Taking Refuge

SWR report
June 5, 2008

At night, Refugio spends itself on a crowded canopy of white stars against a cold wind-blown, black sky. Kerouac's Silver Liner clacks loudly against the tracks waking us to a south facing cove whose waves toss themselves toward the point and rocky shelf, home to the prehistoric pelicans - hundreds of them - I scare them, with an early morning run around the point. Later, with board beneath my arm, sans wetsuit, I dive into the surf, frigid fanning of wave water - quick slides down the two foot surf and rolling into the cove. The sun warms the palms, and the grass, and the sand, and the water, and the shivering surfer. Joe came out minutes later with "baby blue," his 9'6' 40 pound board to offer some Northern California homage style.

Later, we drove down to Leadbetters and downtown Santa Barbara and surfed a place called "Kelps" for about two hours in the south facing sun. Once again we were the only ones out - until two young women joined us out there in their bikinis. Joe felt wimpy in his suit and hood, next to them - I felt cozy. We are both very burnt and need to get back to our refuge for sleep, beer, reading, and dreams. We dream of you, reader, and how we wish you were here with us. Every wave we hold you close to us, deep inside the water of our dreams, the water of our coves, the water of our points, chasing the tides of the days.

For the Linkers - Refugio awaits a reunion - in its natural state. The cove, the point, the cape, the grass, the bluffs of gold, the clacking jolting train.

For Joe and I, we spend one more night at the refuge carving tikis, before we head further south to Ventura County - where we hope to stay with friends.