Lost Boys & Co.

Lost Boys & Co... F oggy this morning with ½ mile visibility.  Winds were soft out of the west and the sea surface was smooth.  The air was 61.3° and the water was the same 61.3° only with increased humidity.  High tide was at 6:50am +3.3' and low tide will follow at 11:32am +1.8'.  We have a SW swell out of 215° at 2.3' and things were pretty much in the region of the knees and ankles at most spots.  Supposed to get a little better over the weekend... Shhh!  It's A Speakeasy... S o we find ourselves in this dark hallway, marginally lit by our underpowered Mini-Mag™.  It almost works better to take a photo and then look at the results to see where we are.  It turns out that were on what amounts to a dock, next to a mini-gauge rail line (like in a mine) runs parallel to the hallway.   The rusted handle in the right foreground of the first pic was used to open the door and access the tracks.  Apparently, these tracks ran all over down town and during prohibition when

Lost Boys & Co... S o, what's the oldest bar in Los Angeles?  King Eddie's Saloon...?  Pretty good!  The new owner Mike Leko took us on the cook's tour, but let's check out the surf first and then head downtown... T he fog was trying to cloud things up in the corners, as the sun kept peeking through in the middle of the block.  5 miles visibility.  Winds were calm and the sea surface was smooth at checkout.  The air temp was 59.7° and the water was up a full 3° to 63.0°.  Low tide was at 10:28am +1.6' and high tide follows at 5:26pm +5.7'.  We have a SSW swell out of 209° at 2.3' and there were some serious knee slappers this morning...  Which, by way of keeping us out of the water, lead us to some very interesting endeavors... T he Professor and Danger Boy were checking out the surf at the top of Topaz Bay, hangin' with the Ché, Birdie, Mark the Poolman, Buffalo K. Holmes and the usual suspects when the Professor's phone rang.  It was Ronni

Lost Boys & Co... A couple of quick snaps from the Portagee-cam!  #1.  Features the King and Queen of San Diego.  You didn't know that San Diego had a king and queen?  That just happens to be why things run so damned well down there.  Even the weather is better...  #2.  Shows the youngest clarinet player in the  Artesia Filharmonic Marching Band.  His clarinet had colored tabs that corresponded to the notes that he was supposed to play.  He was quite a trooper... F our cloudless days in a row!  Possibly a modern record.  Who knows what might happen mañana?  15 miles visibility and winds were calm to lightly onshore.  The sea surface was smooth.  The air temperature was a chilly 57.9° early and the water was dipping to 60.4°.  This is after we had temps teasing us all the way to 67°.  Almost everyone is back to long rubber, the only mitigating factor is the sun.  But as soon as the wind starts to blow - brrr!!  Low tide at 9:23am +1.3' and high tide is up at 4:33pm +5.2

Lost Boys & Co... O ne more shot of the cup and props to Hermosa for making it a community affair.  They estimated around 10,000 eager and curious fans showed up on a Monday! C lear skies and 15 miles visibility.  Winds were calm and the sea surface was glassy to smooth to lightly chopped.  The air temperature was 63.7° and the water has slipped back to 61.2° at the buoy and only marginally warmer in the surfline.  Low tide is at 8:36am +0.9' and high tide is at 3:41pm +4.8'.  Danger Boy and Billy Mac spent half the session this morning combing for sea glass.  Danger Boy slides it up the arm of his wetsuit, risking severing his arteries.  We do not condone this reckless behavior.  We have a west swell out of 268° at 3.3' and it was a fun 3' to 4' with crystal clear water, blue skies and not-so-crowded conditions!  ✠ "When the surf breaks, we'll fix it..."  The Professor! !

Lost Boys & Co... T here were two ways to see the Stanley Cup as it was paraded through Hermosa Beach this morning.  #1.  You could stand on Pier Avenue and take a picture of it as it rolled by on the fire truck, like Danger Boy and the Professor did.  Or...  #2.  You could walk into the fire house with Clark , pass the long line waiting to get their pics taken, look like you know what you're doing, walk to the other side of the cup and get your photo taken touching the thing!  Like LoLa (pictured) and Clark did... A sunny, bright morning with 15 miles visibility and nary a cloud in the sky.  Winds were calm at checkout picking up to 2.9kts and the sea surface was smooth to slightly chopped.  The air temperature was 63.0° and the water was 59.4° at the buoy and 66° at the Hermosa Pier.  Low tide was at 7:51am +0.5' and high tide will be at 2:51pm +4.4'.  We have a west swell out of 265° running at 3.6'.  We'll call it a low tide fueled 2' to 3' with

Lost Boys & Co... T he guys at the Becker factory were laughing because a group of local artists came in and commandeered Steve Mangiagli's sneakers for an art exhibit.  Well, yeah, it was kinda funny, but then we looked in the laminating room and found these Jackson Pollock inspired splatters underneath the laminating racks.  We were taken with the intensity generated from these "random" drippings, the angst in the abandonment of the classical structure and the nontraditional use of color and material.  They speak to the viewer in a way that most art fails, suggesting, all at once, ennui, anger, condemnation, release, understanding and that weird pair of Danger Boy's boxers...  Oh yeah, #2 is upside down... M ore persistent overcast with 12 miles visibility and that nasty onshore wind nipping through at 3.6kts, creating that annoying choppy surface.  Not really that choppy, more just annoying.  The air temp was 59.3° and the water was 65.3°, but felt a bit coo

