lost lake

In search of solitude

I arrived in Portland on January 1st. The very first time I came to this place -the very first time that I ever travelled outside of Hawaii to surf- was 10 years ago, July 1st. I've been visiting Oregon almost every year since and over those years, I've made playful little expeditions up and down the Pacific Coast Highway, always with good people and mostly with decent surf. However, I've consistently had Oregonians tell me to visit the coast during the colder months. It is said that the broad and sweeping "California Current" brings icy waters down from Canada during the Summer, but slows in the congealed throws of Winter time, making it more ideal to surf in January than July. However, I've often disregarded the advice of others in favour of decisive ignorance, as most stubborn-headed fools often do. And like most fools, I cannot be told, if I don't feel like listening. But I'm getting better. And while a lot of people were telling me to go on this trip for a long time, I'm glad I went when I did. When I had already a few Summers on this woodland coast. Time to make memories in this place, to have walked these trails on a number of very special and personal adventures. Time enough to now notice the change in the wind, the hobbled limbs of depressed pines, and the shaky breath of lingering fog and shortened days. The stillness of the woods where animals elected to sleep for a