7th January 2006

Paddled out early at Ali'i, Debbie once again our tour guide. It wasn't breaking properly, so we headed along the coast. Holtin's looked good, right next to Laniakea. CB, CF, DT & Debbie paddled out through the channel to the line-up. What an amazing wave. 5'solid with larger peaks. Great fun. Hellish paddle back through the channel against the rip. Massive turtle on the beach.

Debbie introduced us to Jock Sutherland, a friend of hers and a North Shore legend. What a mellow bloke, totally chilled. He'd surfed around Cornwall and knew we got waves.

Went back to check Ali'i, still not great. Met another of Debbie's friends, Mark Martinssen, a local shaper. He asked us how we were enjoying our trip; great, except for "Dog's" Rod Sumpter's maps getting us lost all over the island and giving us duff info. Guess who Martin's friend is... "Yeah, I stayed with Rod for a couple of months, he came over here and stayed with me and I went over and stayed with him in Brighton. Ever keen to make his mark, CB chirped up "Brighton? That's the gay capital of the UK" and after a moment's further thought "nothing to do with Rod mind." Open mouth, insert foot.

Late afternoon, DT surfed Marijuana's, not brilliant but DT caught a few. CB & SP climbed up onto Alligator Rock and took photos of the surf and the various plaques for surfers who had died at the break including Todd Chesser.

Eric and Kirsten, our neighbours, invited us to their house for a party, had oysters on the BBQ. fantastic! Debbie told us about surfing big waves on acid. Apparently, Jock Sutherland and his crew would surf bug Waimea tripping. Jesus. Got hammered.