Friday 3/04/03

After a somewhat singing and hassle-free journey, the minibus mix of freshers and "polys" (old guys that cant keep away from the club!) arrived gone midnight at Lobb Fields Caravan Park, 10 minutes away the perks of the Croydian beach. Putting up tents in the dark indeed was reasonably swift due to the fact that, for once, the heavens had not opened up. Anticipation of the first day's surf was growing high.

Saturday 3/04/03

Bizarrely you would have thought that the tiresome journey meant for a late start for the platoon of eager canoeists. For some unknown reason though freshers Kathy and Dee were up running at 5.30am desiring some exercise - as if they wouldn't receive enough this weekend! Pre-breakfast activities apart from a lethargic game of frisbee, involved putting up "the mothership", true to say President Andy Parker brought the largest tent known to man for solely himself and Gemma to inhabit. After a quick stop for a full English at Tesco's in Barnstaple, the team made haste for the sandy shores of the Cornish hotspot. Feelings were reserved though for the day ahead as it was completely overcast to say the least. Yet approaching the headland, we were blessed with continuous clean-breaking 4ft plus waves. These were not exactly what the extreme paddlers thought would be challenging, but they would be excellent for play surfing. In a word they were wrong! Swims were plentiful, especially amongst tentative freshers as they were literally being pounded by the surf. Nick and president Andy ventured out in the two man "toppo," yet Andy embarrassed us all by swimming instantly on a somewhat smaller wave! Hilarious!. Around 3pm the group endeavoured to find food. It was off to the home-some rewards of a warm sitting room, television screen, cream teas and cheesy chips at Polly's café. The evening, certainly was not uneventful, for a start the group had to put up with the torment of fresher Owen's awful attempts at joke telling over dinner and Kate's food throwing at the classic Cornish restaurant heaving with surfers; "The Thatch." Further still certain people, namely our loving president, decided to exceed the personal capabilities of alcohol consumption. In other words he was plastered and had severe difficulty in singing the lyrics clearly to the club song "Father Abraham" on the way home. To top off this evening that was challenging the events of the first night at the River Dart, Mr president passed out in the mothership during a post-dinner drinking session.

Sunday 4/04/03

After Nick Harding ran into the side the side of a moving mini-bus (hilarious for those who saw) and with surprisingly very few hangovers, the club headed for the comforts of the oversized surfer's English breakfast at a tiny typical Cornish café close to Woolacoombe Sands. Daring members like Dom, fresher Andy and our humble leader took on the all-eating challenge. Nearly losing Kathy and Dee, the morning comprised of a comical round of pitch and putt on the scenic headlands nearby to the shore. Compliments to Dom for his 71 shot victory as being statistically the worst player of the day, as well as providing classic comedy for all those around you! On leaving the sands, stomachs laden with pasties, it was a quick pit-stop at the campsite to pick up the gear and then off to Croyde again. Yet passing Saunton sands, it was clear this was the place to surf. Those waves were clean and colossal, as well as breaking far out to shore. The consensus opinion that this would be our rendezvous point for the afternoon. After hiring some boards at Croyde, the three amigos, Owen, Nick H and treasurer/fresher Andy became traitors and went surfing for the day. Similarly Kate, Fritz and Marie took naturally to bodyboarding in those powerful waves. Nick Ramsden, Mr president and our very own canoeing legend Simon paddled out, facing some monster 9ft waves, with our ancient member Marco taking a beast of a swim miles from the shore after a successful roll when his deck popped, apparently! The evening brought further mayhem, Simon was the all-conquering pool shark, Dom lead some strange discussions about his tormented childhood whilst leading a bear hunt! and Nick H had concussed-related problems in identifying satellites!

Monday 5/04/04

Early morning cricket meant for some light entertainment before another mammoth breakfast at Ruda Caravan Park. Laziness, tiredness and severe wetsuit chaffing kicked in as fewer people paddled on this day. Poor Marco though, carrying that heavy "toppo" to the beach on his own, getting there and finding out no-one wanted to paddle with him and in turn having to carry it all the way up the beach to the bus on his own! Quite amusing really! The stories continued about our president, he swam again due a collision with a large wave and Simon's boat and ended up scampering about the rocks like a little lost child! Quality photo moment! The adventure was to conclude with Dom's skipping epic's on-shore and communal singing to "Bohemian Rhapsody."

All in all, award for clown of the weekend goes to Nick H and most revolting due to lack of control of his bodily functions goes to Nick R. The most exhilarating weekend this year!

By Nicolaas Harding (who doesn't know that Croyde is in Devon. Doh!)