White waters hurt the best of us by A.C. Berry

On the first trip we were supposed to go surfing but we could not because “CHIPPER BRO” went on a vacation without telling us. So for the last three days on the first trip to California we were all waiting for CHIPPER to call us. But he never got back to us which were a huge disappointment. Then all of us thought hay we go two trips to California so I bet we could do it the second trip. When we arrived in California the second time we saw Wes and the first thing that Alex and I asked was has chipper called yet. And Wes said nope he has not and we are trying to find other options for you guys.
When we were riding to camp Wes got a call from Jeremy saying he found a different guy. Keep in mind soar has used CHIPPER BRO for a while so we were all grateful that Wes and Jeremy found someone else. It was actually really close to the campsite that we were staying at for the first second and third night. So Wes called the guy as soon as we got to camp. This guy wanted us. Because he found out that soar dose summer course with chipper so he was yea come by tomorrow and we will hook you guys up with surf boards. Before we could go to surfing we had to finish all of the work before we went to play. When I found this out from Wes I just dropped the football that I throwing with Alex and went to help out.
Threw our hard work that night we got to go surfing. The morning of the surfing we had to wake up at six o clock and just get up and go. I think it was totally worth it though. I mean I saw everyone having fun and getting hit by the huge waves that were forming. So for the first day Wes told us this is a white water day. We could only surf the waves that broke before they got to us. That was a good idea because some of those waves were just twice as tall as me and I am 6 foot 3. I think Alex was the first one to ride a true wave but I was the first to stand up on the board. Wes was the one that was teaching everyone that day. He did a very good job and I think almost everyone came close to standing up.

In conclusion when things do not go your way just look at others our just wait until your plan comes. I am saying this because that is what happened to us. And instead of waiting we used our recourse to find another surf shop. And the owner said that CHIPPER BRO is thinking about selling his surf shop. Also that’s why he wanted us to come to him so he could make a good first impression. The group altogether had great time weather it was chilling on the beach our catching the waves we were all positive about surfing and just to everyone in generally. And when someone stood up everyone would cheer and when some got hit buy one of those big waves we would give a helping hand.

Sarah Wolfe’s Blog Part 4

This blog is about our second California trip. We now only have two trips left to go. I can’t believe that we are almost done. Here are my favorite parts of this trip.

My first favorite part was going surfing and boogieboarding at the beach. The water was cold but we had wetsuits to keep warm. The weather was very warm.

My second favorite part was going to Julia Pteiffer State Park. During the whole time we were there it was raining hard. There was a pretty cool lodge not far from the campsite. Since it was raining outside we had to do school and other things under a pavilion.

My last favorite part was going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was a great thing for us to do on a rainy day. We all had a fun time. We saw lots of fish and other creatures. We saw seahorses and jellyfish, which were really cool. We also saw otters and penguins.

We all had a good time. We are looking forward to our Wyoming trip. We all hope it goes great.

California blog trip Connor Newton

On our second trip to California we participated in a lot of activities that were near the ocean. It was very rainy at the beginning of the trip but we still camped out in the rain.
We got to surf while we were at Carpentaria which was a lot of fun. We got to wear wet suits and carry surf and boogie boards, which was a very fun experience because I have never carried one around before. We went surfing twice and it was more fun on the second day. I will come back again to surf so I can get a lot better.
Other ocean activities were at a place called Montana De Oro Bay. We collected sea shells and had a lot of fun running around on the beach. We also saw a bunch of sea lions that were roasting themselves in the sun sleeping soundlessly.
Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park was where I got my 6th patch. I like collecting patches from National Parks so I was excited. Big Sur was very rainy and wet, but we got through with determined faces. On the first day of our backcountry trip it took us all day to hike the 8 miles. The redwoods were huge and had very thick trunks. The trail was loaded with them and they would have taken half the team just to reach around one. There were banana slugs that we were putting on our faces and hands. Bright flowers gave the trail a more lively feel.
In conclusion I loved both of the really fun places that we got to go. The first beach that we got to was where we went surfing for two days, and the second one was where we got collect all of the shells. The other really fun place was our back country place. This was where the massive redwoods and the large yellow slugs were on the sides of the trail. I would love to comeback because I love to be in the middle of nowhere and breathe in the silent air. I would love to comeback because I had a blast.

California trip #2 alex r

Surfing

When we first flew into Cali I was super excited because we were going to go surfing. I wanted to go surfing last trip but we couldn’t so we went this trip. I have never been surfing, but I do skateboard and snowboard, so it was easy for me.

When the first day of surfing came we got up early and we drove over to A-Frame Surf shop. Before we could go surfing we needed to know how. First you paddle out on your board. Then you can either sit on your board or try to catch a wave. When you want to catch a wave you turn your board around. Then you start paddling toward the beach. You get in cobra position and then you hop up on your board. If you don’t get in cobra position you will get sucked  under and it hurts. The first time I tried to stand up and I ate i (fell). I stood up on my forth try, and from then on I could get it.

