dirty hippy life

congrats! Only advice I have to offer is....ALWAYS wear a condom. Always. I'm serious. Serious as hell.

 

don't get caught in SD county sleeping in your van. 30 days minimum first offense or something like that. OC has something similar on the books. if you do it and a cop knocks on the door, never answer it.

just go north asap. central coast has better/way more consistent waves and is the van-hippie center of the universe. especially between santa cruz and SF. nobody cares if your trolling it in a van as long as your not bothering anyone. easily the best stretch of coast in North America if not the world. you'll find out quick there's no reason to go anywhere else.

also, expect a rash of judgemental, snide bullsh!t from others with no info to offer on this forum.

 

I cruised a van from Sanfrancisco to Santa Barbara and back for a mere 2 week excursion. It was a good trip in January. The channel islands (not the boards) got on my nerves so I headed back north quick for bigger and better surf. Watch where you park because the meth epidemic results in tons of break ins. I didn't surf a couple spots because there was so much broken glass where you park, indicating a good chance your stuff may be stolen while your in the water. The crowds at some spots are mind blowing. Localism can be an issue but less so if your respectful and solo. You'll have fun, maybe too much. Enjoy and use your heads!

 

Head to northern Cali. Dozens of surf breaks, Virtually no crowds easy vibe, Lots of camp spots. Be ready for colder, heavier water and the sharks,

 

probly better to head south to Baja.warm empty waves vs cold big scary sharky waters.i don't know much about northern cali,but I bet theres some undiscovered bigwave spots up there.we know about ghost trees,mavs,up in Oregon they have nelscott reef.im sure theres something else lingering up there.and ocean beach in san fran is the cold water Puerto.beats being stuck on the eastcoast

 

Make sure to dip down into baja- you will not regret it- less crowds and really good waves! Just don't take all your 8k with you Mexico... You might not come back with it...

 

I'm with some of the others. I did a trip like that a couple of years ago, and Southern Oregon to Santa Barbara was awesome with plenty of places to camp and lots of great places to surf that weren't very crowded, if there was any kind of crowd at all. Canada and Washington were beautiful, but the surf was kind of sparse. Once I hit LA and south, I just felt suffocated by people and the camping costs soared or became illegal. One exception though, the San Clemente area was really sweet. By the time I got to San Diego, I just wanted out. The crowds and traffic were ridiculous. That all said, given the time of the year. I'd start north and work your way south. Winter's coming and better to be South as it kicks in and enjoy fall up north, while things aren't as cold. Points south of Diego are awesome too. As mentioned, skip So Cal, and go to Baja.

PS: Don't fear the sharky rumors. They're out there, but its rare to encounter them, let alone be bothered by them. You've got a better chance of being robbed by unruly locals than you do of getting bitten by a shark. Oh, and yes, the water is cold up north, but no less than 45 degrees up into Oregon. Its not like the East Coast where the temp keeps dropping. Its pretty constant. 65 in So Cal, 55-60 in Nor Cal, and 45 - 50 in Oregon.

 

I currently live in Nor Cal (EC transplant) and believe me the shark threat is real. With that being said, I would stick to the more crowded spots north of Santa Cruz. I wont mention names but there is a killer rivermouth near me that is probably one of the longest lefts in california that is rarely surfed due to the shark population.

 

I'm curious...I haven't been to the Nor Cal coast in a very long time. How real is the shark situation? I haven't heard of any reported attacks this year. I realize I'm on the east coast, but GW attacks usually make national news (I think?).

SFS - sounds like an awesome opportunity. If it were me I'd look to spend more time in far Nor Cal, OR and maybe WA. The huge crowds would bug me.

 

Grab a diesel van or truck with a cap and convert it to bio-diesel. A buddy of mine and his friend did this and traveled down the East coast to Florida, then west across Route 10 to California, and then south into Mexico. They built bunks in the bed of the truck for four of them. They had one 55 gallon drum connected to the fuel line and a second to filter oil that they were able to collect. It sounds like it was a pain to be stopping at fast food joints left and right asking for their oil and getting rejected. But the cool thing is enough of them said yes that they never had to buy fuel! I probably wouldn't go this route b/c I'm not very mechanically inclined but I think the kits only cost $1,000, so if you're on a tight budget it could be worth it. Just my $0.02.

