It really does feel like we're closing the door on summer. And just to rub it in our faces, Mother Nature dials up the gorgeous and we get spectacular weather at precisely the time that school really kicks in and soccer starts and we find ourselves running in a million different directions.
But we got this one perfect weekend, and we Clausens made the most of it.
My brother and sister-in-law schlepped down from San Francisco to spend it with us, and between hanging out at the pool, BBQing with friends, playing bocce ball at a winery with still more friends, grubbing on takeout sushi and riding bikes in the 'hood, we hit the beach for a surfing lesson.
My brother and Brian gave the boys a warm-up lesson in the pool the day before, and I'm choosing to believe that that's why I failed so miserably in my own attempts to hang ten. That, and the fact that they have lower centers of gravity and a much more favorable height-to-board length ratio. It was because of all of that.
Anyway, here are some shots from our afternoon at the beach. As you can see, it started out pretty foggy and cool, but then Mother Nature remembered that it was time to bring out the awesome.
The boys totally had the hang of it, especially this guy, who wanted to ride wave after wave after wave... until he decided that all he wanted was lunch.
Just for laughs, I share with you documentation of my own attempts:
Much cuter...
... and more impressive (even if the waves weren't)...
It always helps when you have your own personal steward to get you over the waves in your way.
Both Brian and I also practiced open water swimming, in preparation for the Pacific Grove Triathlon next weekend. (That's Brian's arm in the foggy boat/bouy/arm shot above.) We were a little unnerved but mostly amazed at the seals (sea lions?) that trailed him as he swam and bobbed all around during our surf adventures.
But we were MOST CERTAINLY glad to be out of the water when a crazy stream of birds -- THOUSANDS OF THEM -- made a beeline around the pier and then began dive-bombing at what must have been a bait ball.
Yeah, that was right where we'd been swimming earlier. And that photo doesn't even begin to do justice to the number of birds out there. Yowza!
Oh, and just because they're so rare (I know that may be hard to believe, but it's all too true), here's a Clausen family snapshot from our time at the winery later in the day. Thanks to our friend Ray for getting it done. :)
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