Surfing at Sunset

Oh yeah!  Remember how I went on a cruise to the Caribbean in January?

Me neither.

Okay, so I pretty much stink at getting vacation photos edited, much less posted.  Something about being easily distracted and easily overwhelmed,  I guess.  Although, I’d like to think that anyone would be intimidated by a vacation where nearly 2,000 photos were taken.  But maybe normal people don’t actually take that many photos?  Or maybe I should just bring a film camera next time.

Anyway.  So, on this day, after we got back on ship from where did we go again?  Oh yes.  Belize.  Where the monkey pooped in my hair.  So, after we got back from Belize, my brother Jon rented out the FlowRider on board for just us to use, and it was awesome, even though I wasn’t about to try my hand (or feet, or any other part of my body) at surfing.  It was pretty much a boys only activity.

We started with my uber-athletic brother, Dave.  I’d like to take a moment and brag about this guy.  Last summer, he rode his bike all the way from Canada to Mexico in an unsupported bike race/tour thingy.  2,000 plus miles in 23 days.  This summer he’s doing one that goes coast to coast.  He’s a bit crazy (okay, a lot), but I’m insanely proud of him.

Everybody got a bit of instruction from the FlowRider guru guy at the beginning, but maybe his instruction wasn’t so great at first, because Dave immediately wiped out.

(Also, please keep in mind that I took about 400 pictures during this one hour time slot.  I have narrowed it down to only 30 and I happen to prefer the wipe outs.  They’re just more fun.)

And he’s back up and running!  And definitely enjoying himself by the looks of it!

And Dave’s out.  While we wait for the next candidate to receive instruction, who is this cutie patootie?

Definitely nothing cuter than a 4-year old curly head with a grape juice mustache at sunset.

Here’s some people discussing who will go and who will not.  I’m pretty sure at this particular moment, Jon (Harley shirt) is teasing Bria, who was pretty sure she was NOT going to try this surfing business.  And how can I blame her? Of course, Jon himself had decided he’d rather watch…

Here’s my sister-in-law, Brittany, my niece Estee, and my mom enjoying the fun.

And here’s one of my favorite pictures of the night.  Chloe and her cousin, Tychon.  These two were born just a week apart and they adore each other.  Unfortunately, Tychon lives in Seattle and Chloe lives in Michigan, so they may as well live in different countries for how often they get to see each other.  I love seeing them together.  Love.

And here’s the view the surfers had.  A Caribbean sunset.  Gorgeous.

And now my brother Nate is up and hanging loose.  Go Nater!

Ah…ah….ah…

…choo!  Better luck next time, Nate.

And there’s the sunset again.  I love the sunset.

And here we have my dad.  Raised in Southern California, he was quite the avid surfer back in the day.  And it looks like he’s still got it!

Bwahahahah….

Wipe Out!  (Feel free to sing some Beach Boys tunes right about now…)

And now it’s Tychon’s turn to try.  First piggy-back with the surfing guru….

…and now he’s heading out all on his own.

Go Tychon!

And now, The Maestro is up.  Amazingly, he stays up longer than anyone before him, despite never having surfed before.  I attribute it to his Hawaiian ancestors: Even though the hula gene seems to have skipped right over him, the surfing gene seems to be alive and well in Joel.

And doesn’t he know it?  Here we go with all the hot dog antics….

Oh, but honey?  Don’t you know?

Pride goeth before a fall.

You should have kept your hands out.

Ouch!  That had to hurt!

So remember how this was a boys’ party?  And how Bria was not about to try?

Well, she did!  And she had the time of her life!

And in the process overcame yet another fear.  Maybe I’ll try it next time.

We shall see.

Next up: Cozumel.  Maybe even before Christmas.