Port A Camping Trip

One of my favorite things to do in Texas is enjoy the beach (surfing and horseshoes come to mind), the only bad thing is I live in Austin and this is not a day trip under most circumstances. Luckily for me my birthday lines up on the same weekend as the GLO's first Adopt-A-Beach cleanup, so I can make it a weekend camping trip and give back to help protect the beaches that I love so much. We had a great crew that consisted of family, friends, fellow members from the Surfrider Foundation Central Texas Chapter (made some new friends as well), and of course my dog Sadie. Here are some pictures from the trip taken on my birthday present the GoPro2, and on a side note keep an eye on your keys when you are drinking whiskey on the beach, you never know where they may end up...

GLO Adopt A Beach

So many websites and blogs and social media and so little time! Wanted to report that our third and final GLO adopt a beach cleanup of 2011 was a huge success and a ton of fun, and for such a great cause! On a personal note, the beaches of Texas have a calmness to them similar to the feeling that I get in Mexico. No rules like in California, where cops are constantly patrolling the beach (on ATVs) waiting to give you a ticket for having a beer or letting your dog roam off leash. The Texas Coast although windy and the bit of an underdog in the surfing world has stoked me so much this year, and I just wanted to say thanks to all of those who have made the Journey with me!

You can view the full post on cleanup on the freshly built (do you like it) Surfrider Foundation Central Texas Chapter's website, or check out my lovely wife's blog and amazing photographs here. Live Happily Ever Now!

Summertime ATX

Keep my head in the clouds, I see a wave

Austin has pushed my limits this summer with a heatwave that matches what feels like Nevada to me, or at least my Bikram Yoga Studio. Being sealed in four air conditioned walls for about 90 days can drive anyone crazy. Yesterday Tropical Storm Lee came in and cleared out the high pressure system (and brought some fire too...) that has been holding us hostage, and I'm not sure if it is a cruel twist of fate that it occurred on the (symbolic) last day of summer. In Austin summer has not ended, and it will still be hot here for at least a month, so I'm getting some fresh cooler air while I can (90 is feeling like the new 70 these days). A couple of random thoughts:

• Everyone should read some Richard Brautigan. My Dad bought me some of his books and let me know that my Mom used to really love reading his books. I read a few of them over the summer, and couldn't help but imagine my mom reading his books years before me. His imagination and odd sense of humor that he finds in normal people through his characters is comforting and addicting. At first I couldn't even understand why anyone would want to read these books, but eventually I got it, and his ability to steer plot lines in directions that make absolutely no sense eventually end up making perfect wacky sense.
• I really like drinking Kombucha. I just hope it doesn't prove to be another airborne type product.
• This summer I looked at a lot of clouds in Austin. It reminds me of that one full moon night down in Mexico where we drank all night and stared at the shapes of the clouds.
• I've had a lot of good BBQ as of late (not sure if Coopers is better than the Salt Lick).
• Second tubing experience was better than the first.
• I'm looking forward to Surfrider's trip to Port A in three weeks (will I get to wear a hoodie?)
• I'm stoked to be making a difference with Surfrider, and overall am becoming a better person everyday (to the best of my ability).
• The reason I'm even thinking out loud is because I read my old blog from 2008 and I thought out loud a lot.... Less "article-y", more random.
• My google analytics are looking good!
• LIVE HAPPILY EVER NOW!

Down by the water

BBQ with friends

Custom cooler with speakers

Look at my cool beach towel!

Austin is burning

Wifey and me. I'm at my happiest in water

Dog days of summer

While it's been hotter than a Bikram Yoga studio this summer, I have had some good memories thus far! Port A with the Surfrider Foundation Central Texas Chapter (double rainbow), a California trip with family in wine country, hanging out and sweating here in Austin with good friends, boating and wakeboarding on the 4th of July, and most recently Mexico and beyond. Now that Leyla is back to school summer is "sort of" officially over, but we will still have the Texas heat for at least another two months. Wonder what will happen next?

CA bear face

Port A surf crew

Dog days of summer

Surfrider Foundation Central Texas Chapter - Port A Cleanup

I should have been a model for Surfrider! Protect Texas Beaches!

