Aquaholics Surf Shop

Witch's Rock -- AGAIN

Posted on 03/27/2008 at 11:10 am by Nanci Boutet
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Well, it's Wednesday and Evan (Mr. Potato Head) Flaherty and Jeremy (Jerry you're so funny) Riordan left for Liberia at 10:00 this morning after a fantastic early surf at Little Hawaii. It was our second surf there, the first being on a small day last week. Today was head and a half high and clean as a whistle. We got up at 4:30 and (once Jerry got his bag together) we headed to check Negra and Avellanas. While we walked to Little Hawaii Jerry could have tripped over Lola while she slept on the beach. Lola is the 725-pound pig that the bar/restaurant at Avellanas Beach is named for. She's been there for years and she's been on a "diet". She actually seems to have lost a few pounds. Maybe that's why she's cranky these days. It was just we three for the first hour and we got a few nice waves before anyone else showed up. Little Hawaii is nice because it's so far down the beach and around the bend that it's hard to see if it's actually working and it's a pretty long walk. The walk keeps the lazy surfers from getting beyond Avellanas Rivermouth. A few more guys showed up, notably the chubby blonde wave hog with the blue mini mal. The guy's a nuisance. (Mark and Ellie, you remember him from Marbella?) I think he's following me.

Well, Sunday late morning we packed up the "SUV" (Mr. Potato Head and Jerry you're so funny's Terios), borrowed two tents (Evan had his own) and headed for Roca Bruja (Witches Rock) again. We left at about 12:30 and after a couple of stops along the way, we got to the break at about 4:30. Just in time for an afternoon surf. It takes about 40 minutes to walk to the break from the campsite. The wind was offshore and the waves were big. There were quite a few surfers in the water, but most of them were leaving when we got there. We all got a few, with Evan leading the charge. When we returned to the campsite, most of the camping surfers were packing up to leave, as Semana Santa was coming to an end, and with it, their long weekend. Evan set up his tent (Jeremy and I had set ours up earlier), we ate our pizza and beer that we'd bought in Liberia and turned in early. It was a clear and breezy night. Much cooler and better sleeping weather than I'd had with my nieces.

The next morning we headed out about 40 minutes before sunrise. What a beautiful walk. The colors and shadows were enchanting. Everything changed by the moment as the sun peeked over the mountain. "The Rock" was alive as it warmed and glowed in the sunrise.
We arrived to head high to a little overhead on the sets, perfect peeling waves. But the tide was dropping and the waves soon began to close out and thump. We all got a few but it got pretty sketchy and one by one we headed back along the path.

We were sitting around thinking how nice it was to be the only surfers there when a car came flying down the access road. Then came another with what looked like about 6 or 8 board bags on the roof. A bunch of people got out and moved a bunch of picnic tables and set up a tailgate party size dining area. They started a fire (fires are NOT allowed in Santa Rosa National Park) and started cooking lunch. One of the guys was wandering around and we spoke to him. It seems they were "Lizard Researchers" (AKA Gecko-Geeks). The board bags turned out to be sleeping pads. They were walking around all over the place looking for lizards. Evan awoke from his nap to see some just outside his tent making notes and putting little yellow flags around our tent site.

We had assorted pastries and sandwiches for breakfast and swam. Evan had a nap while Jeremy and I headed for "Legarto Lagoon"; a lagoon loaded with Crocodiles. There are even a few signs warning of the danger. Jeremy brought a big stick. I brought my camera and a beat up pair of binoculars. As promised, 300 meters to the south, there it was. The Lagoon. It was a lovely little inlet fringed with Mangrove trees. We approached with care. A few birds fluttered off, and when we spoke, something large dropped off the bank to the right. We watched for a while, I even splashed my foot in the water for a few minutes (Jeremy was not amused). We never did see a Crock, but I don't count that as a major disappointment in view of some of the scarier alternatives.

We swam a bunch more times and we could tell the size was building. It was scary even messing around in the shore break. You could have fit the Terios in the tubes. We thrashed around for a while, feeling the raw power of the swell. You couldn't even stand waist deep and hold your ground. It was like every wave that came in brought the water level up a foot or two. It was extremely turbulent.

We went back and dismantled the tents and campsites. We packed up the car. The flies, gnats, sand fleas and hornets were horrific. Just sitting around was a little annoying because the bugs didn't leave you alone. At about 1:30 we walked back out to the break to get another surf session in. It was pretty big. There was a boat offshore and there were a few surfers there catching some pretty big bombs. I say triple overhead, but Evan thinks only double. I can't tell by my photos yet, because the viewer on my camera is too small, but we'll see when I load them on my computer. It was BIG. And barreling. I paddled out but I was scared by the size. I decided to come in and re-assess. I took a bunch of pictures of Jeremy, Evan and the "boat people". It was impressive. It seemed like the sets were about ½ hour apart, with manageable smaller sets in between. The "boat people" left and I decided to paddle out. I paddled out at "my own" peak while Jeremy and Evan surfed on peaks to the South and North of me. I got a couple of fun ones and Evan motioned me to come to where he was surfing as the waves were nicely formed where he was. We paddled out near the estuary mouth, and as we got outside a bomb set came through. Evan caught a MASSIVE left. I paddled for a few, but they were too big and scary and I backed off. I kind of regret it now, but I don't regret dropping into a boo-boo death drop with a long bumpy car ride out and a borrowed board that I was not sure would cut it. (My board was in for repairs). It was getting late and we needed to be out of the "road" by dark so we headed out. We showered and hit the dusty trail. On the way out Jeremy finally saw his first monkeys. White-Throated Capuchins. They were pretty cool, and not very shy. Jeremy got a photo and we again got under way. Jeremy and Evan are experienced (delinquent) "off-roaders", so the trip was a double pleasure for THEM. My back has had it with these roads. The Terios was undoubtedly the superior vehicle for the trip. I'd recommend one for the really bad roads. (They're terrible on the paved and smooth gravel roads though). We made Liberia before dark. It's 1½ hours to Liberia from the campsite and another 1½ hours to Junquillal.

We surfed Junquillal Tuesday morning and Evan and Jeremy headed for Scamarindo (Tamarindo) to buy some gifts and souvenirs. I headed to Grande to drop off some things with my sister-in-law and pick up my repaired board. I tried to get back in time for a surf session Tuesday afternoon, but it was too rushed. I grabbed my camera, my board (in case it was TOO good) and headed to the lot, where Jeremy and Evan were surfing the Rivermouth. I ended up taking photos of the sunset and just enjoying a relaxing sunset in my front yard.

I'll be helping Hotel Playa Negra with the copy for their website over the next few days, and I think the surf will be big. I'll write if anything exciting happens...

I'll be at the shop Tuesday, and we'll be surfing our April Fools clinic, so send an email if you're coming!

See you soon.
Nanci

P.S. I was talking to my sister-in-law in Grande and it seems that the "boat people" were some friends from Grande; Tefa, Carly, Misty and a few guys. I'll put names on the photos when I post them.