook my head, and I then could tell I was still under water. I swam up a bit more, but I was still below water. This was wierd. I made another attempt to get to the top of the water and finally made it. I wouldn't say I had hit panic stage, but I was getting close. That was the longest it has ever taken me to rise from the depths of the ocean, surfing or body surfing. And I've been smashed pretty well while body surfing.
After my recovery, Lise had us paddle north a bit. Just what I needed as my body really began to ache. I attempted a few more waves, but just didn't have the strength anymore. My last day in the surf would be a dissappointment, especially considering a photographer was there, snapping shots of us students at the end of the week. In retrospect, I guess my best surfing day was Thursday.
After getting back to casa Tucan I gathered my things, said my good-byes and Tyler and Arlene drove me to the airport. My flight was late, so we drank a few beers at the shack of a restaurant next to the airport. Tyler offered me a discount to come back another time. I think I may, but if I do I will sandwich surf school between some RR at other more populated beaches to the north and south.
Wouldn't you know it, the wind is back. With Tyler still in San Jose with Pio, Lise calls off the morning lesson again due to wind. Seems that we're only averaging 50% of our lessons. It's getting to be a bit annoying, even though we understand that Mother Nature has a lot to due with it.
Seeing as we have a lot of free time today and that it will still be too dusty for ATVs, Irena suggests we try a horse ride of the area. I'm not much of a hose guy and I haven't ridden since I was a kid, but Irena and Rusty are keen on the idea, so I figure what the hell. Lise makes the arrangements at some local stables, but the ride isn't until 1;30, so that puts our 3:00 lesson in jeopardy. Lise says not to worry, we'll have a 4:30 lesson instead today. I'm not real pleased with this as tomorrow is my last day, but again I go with the flow.
We get down to the stables a bit early, and Sara, our horse guide, is not yet ready. But eventually we get going, riding through the jungle down to the beach. Since I'm the least familiar with horses, Sara gives my the mellow horse. However, he may be a bit too mellow. He's taking advantage of me and I know it. He keeps stopping to eat the local vegitation, and I keep pulling the reins to pull his head away and to get back on path. Irena starts giving me a bad time, telling me I can't control my horse. I keep my mouth shut, knowing there are several snappy comebacks I could make, not the least of which would be a reference to Horsegag.
Before long, we've ridden down to the beach, up the beach and we start making our way back to the stables. Suddenly, Rusty stops his horse. Seems Rusty's short legs have been struggling to reach the stirrups and he's hyper-extended his knee. This won't be good for his surfing. Rusty then tells us he can ride the horse back, but he'll need to take it slow. Galloping on the horse will not work now. We meander back to the stables, and just before we get there we need to ride on the main road. We then pass a construction site and my horse starts to get his own ideas. He ignores my instructions and then happens on a ditch, looking like he's going to jump it. Then somehow, brilliantly if I do say so myself, I yank the reigns to the right and turn the horse around. By that time a local Tico is yelling at me though the open window of his car with a big smile on his face. I think he was hoping to see me get into some trouble, but I regain control of my horse and calmly get him back to the stables.
As we get there, Rusty gingerly dismounts from his horse, unsure of the condition of his knee. We then quickly get in our waiting cab to get back to the beach for our 4:30 lesson.
Again we wake to wind this morning. Although Tyler is back in town, he's readying all of his new supplies for the arrival of Surf Diva on Saturday night. Lise advises Tyler that the wind has not been much of an ally, and they decide to call off the lesson again this morning. I don't think it's that windy, but all of the paddling from the outside has been making me sore, and my ribs are tender from pounding against the board, so I don't second guess the call. Irena and Rustry seem a bit more curious.
At that point, I head down to the beach again. Rusty goes out on his rented ATV to look at some real estate and Irena hangs at the hotel. About two hours later I return to the Casa Tucan. I see long faces on many of the Casa Tucan staff. Then Marvin walks up to me and explains that Pio had been riding his ATV and been hit by and SUV. To add to the irony, I learn that one of Pio's friends was drving the SUV.
Coincidentally, when the accident happened around 9:00 AM, Rusty was on his way back from looking at real estate. He happened on the scene just a few minutes aftrer it happened. After surveying the scene and making sure no one moved Pio form his position on the ground, Rusty headed back to the casa Tucan to get Irena. After all, Irena was an MD and practicing anesthesiologist, so she could help if needed. By the time Rusty and Irena got back to the scene, emergency personnel were already on the scene. Irenea would later say how impressed she was with the medical personnel, especially considering how remote Nosara is.
After stablizing Pio, who had his leg smashed between his ATV and the SUV, as well as having slammed his head into the SUVs windshield, Pio was taken the Nosara airport for emergency transport to San Jose. Tyler decided to accompany Pio to San Jose, as Pio hod only been there a couple of times and the big city was not his element.
