Ratter Hakka
I stayed at a place called 'Solscape'. I'd booked a 'caboose' in the grounds, £45 for three nights and a comfy double bed to myself. It was a big backpackers kind of place spread out with the small railway carriages cut in half, some were dorms and one was a TV room.
Loads of surfers just chilling in the grounds. The usual 'Too cool for school' groups chillin out and looking cool. Special grunt goes out to the guy who looked like Tom Curren who worked at the place but was as miserable as sin. TC you're a kook!
I headed down to Manu Bay for a check, my four hour drive, one speeding ticket, breathlysed (I was clear) had taken quite a bit out of me but I decided to get in and have a look. Although onshore I was determined to get on some lefts. The wind slowly died and it was a solid 4ft on sets.
Now Manu get's pretty crowded...some people talk, some people just surf and the locals just try and run people over! Some Aussie guy (or so I thought) started talking to me, we commented on the extreme paddle back out as the waves were wrapping in going for 50 - 100 yards. After 5 or 6 waves and you really start feeling your shoulders burn.
So I get out pretty mellow and looking forward to my cheese sarnies, crisps and wine. This guy who spoke to me in the water walks past my board and ask's me where I'm from, I say 'Wales' and then its transpires that he's originally from Cardiff and has been living in Melbourne for the last three years. So Jimbo and I immediately struck up a conversation and ended being surf buddies for the next three days.
We managed an early every day, food, sleep, then an evening surf followed by my second favorite past time beer! The next day was meant to be classic, classic cack more like. I mmed and arrred for a good hour before finally commiting to going in. Its quite a deceptive place, you can look at what appears to be 2-3ft when actually it's a little bigger than that but because it's a point it still just keeps some of its shape.
Had an alright surf, but shoulders were feeling pretty tired all the same. Two 2.5 hour surfs a day and 5 hours kip was pretty exhausting but it was my last few days and couldn't afford to be picky, christ I was in New Zealand and at Raglan, now often is that gonna happen?!
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