wop wop wop.
The rhythmic crack of an axe falling heavily on wood was the only sign of human activity at Sombrio Beach. It echoed over the sand that earlier only whispered with the wind and mild morning surf.
Jeremy and Cameron were the only two left, two Islanders out for a couple days camping on the rock and driftwood and seaweed strewn beach on the south west coast of Vancouver Island. Their days taken up riding the local waves.
“Call me Cam,” said the affable Cameron, who turned out to be a giggler while Jeremy seemed the typical West Coaster — part surfer, skateboarder and stoner.
“When I’m on the water, I can’t see,” Jeremy said, taking off his blacked-rimmed glasses and looking blankly towards the sea.
But they invited me to share their camp fire beneath a big blue tarp where Jeremy spend the night in his sleeping bag on top of his surfboard cover. Cam was staying in a tent just a few metres away. Sitting there while the two watched the sea, and Cam while rolled a cigarette, we talked about the surfing and beaches.
Between Sombrio Beach on the rough and tumble Juan de Fuca Marine Trail or Long Beach near resort ridden Tofino, the two picked the former. If only because you can camp on the sand, just steps away from the swells.
“You always clean up,” Jeremy said as he bit into a grapefruit that appeared from a deflated looking red backpack by his sleeping bag. At the other end of their camp under the blue tarp was a small collection of wine bottles and tall silver beer cans.
Although the night before the two had ridden waves eight to twelve feet, the morning had started overcast but with no wind and no surf. Now they’d wait. For the drizzle to stop. For high tide to return. And hopefully, with it, the swells.
And while they waited, I bid them a day of happy surfing while I returned to search of my own highs to ride: landscapes to photograph.
“Happy trails,” Cam said and lifted the axe into his hands for another crack at the driftwood log between his gumboots.
As I disappeared into the woods and back onto the network of trails, I was again surrounded by the whispers of wind through leaves. That is until the familiar echo reached me again.
wop wop wop…
