From: s1139457@giaec.cc.monash.edu.au (ERLS (Erland Briggs))
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Subject: SURFari (fairly long)
Date: 6 Oct 92 00:32:56 GMT
Organization: Monash University College Gippsland, Churchill, 3842, Australia

Howdy crew,
    Well I have just been on a mini-surfari up the coast, and I thought I'd
    tell you all about it.  Firstly I live in Traralgon which is about 150kms
    east of Melbourne (Victoria, Australia).  My younger brother and I took
    the car and headed up the coast to Merimbula(~450kms).  We left on Saturday
    26th September at about 7:00am.  We arrived at Pambula (just before
    Merimbula) at about lunch time and checked the surf.  It was really sloppy
    and blown out, so we didn't bother going in.  We then proceeded to
    Merimbula and checked out the three beaches there.  Main beach was also
    sloppy, the bar was too small to be breaking and short point was dumping
    on the beach.  We decided to get some lunch and hit the pokies for awhile.

    Sunday morning was looking good, there wasn't much wind and the swell
    looked to have picked up a bit.  The forecast had said that there was a 2-
    3 meter swell which sounded good.  We checked short point but the sand bar
    was in the wrong place and for the whole week the were no waves.  Next
    stop was the bar, which is at the river/lake entrance.  When the swell and
    wind are right, it goes off.  On Sunday, the wind wasn't too bad (slightly
    off shore, NW) but the swell wasn't big enough.  However, there were still
    and number (about 10-15)people out jostling for waves.  So we decided to
    check Pambula.  It was also fairly shiity, so it was back to Merimbula to
    surf main beach.  This is a beach which is about 5kms long with the bar at
    one end and Pambula at the other end.  There are heaps of different peaks
    all the way along that are barely ever surfed.  We surfed at one we called
    'butthole beach', it is about half way around the crescent like beach and
    thus the wind was fairly much right off shore.  It is directly opposite
    the airport if anyone knows the area.  The waves were small but the wind
    made them fairly hollow so we had a lot of fun.

    Monday morning was much the same as the previous day, and after checking
    all the regular spots we decided to head up the coast a bit more.
    Although we were still staying in Merimbula, we thought the surf at Tathra
    (about 20 mins North) would be worth checking, we weren't wrong.  As we
    came over the small dune and end North tip of the caravan park we saw some
    of the filthiest little barrels around.  The wind was directly offshore
    and the waves were about chest high with head high sets and there was only
    one guy out.  By the time we got out to the line up there were three
    stand-ups, two long boarders and two body-boarders plus the two of us.  It
    was still one of the best sessions I have ever had. I caught plenty of
    waves and did some cutties and reo's, but the best part was getting
    barreled twice in a row.  The first one was a left and the second was a
    right , and although I didn't make it out of either, it was still the best
    feeling and I can't wait for it to happen again.

    The next day didn't start out so good.  All the local beaches were blown
    out and it looked like tathra was the go again.  But there wasn't enough
    swell and thus there were no waves.  So we headed up the coast a little
    more. This time we followed a dirt track that was more suited to a 4WD
    than my little toyota. Eventually we stumbled on a bay which was picking
    up ever wave in the area.  This about the second best session I have had
    but it only lasted about 1 and a half hours before the tides stuffed it
    up.  The wind was blowing off shore again (W)and the waves were headhigh (
    3-4ft back) with overhead sets.  The best part was that we had bought a
    disposable underwater camera for about $20.  So I would catch a few waves
    with my brother inside snapping away, then we would swap.  It was really
    coo, but we havn't had it developed so I can't tell you much about how
    well it worked.  The best wave of the day was an overhead wave the I stole
    from my brother.  I paddled around the back of him and got in the best
    position so he had to pull out.  However because of the extra paddle I had
    to make an extra late take off, and this required a hell bottom turn,
    which ended up giving me the most powerful ride I hve ever had.  Instead
    of going straight down the line like I usually do, This wave was up and
    down and I never lost power ... It was really cool.  Normally I'll do a
    cuttie or somthing and end up losing all my speed and just going straight,
    this wave was different it was HELL.  I was totally stoked, it wasn't long
    after that when the swell died  and the tide came in.  We went home

    The next day was hopeless the tides were high at around lunch time which
    meant that the surf was no good( the tide has to be fairly low for the
    sand bars to work) and by late in the day the wind had wrecked any chance
    of a late surf.  However we did check out a few new breaks.  The first was
    the Bournda beach-Wallagoot lake beach.  This is a fairly long beach
    facing east out to sea.  The are heaps of peaks and bars, but when we were
    ther it was on shore and high tide ... not good.

    The next day (thursday) We chaeck the regualar breaks but none were
    breaking and the wind was mainly on shore for every beach around.  So we
    cruised up past tathra  to a beach called Gillards beach wich is Very
    similar to Bournda.  You can camp the for $5 a night (6 people) or $30 a
    week.  You choose your own spot and you can be as close to the beach as
    you like.The drive in is about 5kms down a rough track but once you see it
    you nearly cream you r pants.  There are no shops or anything as it is a
    huge national park or something.  But it looks good.  The swell was way
    overhaed but the wind was onshore.  We didn't surf there however, because
    we are still only learningand it didn't look too safe to be out there on
    your own.  The water was also fairly cold and my brother only had a spring
    suit(short arms and legs and about 1mm thick) so we just watched for a
    while.  There was noone within miles and heaps of large waves were gonig
    unridden,  next time I go will be with a huge group and we will absolutely
    have to stop off there.

    The last day was friday and we had a quick surf at the main beach in
    Merimbula before driving home.  The waves were mushy and blown out but we
    still had fun.

    All in All it was a good trip and we found some new spots to surf .  Can't
    wait to go back.

    See-ya in the line up
    Erls

    PS  sorry about the spelling and length, but it's better than nothing !!!