Dreamland

Boat Surfing

I go down to the docks to rent a small boat. They have these one-man powerboats that are partially enclosed, kinda like a mini cabin cruiser. I motor out a mile or so off shore, cruising around in between islands of smooth black rock. There are a dozen or so similar small boats out there with me, some people fishing, others just putting around.

The waves start getting bigger and bigger, soon a huge one about twenty feet high is headed right at me! Five or six small boats are riding the huge wave like surfboards, the men piloting them yelling and laughing. Some of them are getting tumbled and thrown from their boats. I cut the wheel of my boat to avoid hitting them, and try not to get swamped by the waves. My boat takes on a little water, but I quickly motor out beyond the breaker line and stay there. I’m content to watch the others try to ride the huge waves, convinced that I would probably be drowned if I tried it. There are a couple other boaters out there with me, also just watching.

After a while the water calms and recedes, and my boat is stuck on the black rocks. Another boater helps me push it back into the water; then I ride back into port.