Sunday night was full on storm conditions with non-stop  lightning, loss of power and local flooding. Paddled out in clay brown water from river runoff. Waves had some size, but lineup and current was tricky. No complaints...two days in and waves both days.

First full day started with a dawn surf check. We have had great waves, poor waves, onshore winds, offshore winds, amazing food, great laughs with old friends, cool stories from new friends, lightning, thunder, sunshine, dolphins in the lineup, and really cold beer. It's still early Sunday afternoon.  I wonder what the rest of the day will bring. Enjoying the surf life in Mexico...

I violated a whole series of Senior Citizen Surf Tour "gentleman's surf travel rules" this week. Still fighting bronchitis and didn't sleep all week.  Packed too many boards, even knowing that the surf report doesn't warrant it (wishful thinking). Packed the night before departure (bad form). Didn't pack a ding repair kit (a sure omen for board damage). Didn't work out or do yoga all week (full on work stress this week, but no excuses allowed). And worst violation of all - allowed my head to stay 100% focused on Indian River Lagoon, fish kills and work even though it's Friday 11:15 pm... and I leave at dawn tomorrow. Need an attitude adjustment.

For the first time in five years and over multiple surf trips, we are going into a
​ adventure where the short and long-range surf projections look really poor. No complaints. Our success rate has been way above normal. Maybe we will be surprised. Wheels up on Saturday. Board bag got a lot lighter.

"Cut that cord. Pull up that anchor. Sail off the far edge of the charts through the depths where the sea monsters dwell. Leave no trace. Yet leave it better than you found it".
​

My tradition has been to fire up the travel blog about a week or two from departure.  Here we go...

Promises made one year ago about a return trip to Cardon are now in full motion. Departure for most of the crew is planned for next week. We will miss the few who could't make it this year.  I'm sure our gaggle of adventurers from Rhode Island, New York and Florida are in high-anticipation, surf-trip packing mode. I'm not there yet. Fighting bronchitis and focused on daily worries about water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.  Work-related commitments this upcoming week will cause me to arrive a bit late to the reunion. While I am gone, our very capable IRL NEP staff will captain the ship the following week. Swell projections look good.

Swell dropped to shoulder-head high. Last couple days in El Salvador will be pretty quiet at Mizata. Seems wrong to be heading back to the states and leaving my wingman behind. Surfed this morning with a crew of locals. NSB crew left this morning.

Photos reveal so many bad habits with my backhand technique, I don't know where to start. Legs too close together. Lead foot needs to be opened up. Knees to straight. Shoulders not squared and open on turns. Arms too high on bottom turn. Geez, I hope I live long enough to get this straightened out...