I’ve always loved just getting the heck out of my hometown. It’s flat, dull, I used to get hassled by all the bored local cops every time I went skateboarding, and the material excess I see is something that frustrates me on a consistent basis. Some of the best times I’ve had are when I can just focus on, appreciate, and be in and with nature. That’s not the easiest thing in Naperville but is easier than it would be in Florence, Italy for example. Plus, we are going to get some amazing colors and weather soon with my favorite season coming up. Ever since I learned, surfing has been one of my favorite activities ever, and one that I get to do hardly at all. This probably leads to my romanticizing the times that I actually have surfed…but today I got a good reminder.

Yesterday a friend and I drove up to New Buffalo, Michigan following some reports of 6-12 foot waves amongst howling on-shore winds. It was hardly, if at all, surfable. I paddled out into the gray lake and got knocked around for like 20-30 minutes before counting my blessings on retaining my warmth and being above water. The waves came from every which way and about every 2 seconds. You couldn’t get a read on the beach break at all. Mildly excited that I’d tried my first fresh water surf I settled to hanging out on the beach for a little bit, letting the 40+ mph wind blow sand into my face and hair before packing up and heading home.

Today was a different story. With no friends able to get out of responsibility I finally broke and went by myself at about 3 pm, thanks to constant egging about the crowd he was seeing in Hammond, Indiana from photographer friend Scott Bort. So I went, got enough waves to last me awhile and paddled enough to wear my arms out. I got better surf in Indiana than I had gotten during my last trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Now, I know it will only get colder as the year goes on but the idea of possible surf within driving distance from my home is exciting enough to last me a good while. I’ve always known the Great Lakes were a nearby gift that I probably never appreciated enough, so here’s to my increased involvement, appreciation, awareness and enjoyment from the giant freshwater. Getting done with a surf and not being salty afterward is an interesting feeling…

The image: My clothes wrapped around a volleyball pole and covered in sand with my board who got no real rides in New Buffalo.