Beautiful day on the bay

Surfed second bowl and one or two at sharks. Waves were waist to shoulder high with some head high sets. Sun was out and the wind was light out of the west-northwest. Morning sickness and high tide push the surf window towards the afternoon. Most of the usual suspects were out, and the masses were generally thin. Looking back, Sunday was blown by the zouth wind, and Monday was waist to shoulder high, but inconsistent. Monday wasn't lacking for a crowd either. Last time I mentioned the slow push toward commercialism of the point. Seawalls, mansions, 41st and Portola Mall. I read some else's lamentation on the subject. Beachtowns being turned into tourist destinations, stopovers for the wealthy, and consumer havens is not new. Down south the blight has already stricken, and those who recently entered the stage have no memory of what was. Huntington Beach Pier is a good example. Once the Golden Bear jammed, now the Mall cranks whatever is in vogue and resort hotels are ready to "check you in". I was there a few years ago and the only remanent of the Golden Bear was a hotel lobby display that included an old poster. Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and others have fallen as well. Take a look around you and dig what we have because forces greater than you or I want to change it forever. I heard it called "up-marketing". Yea - there are those who want to "up-market" the point. What is especially nasty is some of those folks don't even live here. They stop by, but for the most part, the money leaves our area. Starbucks or the doughnut shop? Freeline or Billigone?
  ¶ 11:39 PM