This weekend a handful of members from the Central Texas Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will be heading down to Port A (how far is Austin from the beach anyways).

We will be having another much needed beach cleanup (we only covered a portion of the beach back in April), and we are looking forward to our second cleanup of 2011 at our adopted mile of beach.

The Chapter's adopted mile of beach is at Mustang Island State Park (it's filthy in case you are wondering), and will be cleaning it up from 9:30 to 11:30 on Saturday, July 16th.

The remainder of the weekend we will be camping by Horace Caldwell Pier on the beach. There we will be praying for surf (and surfing hopefully), playing bocce ball, cooking some food, playing horseshoes and bags, watching the dogs chase each other, drinking some beer, and singing some songs (in that order, but add beer in between all events). I'm looking forward to this weekend, and happy to be lucky enough to be enjoying one of our greatest treasures in Texas (not the Dallas Cowboys), the beach!

Surfrider in Santa Cruz

Side note about Surfrider, when I was 13 years old I started surfing (in Santa Cruz, CA). One of my projects for school was to join a non-profit organization. Guess which one I chose? I was a Surfrider member from 94' on. I still remember how stoked I was every year when I renewed my membership that not only did I help a cause that I loved, but I also got a really cool sticker (I got a newsletter too...).

I remember that the Surfrider membership stickers were so sweet that I put them in a special place on my Mom's mini van, so the membership stickers could be stuck on in chronological order (the mini van was covered in stickers, had surf racks, and smelled like wetsuits--- what a cool mom!).

Looking back now, I am so glad that almost 20 years later I'm still supporting and volunteering for an organization that makes such a huge difference focusing on the protection of our world’s oceans, waves, and beaches; all things that I have truly loved my entire life (even before I had a wetsuit in Santa Cruz--- COLD).

Cheers to Surfrider, and Live Happily Ever Now!

PS: This is my 100th blog post!

Texas Surf Musuem - Steve Thomas and Noll Surfboards

Signed by Steve Thomas

I grew up on the East Side of Santa Cruz surfing with surfers like Jed Noll and Steve Thomas. They gave me plenty of inspiration to improve my surfing over the years (Chris Thomas too!), and I was very stoked to be reminded of them recently at the Texas Surf Museum.

On a side note, I recently I wrote an article about Steve, and how much of an influence he was on my surfing growing up. I was stoked to get several of his magazine covers signed, and am stoked that my wife Leyla framed them for me (for my dirty thirty).

Steve hanging at the Texas Surf Mueseum

During my birthday weekend in Port A,  Leyla gave the framed magazines to me, and we also visited the Texas Surf Museum (with fellow Surfrider member Bill Morris). At the Museum, deep in the heart of Texas, I saw the same magazine cover framed and on the Museum's wall. I was super stoked to see Steve in Texas, and this edition of Longboard magazine (now no longer in print) was signed by the editor of Longboard Magazine at the time Guy Motil (I prefer my copy).

There was also a great Greg Noll exhibit at the Texas Surf Museum. In the exhibit there were vintage Greg Noll Surfboards, old decals, photos, mini boards with the different models, old posters, and even a board shaped by Greg and signed by Greg and Micki Dora. It was cool seeing this exhibit in Texas, and reminded me of how stoked I am to be riding surfboards shaped by Jed Noll (Greg's son) for over a decade now.

Here are some pics (most by Leyla Kuhn) from the exhibit, and cheers to being stoked in Texas!

Austin - How Far Is It From The Beach?

Here are my new old guy boardshorts!

After 3 years in Austin of asking myself how far is Austin from the beach? -- I finally received the definitive answer, well maybe. The answer for those of you wondering how long it takes to get from Austin to a Texas beach; it's a mission, but well worth it!

For my turning old birthday weekend, Leyla and I headed down to Port A. We took the scenic route (183 through a bunch of rural towns) that took us through the BBQ capital of the world, small towns where there are more Church's than bars (way more), then finally coming to a series of bays and lakes. As the farmland turns to water, the cowboys turned into fisherman, and worship time turns into island time.

