Seeing a man about a horse?

I've used the expression "seeing a man about a horse" on many occasions. Never would I have thought that expression would someday include "seeing a woman."

posted by DVS @ 6:51 PM 0 comments

Stinky campers have arrived

Yes kids, it's a glorious day in Oaktown. The stinky camper has arrived in Jack London Square. And you don't have to go very far to see it.

Starting last Sunday, the stinky camper phenomena had pulled right up to the curb out in front of my apartment. It sat quietly in the neighborhood until Friday and then moved to the other side of the building, where it still sits.

So what is the stinky camper phenomena? Truthfully, I have no clue. Kelly and I started noticing random old campers along our bike routes. I'm not talking one or two just parked on the road. I'd bet we'd see 10 or 15 campers along the two mile stretch of Embarcadero from our apartment to Coast Guard Island...on a daily basis. But the preculiar thing is, these campers stink and they have people living in them.

As far as we know, they are basically homeless people. They have more than likely come on hard times and just sold everything. But there is much to learn about the stinky camper. I plan to follow up this blog with a photo gallery documenting the stinky camper...but I also plan to sit down with one of the stinky camper owners. I'm curious to learn more and hear the story behind this phenomena. So stay tuned for the story of the stinky camper.

posted by DVS @ 11:17 PM 1 comments

Mavericks descend

It's on again! On just 24 hours notice, 24 of the world's greatest big-wave surfers descended upon the frigid waters of Half Moon Bay for the chance to ride "the most dangerous waves in the world."



These photos, from ANG Newspapers photographer Mathew Sumner, display the sheer power of nature along the rugged coastline just off Half Moon Bay.



And little did I know, the Bay Area not only has a thriving surfing scene, but we also have a darn pipeline...something usually found along the North Shore of Hawaii, not San Francisco.



It's all apart of the Mavericks Surf Competition, which puts 24 of the worlds greatest big-wave surfers against each other (and nature) for a chance to win $30,000 and endless respect.

If you've never seen big-wave surfing, it's unlike anything you could possibly imagine. It is one of the most thrilling, exciting, and dangerous sports around in which folks try to ride the energy of the earth to eternal glory.

I think back to my days of tinkering along the coastline of the Indian River inlet in Delaware where I first attempted to surf. The wave appeared quickly as I did all I could to paddle into the grips of nature. Yet, as I tried to stand upon my board, I turned around in horror to find the wave was taller than I. I fell off my board, not from the water or loss of balance, but simply from intimidation. The wave was about 5 feet off the water level.

Now imagine these guys are desending down the face of monsters that rise 30, 40, even 50 feet above the break.

I thought I had seen it all in the Bay Area, but this is just another example of how this region is just full of surprises. Now if I can only convince my wife to let me buy another surfboard and try my hand with the ocean once again...

posted by DVS @ 7:11 PM 0 comments