" ... is becoming a reality."

...just something I've wanted to do for quite a few years.

It may not be the best time of year, nor the most epic surf trip destination....
...but I've always wanted to travel the California coast.
I've talked about doing it for 4-5 years, and now its going to happen.

It's a little ways away yet ... leaving in August.

Reservations are done....
....round trip cost from MLB to LAX, LAX to ANC, ANC to LAX, and finally LAX back to MLB ... $15
Thank you Delta SkyMiles

...renting an RV out of LA, heading north for a while...at least to San Francisco. I definitely want to see the coast from LA to San Francisco ....from Santa Barbara to Monterey, Morro Bay, the Big Sur area....and more. I've heard the stretch of coast north of Monterey, between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay is one the world's prettiest drives.
........and then heading back south to San Diego to check out few of the usual and my favorite spots I've surfed before, San Onofre, Swamis, Blacks and hopefully find a few new favorites, ... and then back to LA and home.

Gonna play a bit of tourist and catch some of the more 'well known' sights, the "hippy district", the "wharf", that big bridge that you're not supposed to surf under ... but I don't play on venturing too far from the PCH. That is going to be my main road...as far as I know now.

It's a month long coast trip...all the spots I've always heard about....
...not in any particular order, but....
Morrow Bay, Morro Rock (a beachbreak left-hander that peels away from the 576 foot Morro Rock), Big Sur, Malibu, Huntington, The Wedge, Santa Cruz, Pleasure Point, and a host of others I can't think of right now.

I hope to catch 'em all...
...whether there are waves or not, the scenery has to be beautiful.
And as far as waves...., it doesn't take much to satisfy this 'ol Florida surfer (who was born in California)

Actually it's a 5 week plus trip ... flying to LA then to Alaska for 5-6 days to see my son, back to LA and pick up the RV and go surfing/exploring for another month.....

I'll look for waves in Alaska, but.....brrrr.....though it does get to 55 degrees in the summer, and my son Chris just recently called as he was watching the tidal bore wave come in....
....he said it was "longboardable" though I'll probably stick to glacier exploring.

I've been mapping it all out... but with no set times or destinations...
...just going.
I've been reading and collecting all sorts of tips and info...
...and found lots from searching all the posts on 2ndLight.....a wealth of info from others that have gone before. Thanks to all that have posted about their trips.
And a big thanks to DSand, whose home and local break is Malibu, who has also given me lots of suggestions and information.

....but if you have any comments, input, or suggestions...all are still welcome.


This will be my California home for a month........
.....or more


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Puerto Rico 11 - 24 - 2013

make sure you take a look at jalama state park about an hour north of santa barbara.i scored that place unreal.if anything its probably one of the most beautiful state parks in the country.also look for el cap on the way there.its right off the pch on the way north to jalama.get a surf map or storm riders guide and check it out.have a ball!!!!

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www.barefootinpublic.com
LIVE SLOW AND SEEK EUPHORIA

Stoked for you Sunrise. August can get good with Southern Hemi's and tropical action off Mex.

Alaska is on my list to surf. Not as cold as you would think with todays wetsuit advances.

Looking forward to the photos

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Life's a waste of time, and surfing is as good a way to waste it as any." MSD

"IN THE 60'S POPOUTS WERE RIDDEN BY KOOKS, NOTHING HAS CHANGED." -- Gerry Lopez 2005.

Sounds like a fun trip. Northern California is a beautiful place. I've eaten the sweetest strawberries in the world in Half Moon Bay.

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If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

When in Santa Barbara make sure you check out Channel Islands surf shop. Just up the street is the Santa Barbara winery. Five bucks for a tasting. At the harbor is Brophy's, a good place for lunch. I would also agree with checking out Jalama. It will be the first place past Ventura to catch any surf. It is south swell season and souths do not hit Santa Barbara. Even if there are no waves at Rincon, walk down the path and imagine it being 8 feet and winding down the point. Smell the eucalyptus trees! Enjoy your visit.

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Share a wave, make a friend.

Sunrise, I have made three road trips to California. You are going to have a B-L-A-S-T my good
man. PCH is one of the prettiest drives you'll do in your lifetime, not to mention seeing and surfing
all of those breaks. Enjoy it to the fullest my surfing brethren !!

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Shut up and surf...

You have to stop at Malibu and surf - great waves. When I surfed there one time ( I have surfed ther twice), I told the others in the line up I was from Florida and they started giving me waves. There were a couple in the line up (1 old man and 1 weather women), that was dropping in on everyone. You just aviod those but everyone else was fine.

All you will need is a 3/2 suit and maybe only a spring suit. The farther north you go, the cooled the water gets. Malibu water temps usually never gets into the 70s. It's usually upper 60s.

Have fun. I'll be out there in lat October or early Novemeber this fall for my California surf trip.

good for you....it should be a great trip. I'm planning on doing something similar either next spring or early fall myself. Going to tag a-long w/the parents for about a week and when they leave port for Alaska,
I'm going to finish the rest of the coast. btw: you got a PM

Sounds like a lot of fun! Good luck finding vacancies at shoreline campsites, though. Unless you got reservations, there is almost always a waiting list in the summer. Aside from that, Cali is a beautiful state for cruisin'. Have a Great trip!

sounds like so much funn

im surfing lowers this summer

im soo phsyced

im 5'6 would a 5'11 be a good size?

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† <0)))><

Live Strong
Surf Strong
Love Wins

P.S. If you get to Santa Cruz, make sure you check out the surf museum. Its in the lighthouse building on the cliffs at Steamer Lane.

Hey Dan! We're just back from Ireland. Guess we have some time to surf together before you go. What a wonderful trip up/down the coast. You will get lots of nice waves, and that's a great climate to be "camping" in. It's been sooo long and another lifetime ago since I've been there. You will have a great time.

You might want to consider the bore anyway. Chris said it was surprisingly warm there in January. And you'll have your wetsuit.

So when does the 2nd Light "Bus" depart?

You'll need to fill that thing up like a clown car so that you don't get lonely surfing all those So Cal spots like Malibu.

Only 2 people dropping in on others at Malibu?  Try five guys dropping in on one already claimed wave.

SoCal water temperatures are skinnable/ low 70's in August.

Sounds like a sweet trip, anyway.

Like to hear about the campsite situation in case I decide to do it down the road.

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There's no surf on Wall Street!
One man's loss is another man's gold...Operating principal behind Wall Street, and sadly, to a large extent, America

I will have my bags packed and ready.

Lessee, you're supposed to pick us up at Cardiff, right?

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[Feminism is] a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians. ~Pat Robertson

AHHHH Malibuuuuu


I'm gunna hunt for some more.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/flsurferzmom/
flsurferz@gmail.com
"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" Dr. Seuss

Be sure to say howzit to the WS crew when you pass by the lane...

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Be silent, be swift, be vicious!
Finn McChool

Okay, here are some pix to psyche you up for the BU!

Maybe you'll meet some famous people:






MY SISTER!





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http://www.flickr.com/photos/flsurferzmom/
flsurferz@gmail.com
"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" Dr. Seuss

too cool, don't forget to bring extra memory chips for the camera! I've always wanted to go to California myself...one of these dayz...

Good luck and have ablast Dan, we'll all be back here wishing you good waves and great times!!!

Report back often.

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Ah, religion, bigotry dressed up as morality.