We had anchored up in a channel behind Siberut Island essentially the east side with protection from the south and westerly swells and wind. The first light brought us motoring through the inlet between a smaller island to the north were Telescopes, Icelands and.... other breaks are found. But immediately to the south as we passed was Suicides, as it is appropriately named since it is not surfable and would result in an early exit if so chosen. Around the corner however was a good spot named Scarecrows...when on has a beautiful left hook that starts outside as south southwest swells bend in and the reef wraps it around to a hollow and more shallow inside section. But the small swell and direction didn't allow or produce any of that for us on this first morning. So after a lot of paddling and getting used to surfing in open ocean with no beach nearby...everyone was ready for breakfast. After which our Surf Guide Joey thought it would be best to check out some other spots much more receptive to small swells and wind direction. As we motored south the islaand landscape of palm trees, sand beaches and open water for miles on the horizon kept everyone giddy with anticipation as it was nice to just finally "be" here. We arrived at our next destination 7 Palms which was a beautiful bay as well.... another boat was already there with 7-9 surfers already out so we took our time as is the unwritten code in this area not to swarm and swamp a place. It is always good to keep your karma at a high level here as many areas of access can be tested and not only denied but down right made miserable if one isn't a proper keeper of such codes. So we chilled and enjoyed the scenery....as a few members of the other boat started to shuffle in Joey would send a couple of our own out. The waves looked decent enough and fun....which was definitely what our boat was looking for... and nice couple days of "warm up" waves. Myself being low man on the talent totem pole probably could use a whole week or two of this, but...as it goes you have to push your limits some to get better, and everyone on the boat was again on that same page. We all eventually got out and got waves, but the inconsistency made for long waits in between sets and just more time for the Kiwi's to raz each and everyone. Good fun was had and lots of laughter so all was well regardless of wave count. As the other boat left to motor to another spot in search of waves.... Joey made the call to stay as the small week swell would not be providing any juice to other spots nearby and there just aren't that many small swell breaks here...so we might as well stay until things pick up. That was fine by all of us.. and we enjoyed a PHENOMENAL dinner from Ruli the cook. Not to mention one of the best sunsets of a lifetime!!! YES that feeling of we are FINALLY here still abounded and so did the laughter, local bintang beers and happiness that surrounds surf trips, good friends and good food.....and oh yea a kick aas boat and crew in an exotic location.
Almost forgot..but nightly awards are given out...as is the tradition on a rugby tour where a team travels to another country for some test matches to tune up for a season or tournament....while on the road a Kangaroo Court is held to hand out awards based on the prior day/nights shenanigans...Dick of the Day is usually a bad move or being a general dumb ass in anyway. Much like Ass of the week or any other fraternal group or team meet up to decide such nonsense that happens and whereby the art of story telling is every bit as important as the action itself.
Since I had noticed and swiped a pair of white hotel slippers from the HW in Padang...they were just too silly looking not to take, Mike, Dom and I decided that this would be a good place to start. A Cinderella type of give away to someone that's being too much of a sally. SO the first night for example AJ got the sandals for not table sucking (drinking the spillage off the table) a beer he had knocked over. He was worried about the table dirtiness. We were all worried more about wasting beer....naturally, that is the more understandable action...even though we had ordered 29 cases MORE of beer than what was allotted in our boat pension/price...which was 3 beers a day per person...almost an unimaginable amount among southern hemisphere drinkers like Kiwi's...and when in Rome, I am completely in agreement.
Other awards soon came about...Wipe out of the Day...which garnered a outback looking type hat. Wave of the day... no physical award, just the recognition from your compatriots.
So the winners for the first day were AJ- puss boots; Paul - dick of the day honors for dropping in on someone and taking the wave all the while not in the position to have done so....no wave of the day or wipe out of day due to conditions.
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