  We went surfing for two days and I really hope I get to go again because it was really fun and funny. Overall I thought this trip was really fun, but the surfing was the best part.  

Nolan's California trip #2

Trip #2 in California, and this expedition was full of rain. We went to the Ventana Wilderness in Padres National Forest. It was wet, dry, and full of new experiences.

         In the Ventana Wilderness, it was a mixture of wet and dry because it rained a lot while we were there. It was dry because we had 2 fires to dry all our clothes off. It was also dry because we had to tent while we were there, so I got to have a tent all to myself. There were many new experiences, but the biggest one was getting to see Jeremy again. I had heard that he was the President of having banana slugs on your face. I challenged him by putting 2 of them on my face. It was disgusting (slimy and cold). Lastly, while we were there, there had been so much rain that the river flooded. We were able to catch salamanders and iodize water to drink. Sadly, we didn’t get to go in the hot springs because they were also flooded.

         Final expedition is up next. It is in Wyoming where the other SOAR base is. There are only six more weeks left in the semester and then home to chill for the summer. 

SOARing in Northern California with Chris Kiefer

During the Northern California trip we went surfing. That was my first time surfing and I was definitely nervous. I had no idea of what to do nor how to do it. The staff gave us a basic lesson and then we got in the water. I paddled out and then once Wes was done getting another student on the waves, I went up. After a few small waves passed Wes told me to start paddling and I rode my first wave, and then I wanted to catch many, many more.

When on the waves I felt like I was riding my bike, both the object I'm on and I are moving. Several times I kept moving even after my board had stopped. I didn't wipe out too much, and every time I did, I got right back on the board and rode another. One time while riding, by complete accident and in no way planned, seven of us all rode on a wave, thus making the biggest party wave of our time surfing. A party wave is a wave that several people are all on at once. The best wave I had was one that the first part carried me a little ways, then a bigger one right behind it took me all the way to the beach.

I loved surfing. The adrenaline when you get a big wave, the feeling of almost flying when you go flying off, and the fun we had as a group. I would love to go surfing again, especially if it was the same waves we had on my favorite days of the expedition.

Kyle: Schnitzels's innapropriate joke

We went on a second California EX this time. We had a lot of fun, though we had many a challenge with things outside of our control.

We had a lot of fun surfing in Ventura. I had a ton of fun going out the farthest on a boogie board and getting to ride in several waves that beached me. I, seeing as I am insane, even enjoy wiping out and being rolled around in the waves.

We also went to Morro Bay. We got to go to a cool beach which had an awesome rock (I’ve been there before, but it’s still cool.) Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to check out the town, or to go to one of the best (and cheapest) saltwater taffy shops known to gnome-kind.

We stayed at Big Sur before we went backpacking. Not much happened here, but it’s worth mention.

Then we went backpacking in the Ventana (not Ventura) wilderness. It rained every day we were there, and for a while afterwards. Luckily, the group handled it really well. I’ve seen groups flat-out fall apart when it rains in the backcountry, but our group held it together quite well.

We had some really long hikes on that trip. It’s 8 miles in and out, with no campgrounds in-between. It felt a lot like last semester, at least in terms of the physical challenge.

We had one camp day there. It was fun because the rain let up for a bit and we made a fire. We also got time to work on reading or just chatting.

After we hiked out of the wilderness, we went up to Monterey bay. Both state campgrounds were closed, so we stayed at a KOA (Kampgrounds of America, not killed on arrival). We went to the aquarium there, which is the largest (and coolest) in all of California. I’ve been there a few times, and I always enjoy it. I love the jellyfish exhibit. Sadly, the huge tank (my favorite) was closed for renovations.

On the last day, the van broke down when we were going out to eat dinner. We stopped at a different place for dinner and we had the van towed. We used a rented car to shuttle back to camp. It was a late night, but we did really well and no one made a problem because of it.

Cedric has been acting weird recently. He wasn’t with us for the first couple of days, when he came back he claimed he went to Hollywood and starred in a movie. If he’s telling the truth, Hollywood has gone to his head, because he’s denying to have his picture taken.

All in all, it’s been a fun EX. I’ve had some awesome times, and while the rain was tough, the group did really well. Next up is Wyoming, where the group will run the show. It’ll be tough, but I’ll do my best to get working well.

Random thoughts

Quotes of the EX: (going through TSA, also, I store my chopsticks in a corked PVC pipe) “sir, what’s in here?” “Chopsticks.” “What?” “Chopsticks.” (TSA agent opens corked pipe) “… chopsticks.”

And

“ra rawda, ra rawda rada, ra rawda rawda rawda, ra, ra rawda, ra rawda rawda rawda!”

Working on new magic deck titled “nervous wreck” as both a reference to the Neurok and the mental games it’s meant to play with the opponent

Feel the burning stare of the gnomes and change your ways.