Waiting for the Ferry

On a Friday afternoon, the ferry (a series of small tugboats that hold 20 some cars) was backed up about 45 minutes, so the birthday boy started drinking some Tecates on the other side at Aransas pass. When all was said and done, we finally got our first glimpse of the beach about 4.5 hours later (stopped multiple times en route), and upon our arrival and during the ENTIRE trip, the wind was blowing like Baja Sur at its finest (35 MPH).



Here are a couple of highlights of the trip:

Birthday Boy Trash Balloon

• I turned 30 years old with my love Leyla
• I forgot to bring any boardshorts to the beach... Had to buy some!
• Got sand in my toes and the car.
• We hung out with fellow surfrider Bill Morris
• Had some delicious margaritas (cash only)
• Picked up around 400 pounds of trash (3 of us total - two of us were really hungover - M&L)
• The GLO Cleanup was also on my actual birthday on Saturday, and buried in the sand I found a deflated "happy birthday" balloon, I think it was a sign!

Getting Ready to Paddle Out

Our Private World

• Went surfing a couple of times (I need more practice for Baja)
• Drove on the beach all weekend
• Leyla got sea lice in some bad places
• Leyla and I had a private beach and community all to ourselves
• Were able to adventure up and down Mustang Island, including exiting through Corpus Christi, where I surfed Bob Hall Pier,  saw the Texas Surf Museum (Steve Thomas sighting), and had a burger at the Executive Surf Club with refried beans, Fritos, onions, cheese and salsa.

Birthday Bread Pudding

Wifey!

•  Had bread pudding with real candles at a restaurant (they didn't sing), turns out I hate bread pudding.
• Went to the equivalent of the Jersey Shore T-Shirt store (there are several in Port A), with a live monkey and huge shark out front.
• Came home in one piece, sunburned, and stoked!

Bill and I Before We Hit The Trash

Central Texas Surfrider Ding Repair

Drive home from the beach to Austin was under four hours, taking the route on I-35 around San Antonio. Not sure which way I would take when driving from Austin to the beach, I guess the distance and time wasn't really a factor on this trip. Cheers to getting older, cleaning the beach, making new friends, getting surf (even if it is windy), and Living Happily Ever Now! If you want to see all the pics, you can view my wife's blog (we are a blogging couple now people) and all of her Port A pics here, or the cleanup here.

Birthday Beach Cleanup

For my 30th birthday (getting old) I will be in Port A with my lovely wife, and my birthday also happens to fall on the GLO's adopt a beach cleanup. This is awesome, and I couldn't think of a better way to ring in my 30's then to be helping preserve our coast. I have been a member of surfrider since I was a teenager, and am excited that many fellow members from the Surfrider's Central Texas Chapter will be attending the clean up as well. The Central Texas Chapter have adopted a mile of the beach on Mustang Island, and will be cleaning that adopted section for this clean up. Let's pray for surf, and happy birthday to me!

Here is more information about the clean up and how you can help:

AUSTIN —

The 25 th annual Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup will take place Saturday, April 30th at 30 sites along the Texas coast. "Bring the family and let's go clean the beach," said Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. "The Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup is a great time for a great cause, and has been since 1986." The Adopt-A-Beach Program is one of the most successful all-volunteer efforts in the nation. In the past 25 years, 406,000 Adopt-A-Beach volunteers have picked up more than 7,900 tons of trash from the Texas Gulf Coast. And thanks to a generous $50,000 donation by Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises LLC, Adopt-A-Beach will celebrate its 25 th anniversary by reaching out to even more beach lovers.

Volunteers may register on-line for the Spring Cleanup at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or at one of the 29 check-in sites beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30 th . Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water.

The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups are held rain or shine! Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup can help keep their beaches clean by making a tax-deductible donation online at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org . There are several different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowing both individuals and corporations to contribute to this major cleanup effort. Statewide coastal cleanups are held every spring and fall.

To learn how you can participate, or for additional information on the Adopt-A-Beach Program, please visit www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or contact the GLO at 1-877-TX COAST. Those interested may also become a fan of the program at www.facebook.com/texasadoptabeach where event details and results will also be posted.