When we met for our 3:00 lesson, we all learned that Pio was lucky to be alive, but could quite possibly lose his leg. He'd lost a lot of blood, and his leg had been splintered in several places. Tyler would call back later with more news.
With that, we headed down to the beach. Lise was now handling all three of us (Irena, Rusty and me). Obvioulsy, Pio was not available for Rusty on this day. We again head to the outside. Irena is still doing well, and Rusty is on fire. I catch a couple of waves witch I consider to be quite satisfying given my early stage of development. But today is Rusty's day. He's found the "Happy Zone," he declares. What got him there may have been pure accident, but Rusty has the feeling and can do no wrong. At dinner, Rusty was much like Irena was yesterday, beaming and truly infected with the sickness of surfing.
The wind is still blowing this morning. Luckily I medicated enough to sleep through it last night. Tyler is still in San Jose, and Lise says it's again too windy for a lesson this morning. We'll try again for a lesson this afternoon.
Before long the wind calms. I enjoy a smoothie at the "JuiceLab" down the street from the Tucan. The JuiceLab, what a cool name. To hell with Jamba Juice! Carlos, the chief technician, mixes me a special concoction he claims to have invented. But then again, he claims to have invented them all. Someone else enters the lab and orders a sandwich. I finish my drink and head back to the Tucan.
Before long, its 3:00 and time for the afternoon lesson. Believe it or not, we're going to have one today. Once we get down to the beach, we again head to the outside. This time Irena makes it, as do I. Rusty is also in the water with us, but Pio is instructing him as Rusty's skills are better developed at this point.
I catch the first wave that comes my way. So does Irena. I catch another wave, and again so does Irena. Things are good. Irena catches seveal more and is seen beaming on her board. She's not getting out any time soon.
Rusty is having a harder time of it. He's further out trying to catch bigger waves, but is having trouble getting enough paddling speed to catch the waves. Pio keeps shouting, "Paddle Rusty, paddle!"
All in all, this afternoon was very good, especially for Irena. We head out to Fooney's Mexican Grill for dinner. And who do we see? Tyler and Arlene are back from San Jose, and Tyler has ordered several rounds of Margaritas. The place is hopping, we're happy and all finally feeling like sucessful surfers, at least a little bit.
The wind howled all night last night. I mean it really howled. I thought the roof was going to blow off my room. And it didn't help that every time I did get to sleep, I woke five minutes later after hearing debris go "plunk" on the thin roof of my building. This was not the right night to go to bed sober.
By the time our 7:30 AM meeting time came around the wind was still blowing harder than ever. Tyler left for San Jose yesterday, so Lise was our instructor again today. But she informed us the water was too rough for a lesson, and we'd try again around 3:00 PM for the afternoon lesson.
I then had breakfast and headed down to the Nosara Surf Shop to talk to Pio, a surf instructor with whom I had also scheduled an ATV tour of Nosara for today. Pio tells me its even too windy for an ATV tour, as the dirt roads of Nosara would kick-up so much dust the trip would be a dud.
At that point, I headed down to the beach to check-out the heavy surf and see the area a bit more than I had. Down on the beach I meet a blonde from Texas checking out the tidepools. We chat it up a bit. She's staying nearby. Hmmmm...
Three O'Clock comes around and its still too windy. Lise calls off the afternoon lesson. Irena and I hang by the pool a bit, then she goes for a nap. I figure this is a good time for a few beers. I belly up to the Casa Tucan bar. Lissette, one of the local Tica bartenders is working. Marvin, the Nicaraguan waiter comes up to the bar. We hang out and shoot the shit for a while. Finally, dinner time rolls around.
Tyler keeps telling us that he needs go into San Jose to get supplies in order to get ready for the upcoming visit of Surf Diva, a womens surf school run by two sisters who will be visiting Nosara next weekend. Therefore, Tyler instructs Lise to give a combined lesson to Irena and me this morning.
I get off to a rough start, forgetting much of what Tyler taught me yesterday. But soon Lise teaches me a new trick, and I start getting up on the board with regularity. She is still giving me a push when the waves arrive, but I'm getting up nonetheless.
The wind was beginning to blow during our afternoon lesson, so we headed to the "outside" where the surf wouldn't spray us in the face as we waited for a wave. The "outside" means the area beyond the breakers. Paddling becomes important now, as surfers on the outside must paddle to get into proper position to catch the waves.