  Lost Boys & Co... O n a recent trip to San Diego, we were on Shelter Island rambling around and ran across this rather interesting monument to gas and mountain goats.  We were impressed by it's simplicity and mystery.  That's it... O vercast this morning but didn't feel too cool.  12 miles visibility and fortunately, nothing was going on at mile 13.  Winds were onshore from the start, but settled down a bit and by go-out it was 2.9kts and the sea surface was only lightly chopped.   The air temp was 60.6° and the water felt a lot warmer than the advertised 64.9°.  Low tide early at 5:26am -0.6' and high tide follows at 12:04pm +3.8'.  Surf is out of the WSW at 248° registering 3.6'.  We're calling it 3' to almost 4' and fair to fun... I f the Foo Shits... (re:  Kelp in the toilet photo) Aloha, LB et al,  Curious minds want to know.  Was the wag's name Franz? Akoni (At present we are not allowed to discuss this matter, due to the ongoing li

Lost Boys & Co... O kay, you're out there beach camping.  You go to the communal restroom.  You try the door, "Good, not occupied!"  You swing the door open and see the largest snake you've ever seen heading in or out of the can (it doesn't make any difference, it's that big.)  At this point you have no need to use the toilet.  You have either so completely voided your bowels, that a visit won't be necessary until next week or the fear of something like that emerging from the plumbing will keep you off the pot until you can see a psychiatrist.  Turns out that some wag had put this huge kelp whip in the john and hoped that he would be able to hear the screams from his campsite a block away... O vercast this morning with 5 miles visibility.  Winds were onshore from the get-go and blowing at around 5.5kts at checkout.  The sea surface was lightly chopped.  The air temperature was 61.2° and the water was 65.1°.  High tide was late at 11:29am +3.7' an

Lost Boys & Co... Darren Takeshi Sakai – 1964-2012 We were honored to be asked to participate in the paddle out for Darren.  He waged a valiant 6 year struggle with cancer and touched many with his aloha and courage.  Peace bla-la... G ot back last night from a trip down to San Elijo with the Danger's.  Danger Boy was chopping wood...  Wait.  Let's do the report first... H eavy overcast this morning and almost 10 miles visibility.  Winds were onshore at 5.1kts and the sea surface was sporting a light chop.  The air temperature was 61.9° and the water was an honest 65.5°.  High tide mid-morning at 10:55am +3.7' and low tide will be at 3:23pm +2.3'.  The #46221 Buoy says we have a WSW swell out of 248° at 3.3'.  We saw some three footers with shoulder high outsides.  Birdie, fresh back from his ankle injury was looking like he never took a break!  He got one backside all the way to the rocks.  We thought he was gonna jump'em, but he paddled back out... O kay

Lost Boys & Co... A fter almost 50 years of selling surfboards John Leininger has finally decided to "retire."  Most people know him as the front man for "Rick" and " Becker" surfboards and he was a first class manager and salesman.  More importantly, if you walked into the shop, by the time you left, you felt as though you had made a new friend.  He unfailingly remembered your name, what you were riding and all your surfing peculiarities.  He had one of the three most outstanding mustaches in the history of the world and even the Professor, when complemented on his rather fulsome growth, always claimed to be far behind John.  In photo #1, John and the Professor mug for the camera.  We dug through our archives and ran across this ad for South Bay Surfboards.  It features a bald faced John, hawking a tunnel skeg and whistling a Peter, Paul & Mary tune.  Could be the last time anyone saw him without a mustache! M ore gray this morning and almost 10

Lost Boys & Co... W hen the Portuguese discovered San Diego, the first thing they did was have a fésta.  Then they built a kick-ass Portagee Hall and staffed it with these zaftig Portagee lasses.  The receptionist came up to the Professor and said, "Hey, I like your mustache!"  Always ready with a response, the Professor said, "Thanks, I like your's too."  Those Portagees! M ore overcast this morning with 9 miles visibility.  Winds were variable offshore to 7 kts and the sea surface was smooth to a slight ripple.  The air temp was 62.4° and the water was 66.4°.  High tide was at 7:38am a fullish +3.2' and low tide followed at 12:20pm +2.0', still rather full for the afternoon.  The buoy featured a west swell out of 261° at 3.3'.  It looked a bit better than that and we're calling it 3' to 4' and was rideable through all the tides until the wind caught up with it. Extra! Late this morning we got a text that last night, Brian "Bu

