Hola,
Was pretty useless all day because of the lack of sleep and three Thursday night drinks - and an adrenaline filled morning catching bombs.
The plan was to get back to Pachamama for a quick shower and then hit La Esquinita for breakfast and a little work, but when I got back to Pachamama I had a Whatsapp voice message from Franz saying I needed to go back to the clinic because something had happened to my covid test.
It had "spilled". They showed me a picture of it on their personal phone at the clinic haha. Turns out it may have been a blessing because there was a lady there flying out that day who hadn't gotten her results back. They sent my second one to a different lab because it would be more efficient (it was - i got it back in less than 24 hrs).
Then I went to La Esquinita and had gf/vegan pancakes with coconut yogurt and jelly for breakfast! Amazing! and an americano and another big pot of coffee (Because I needed more and the vegan waitress took my americano before I was actually done haha - like Kuba Kuba).
I took my team call with Alondeia at the pizza restaurant and that was pretty much the whole day.
Pavel and Danielle went to see Franz's farm so I went surfing with Jamison. Immediately caught one or two near him which was nice (because he rips) and then we got separated. The worst session of the trip, besides maybe one of the early ones monday and tuesday. Super frustrating, especially after a long day at work. Did not feel like a Friyay session should. Luckily, Jamison said the same thing when we were back at Pachamama.
Pavel, Danielle, and I went to the first nice dinner I've been to in ST. I don't know the name of the restaurant and can't find it on google. Owned by someone who owned a large chain of healthy restaurants in London (Tommy knew this).
This was a pretty fun night. I had a fantastic asian coconut pancake dish and then ordered a side of sweet potato fries. Also had the house cocktail - la or el carmuso or something like that is the name of the place. Live band of 3 playing instrumental covers of popular songs from the 70s - 2000s.
Didn't do anything else that night.
6:45 wake up for surf still felt super early because Emmett, Jamison, and the new guy Duncan were chatting in the kitchen until 11:30 pm.
We drove Rosie to the beach to study biology because Franz had just left without her.
When we got to the beach I paddled out with Jake and Emmie - paddling out with new people is always a bit stressful because I wonder what I am doing that pegs me as a kook immediately. But I handled myself quite well and made it out easily.
Started catching waves quickly, back on my board! It was a tiny day but they were pretty steep for some reason. Only one left all day - it was probably one of my better waves. The rest were pretty short rights, with fun little steep take-offs. I consistently had really good and fast take-offs - just short rides after. I think my board holds the rail better than Franz's. And I could feel myself generating speed. I think I like my board.
Not much to remember.
One wave started to closeout and I was able to turn into it and get my board out the back before it broke. Probably one of the better maneuvers I did on the trip.
Another wave I was going right on a decent sized one and it was starting to close out. I thought maybe I could make it through or at least try something, but there was an old dude with a long board just inside of where it was closing out. A fall there would've sent me straight into him. So, I just straightened out, shifting my weight to my heels and digging the left rail in. Felt good to have that much control. And he was quite appreciative because it was obvious what I did.
Maybe the only other one worth noting was the one I didn't take off on just because it was too steep and I was a couple feet too deep. If I had nailed a steep late take-off it could've been very cool. I said that to Emmie in the water and the other German girl heard and commented later when we were back at El Carmen.
On the wave in, Pavel was already inside. Fun little wave and then I straightened out and rode the whitewater all the way in. Amazing how fun that it is, especially on a board as small as mine.
Afterwards, we sat at El Carmen with everyone for a long time: Pavel, Danielle, Franz, Marcus, German girl, Jake, Wmmie, and Emmett, Jamison and Duncan at the end. Had a coffee and a Cuzco, a very good smoothie. Fantastic camaraderie and a perfect last session for the trip.
Showered at Pacha, talked with Jamison and Duncan for a while, got my Covid result, and headed to La Esquinita for lunch and this. Now I head to Drift Bar for a pastry, the ATM, and the Baker for a smoothie.