Ranching

It's been a while. I last surfed Monday, the 18th. Swell was a mix of northwest and south - strange for summer, but fun. Of course the session did not go without incident - it's summer time. As I was about to take off on a wave at second bowl, a greenhorn paddled under me, oblivious to my postioning. I pulled out, which put me on the back of the wave. From on top I watched the kook deep-six his board up to his jaw. It was then I realized his board may tombstone right into me or my board. I could do nothing because I was balanced on the back of the wave. Sure enough, the board shot right into my leg - it fuckin' hurt and I still have the bump. I told the idiot to get lost, but of course he didn't know what I was taking about. I mean, he didn't feel anything. The next day I left for Colorado to help pop with his ranch - hence the title. Learned about water rights, irrigation for hay farming, what hay is, and met plenty of folks who are the roots. Some are the branches, some are the leaves, some are the roots. Great landscapes past me by as I crossed four states. Wildlife and Motel 6 life. I got back into town and immeadiately hit the surf. Caught the end of a south swell at sharks - got some fun waves. Of course, I got hit again as another of a long list of kooks dropped in on me as I made mach 6 going down the line. Same leg - the shin this time. Yes - I asked him to leave. Now I am in pre-emptive mode. If they even look like they can hurt me, I'm not waiting. The picture I included is from some friends who recently visited the West Bank. Not much surf in the Dead Sea, but man can you float. While our media outlets have no problem providing reams of propaganda regarding Israel, we get precious little regarding the Palestinians - other than they are terrorists. I'm working on posting the story of a visit with the Palestinians by some folks from the East Side. It's great stuff- stay ready. It might be like waiting for a south swell set.  ¶ 12:46 AM