Lost Boys & Co... A typical June day at the beach in Southern California involves it being overcast all day and then just before sunset it clears up and you watch the sun go down.  We submit an example for your consideration... O vercast (duh, it's JUNE dude...) and 7 miles visibility this morning.  Winds were calm to 1.2kts onshore at go-out and the sea surface was glassy to smooth.  The air temperature was 60.8° and the water was an honest 66.0°.  Low tide at 10:46am +1.4' and high tide crests at 5:39pm +4.9'.  We have a SSW swell out of 207° at 2.3' and that's just about how the surf is breaking.  Most indicators are calling for a rise in the surf over the next couple of days as the winds begin to blow in earnest out of the northwest.  Check it out mañana! T oday was finals for the Redondo High surf class.  Some of the kids were wondering if there was going to be a test...  NO!  GO SURFING! A big win deserves a big bottle of wine.  Ross McKinnon, served t

Lost Boys & Co... Yes ! the Kings won it all tonight!  Here's a shot of Danger Boy and Ivan Fernandes in their Kings finery at game #4.  They were hoping for the sweep that night, but it took a couple more.  Better for TV revenue... O vercast this morning with 10 miles visibility.  Winds were calm and the sea surface was glassy to smooth.  The air temperature was 62.1° and the water was an honest 64.8°.  Low tide was at 9:53am +0.9' and high tide was at 4:53pm +4.7'.  We're sporting a SW swell out of 227° at 2.6' and we'll call it 2+' and small but fun at most spots. C ongratulations to Jordan Lawrence and Amy Ball on their wedding this weekend in San Diego.  Danger Boy gave the bride away while The Coach preformed the nuptials.  Later at the reception the dancing started to stall and the mother of the bride asked the Professor to do something.  He put together an emergency dance set and in no time things were hoppin'.  Yes, it's always "

Lost Boys & Co...   B ehold Venus in transit!  Can hardly wait until 2117... C lear skies and squeaky sands with 15 miles visibility.  Winds were calm at go-out and the sea surface had a slight bump to it.  The air temp was 61.5° and the water was chilly at 63.0°.  We keep going back to the full suit...  Low tide was early at 6:30am -1.2' and high tide will follow at 1:10pm +4.2'.  We have a west swell out of 265° at 4.6' and we'll call it 4' to 5' with some low tide dredgers, just like you like... O n Danger Boy and his latest adventure...   There was an injury of a minor sort, For I read it in the Professor's report. And there was Dangerboy again. But this time it really was his fin! Next to his restricted area it came near. Almost changing his voice I would fear. So he was saved from a choir change. As soprano would have been more his range. Surfing with a cup would be in order In case next time the fin crosses the boarder. He will be saf

Lost Boys & Co... I sn't Venus in transit all the time?  What?  Does it stop sometimes and just take a break in orbit?  Besides that, isn't it always in front of the sun?  This earth centric bias is really very provincial...  Pisses the rest of the universe off all of the time... T he difference between good advice and shitty advice (note the bloody bruise on our advisor's forehead):  Shitty advice:  Stand there and take it like a man!  Good advice:  Duck! C lear skies this morning and 20 miles visibility.  Winds were onshore almost from the get-go and were blowing 4.1kts at checkout, roughing up the water and causing a fair bit of morning sickness.  The air temperature was 61.5° and the water is 64.6°.  High tide was at 11:25am +4.2' and low tide is at 4:13pm +1.8'.  It flips tomorrow and we have minus tides throughout the week in the early a.m.  The buoy tells us we have a SSW swell out of 207° at 5.6'.  There were some bumpy ones in the 4' to 6'

Lost Boys & Co... " H ogan!   Get your ass down from the windmill!  Oh, yeah... and stop blowing bubbles.  It's not helping your image..." A n overcast but fun weekend in the surf.  Today is a tad smaller, but we still have a pretty heavy overcast and about 12 miles visibility.  Winds were out of the SSE by 3.2kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temperature was 62.1° and the water is listed as 65.3°, but we're calling it a couple of points lower.  High tide is at 10:34am +4.1' and low tide will be at 3:23pm +1.7' setting up for some pretty dramatic tidal changes during the week.  Some early morning minus tides.  The buoy suggests that we have a SSW swell out of 205° at 3.9'.  We're calling it 3' and mucho fun-o!  Ask Danger Boy, he was on fire - no not literally, figuratively !  We thought it might be important to make that clear... T his is how they make paella for 50,000 at the "Bay to Breakers" race in San Francisco.  Th

Lost Boys & Co... R an across (literally) these two native American women running in the "Bay to Breakers" event in San Francisco.  They heap fast for squaws...  Next year they're going as lightning bolts... L ong week here at the farm, so happy hour gets top billing today.  Samba at 5:30pm - goes until 7pm or Mark tells us that happy hour is up. O vercast this morning with 7 miles visibility and not looking like it's going to clear until noon.  Winds were offshore at checkout at 3.2kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temp was 61.5° and the water was 63.0°, but not overly commodious due to the lack of sun.  High tide was at 7:53am +3.8' and low tide will follow at 12:59pm +1.4'.  The buoy is reading a straight shot west swell out of 261° at 3.3' and it was 3' to 4' until it just plain stopped.  Like that.  Just quit.  Then started up again after Danger Boy and the Professor were starting to turn bluish...  They revived themselves wit