 

When I lived with Ocean0 in Thousand Oaks, CA we used to drive a van to Oxnard and surf the Strand. Sometimes we'd park on Camarillo Ave for days. Between NW swells we would venture through the La Colonia neighborhood and hang out. Well, we did until Ocean0 started wearing Cowboy jerseys and started wearing a kind of pantyhose/stocking thing on his head. Then he started saying things like, "Cliques barrio, from La Colonia to Scanlon...." And then I knew it was time for us to go.

Sometimes we would head over the hills to Leo Carillo. They got, like, this big rock there. But they have lots to park the van in. Ocean0 was always speaking of finding Sam George and having a surf-off with him. We never did find him, but Ocean0 claims to have surfed-off with Lonnie Brothers down south quite a few times. He never did tell me who won. We watched Todd Martin rob two old ladies one afternoon.

Ahh, what days they were. Aleeda and Peak wetuits and Ocean0 always reading Breakout and listening to Oingo Boingo.......

 

you always remember it wrong PJB. it wasn't our van we'd drive to Oxnard. it was yankee/rcater's van he had to live live in when his parents kicked him out after the sex change. ahh those were the days! cruising with the coast blasting Goy George. was good ride till he/she got caught up in that prostitution sting on sunset blvd.

better then my sam george surf-off was the time you fought richie collins and broke his oakely blades in Newport. remember that? he was mad at you for saying a mean thing to Rob Machado or something. the smile on your face as he pulled your red Irish mullet and straddled you with his crotch in your face slapping you repeatedly with his webbed gloves was priceless. im still bummed you got scared and moved away. you shouldn't have called the cops and threatened to sue him.

please come back PJB. Surfer Mag is looking for a new editor. no Aids or drug test to apply.

 

I think it's a bit odd that you, ocean-go-go, include me in so many of your posts, especially the posts where you're mixing up your goofy memories along with your metaphors. Perhaps your obsession with me s/b taken as a compliment, so that's where I'll leave the latest broadside from you.

On the other hand ... yikes, you might just be the snaggle-toothed cracker from 'Deliverance' whose favorite line was "you got a purdy mouth, boy." Billy-boy, watch out son.

 

mmmm yes, yes......post a pic of your prudy mouth.....

 

Wow I haven't thought/fought of Richie Collins for a long time. I never really liked that guy or his dad. I'm still nervous aboot web gloves to this day. TFL Power Gloves !! Oh, hells yeah. Crew cuts and floaters and neon Oakley Blades. Ahhh what an era.......what an era.........

Well, Richie had some money back then and I figured I'd be American and litigous..........

I'm looking for a driver so I can go hunt down David Eggers. Cadbury don't go out of county on account of Sherriff Little in Chickasaw County. Plus, he's on parole for them moonshine convictions. I hear Mr. Eggars is, like, out in the Californian desert these days. I want to get him bent on revenge - to go after those he claimed sabotaged his career. All those Bodyglove teammates of his. How dare them make David take the last shower at their sponsors North Shore team house.........

And..........all of the youngins sit and say, " What in the F are these two clowns talking aboot...."

Well another day in America.........another mass shooting. Be careful out there.......

 

Dave Eggers lives with Mike Purpus in a purple van. Mike was a bit older then Dave as you know. wonder why Dvae always called him coach?

 

Funny you mention these, just the other day I saw a dude with these on. It was knee to thigh high and this older guy probably 45-50ish w/longboard couldn't catch a wave to save his life and wore cat woman gloves like ole Steve83. He had a buddy who was much better at catching waves then he was. Dude told his buddy, "you really should get a pair of these, they're a big help". Reply "Nah i'm good, don't think I need em, but thanks", catches a wave....

 

i always this exact same conversation all the time. except it's about SUP's.

 

You should start with English / typing lessons before you clown anybody, for any reason.