Surfed there three weeks ago for the first time. Very cool place and the guys in the water all seemed pretty cool. Surprised to see a guy with an M16 at the fence, but it is a base.

-------------------------

"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

The days when Patrick AFB was unfenced and open to the public are gone. I recall an AFB in New Jersey that had been similarly open got gate control after demonstrations during the Vietnam war. The naval base border has always been a clear no-go but in the mid 80s to mid 90s, I don't recall seeing weapons. Or didn't bother to notice.

The local specialty really was scoring on messy waves. It's an art, and why I was charmed by this "afternoon extra" from a local video reporter.

Hanna Park offered opportunities to drift surf from the poles to the south boundary, then walk back (or have a car shuttle) in the shelter of the maritime hammock on the return north.