Willie's Day at Pelican Bluff: A Photo Essay
Editor's note from Kai: I gave Willie the byline this week because he had Opinions about how the beach day went and frankly the morning was about him. I held the camera. He held court. Captions are direct from Willie. Punctuation is mine. — K.
5:42 AM — The truck
[Photo: Willie in a beat-up Toyota Tacoma cab, wrapped in a towel, glaring at the camera.]
WILLIE SAYS: It is too early. The window is foggy. I did not consent to this. There is a longboard above my head and I am suspicious of it.
6:08 AM — Parking lot at Pelican Bluff
[Photo: Pelican Bluff parking lot, fog low over the water, two other trucks in view, Willie on a leash inspecting a tire.]
WILLIE SAYS: There is a smell on this tire that I have to investigate immediately. It is the most important thing in my life right now. Kai is putting wax on a board. Whatever. The TIRE.
6:14 AM — The waxing ritual
[Photo: Kai's hand circling a bar of Cool Water wax across a single-fin longboard. Willie in the background, sitting on a folded towel, watching with full attention.]
WILLIE SAYS: I am the QUALITY CONTROL. I supervise every batch. I know when the bumps are right. The bumps are right. I have approved this board.
(Editor's note: he didn't actually approve anything. He licked it once. We had to stop him.)
6:22 AM — The sand walk
[Photo: Pelican Bluff beach, fog still hanging, Willie's tiny prints in wet sand next to Kai's much bigger ones, longboard propped on a hip.]
WILLIE SAYS: This sand is COLD. I have informed Kai. He is not listening. The pelicans are watching me. I count six. Six pelicans is too many pelicans.
6:31 AM — The supervisor takes his post
[Photo: Willie sitting on a folded beach towel near a piece of driftwood, ears up, watching the water like a tiny lifeguard.]
WILLIE SAYS: I will be here. On this towel. I will not move. Do not get eaten by a shark. If you get eaten by a shark, I will be very upset, and also I will need someone else to drive home.
6:48 AM — Out there
[Photo from the water, Kai's perspective: the longboard rail, a small wave wrapping in, Pelican Bluff in the distance, no Willie in frame because Willie is on the towel where he said he would be.]
WILLIE SAYS (from the beach, very faintly): I am STILL HERE. I have not moved. Some of the pelicans have left.
7:14 AM — The return
[Photo: Kai walking up the beach, board under arm, Willie standing now, tail at full alert, mid-bark.]
WILLIE SAYS: YOU LIVED. I KNEW YOU WOULD. ALSO YOU ARE WET. PLEASE DRY OFF BEFORE THE TRUCK. I AM SERIOUS.
7:29 AM — The reward
[Photo: Willie eating a piece of beef jerky on the tailgate, towel-wrapped, looking smug.]
WILLIE SAYS: This is the BEST jerky in the WORLD. The water was 65°F. I asked Kai. Kai was busy with the board. The pelicans are gone. I have done a good job.
7:51 AM — The drive home
[Photo: Willie asleep on the passenger seat, tongue out one side of his mouth, the longboard visible in the rearview.]
WILLIE SAYS (snoring): zzz
Kai's notes
That was the morning. I caught maybe nine waves. Three of them were actually good. The fog burned off around 7:30 like it always does at Pelican Bluff in June. Water was 65 by my wrist thermometer, which means I'm probably switching to Warm Water bar in the next week or two.
Willie supervised the whole thing. He's getting paid in jerky.
If you've got a Pelican Bluff regular spot, hit me at kai@williessurfwax.com with a photo of your local break — I'll feature a few in next month's post. Bonus points if there's a tiny dog supervising.
— Willie (and Kai, holding the pen)