Irena was a bit skeptical of the outside. Something about it scared her. Apparently this was the problem she had encounted in her other two visits to surf school as well. That was surprising to me, especially since I had learned that she was a MD, an anesthesiologist, actually, and therefore a very rational person. But before long, Lise called me back into the inside, informing me that the water was still too rough on the outside for Irena to feel comfortable. We practiced getting up on the board for a while longer on the inside before finally giving-in to the now howling wind and heavy spray from the surf.
We had a quiet dinner at the Tucan, and we all called it an early evening in preparation for another day on the water.
Since it took me 14 hours door-to-door to get to Nosara yesterday, I opted for beer over my first surfing lesson. Yesterday I also met Irena, the only other surf school student in camp right now. This is Irena's third time to Safari Surf School, and this time her stay will be for two weeks. This time she has vowed to make it to the "outside" or quit surfing altogher. I'm not yet sure what she means, but I don't ask.
Yesterday, Tyler also introduced me to Lise, another surf school instructor working with him, as well as Marvin and Mario, two Nicaraguan brothers who manage much of Casa Tucan.
We headed out to dinner at Blew Dogs, a place with better food than the name suggests. I had fajitas, and Tyler made sure we had plenty of maragarits. And I had some wine as a nightcap when we got back to the Tucan. Afterall, the sounds of Nevil Jose Garcia were in the air. He encourgaed us all to "Enjoy your appitizers," even after everyone had eaten their dinner...
Then he "rocked" the place as only he could...
Today, I woke with a dull hangover, but Tyler brought some croussants down for a quick snack before our first lesson. A short time later I'm carrying a surfboard under my arm as I walk down to the beach with Tyler, Lise and Irena. Can I really do this?
The first lessons starts with Typer telling me to just float on the board while he pulls me around giving me instructions. I find it ironic that one of his first instructions is for me to lay on the board head upright, with my forearms on the board and with my bicepts perpendicular, "like I'm driving my truck." Wait, I thought I was just excused from that business!
Before long, Tyler is pushing me into a wave and finally gives me instructions on how to stand up on the board, and I do. Can surfing really be this easy?
Leaving my house at 9:30 PM, I caught Caltrain to BART, and took BART to the Airport. After a few delays, TACA flight 561 departed SFO around 1:00AM. The flight included free beverages (which were rationed sparingly), and a free bag of vinegar and salt potato chips. Sandwiches could be had for $5.
I opted to stay on a liquid diet, savoring my two screwdrivers, but hoping for more. When it became apparent no more drinks would be available, I flipped on the iPod and hoped to settle into a comfortable flight. But wouldn't you know it, the Indian guy next to me then pulls a plate of chicken curry out of his bag. This thing reeked like it had been in his bag since he left India! He took a few bites and put the container in the seat pocket in front of him. Mind you, this was no Tupperware with locked-in freshness, this was a flimsy container and I smelled that thing for the next 5 hours! Aye yi yi!
Finally we reached San Salvador. I longed for clean smelling, curry-free air. Ahhh, I was finally off that plane!
After killing a few minutes by changing into shorts (it was warm in the new climate) and purchasing an El Salvadorian Coke, I boarded for San Jose, Costa Rica. I was in the back of the plane again. And wouldn't you know it, that same Indian guy was two rows behind me, and by the smell of his backpack as he passed, he obviously was still carrying his curried chicken. Pardon me for asking, but why is an Indian dude going to Costa Rica?
After ahout an hour later, we arrived in San Jose. I quickly cleared customs and headed over for my last leg of the journey -- on Sansa Airlines. The Sansa terminal is separate from the main airport in San Jose. It actually reminded me of a Greyhound bus station, not that I've ever taken Greyhound.
My flight was delayed about an hour, but finally we were off on our 15-person prop plane. Did I mention there was no security check before I got on? And the pilots are in the cabin with all of the passengers? Well, I tried not to think what could happen. In any event, it was a rocky ride, but we made it to Nosara airport in one piece. And Tyler, the co-owner of Safari Surf School, was there to meet me. He's exactly what you would have expected for a surf school teacher -- mid 30's, well tanned, laid back, with Arlene, his 22-year old Costa Rican girlfriend, waiting in the SUV.
We drove the 3-4 miles of dirt road to Casa Tucan, my home for the next seven nights. The roads had a strange smell. Tyler, alternating speaking English to me and Spanish to Arelene, informed me that the roads smelled that was because the locals pour molases on the roads to keep the dust down. Apparently there is no money for pavment.
Tyler quickly checked me into the Casa Tucan and showed me my room. It wasn't quite the luxury accomodations promised on the website, but it seemed okay, and Tyler fetched me a beer, so I reconed things would be okay.
I got laid-off my job yesterday. And wouldn't you now it, I have a trip planned to Costa Rica. My flight leaves tonight at 12:25 AM. I have a few things to do before I go. I'm sure glad I don't have to work today!
