“Surfacing” by Matt Warshaw
“Surfacing” gives insight to the amazing sport of surfing. It gives detailed information regarding the sport’s history and current status, as well as a story about a young man who wipes out pretty hard while trying to surf the Mavericks in Half Moon Bay. The entire story I was thinking about Santa Cruz because I lived there for a couple years while in dental hygiene school. I pictured the surfing locations, shops, and restaurants that were talked about because I knew them! It was fun reading this story. Before this story I had no clue about the history of surfing in the United States or why the Half Moon bay surfing spot was called Mavericks.
http://maverickssurf.com/wave/index.php
This website offers information about the location, history, and geography of the Mavericks. It also offers information about the current conditions and the annual surfing contest held here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavericks_(location)
General and specific information regarding the area including many really great pictures!
Part B
“Cow Mountain” by Brooke Bianchini
Named for the longhorn cattle cattle that once roamed the 52,000 acres rests Cow Mountain Recreational Area just outside of Ukiah. Many weekends I would take the one and a half hour drive north on 101 in someone’s lifted truck. It was our escape from parents, school, and reality into a world with endless possibilities.
About an hour into the drive we would hit a bump where the paved road turned into dirt and we began the incline up the moutain. To the right was a gorgeous dam that pooled crystal green swimming holes that were there to entice and refresh. Often on a hot day we would jump in with our clothes on and then continue the trek up to the top.
At the top was a camp ground that had a few open camping areas which included running water, picnic tables, and a fire pit. Once we reached this area we claimed our home for the next couple days.
Immediately the ice chests would open, the country music would blaze, and everyone starting relaxing, but getting amped up. The first night was always filled with too much drinking, a little drama, and lots of steam being blown off after a hard week of high school.
The next day usually brought on a headache and too much sun, but quickly it was overcome by the excitement to go out on some trails. Some people would take their ATVs while others rode dirt bikes, but most people rode in trucks. The excitement really began once the vehicles were switched into four-wheel drive and everyone was mobbing up the trails and through the trees.
One day I was in my friend’s truck and we came across another truck that had been ran off the trail. The three of us in the truck jumped out to check out the scene when we realized that the truck still had two guys in it. The truck was off the trail, balancing on a tree, that prevented it from falling down a thirty foot drop. This image thrilled and frightened us all in those few seconds that it took us to realize what was happening. Immediately we struggled to carefully remove our friends from the other truck and thankfully managed to do so. The next task was to try and save the truck and the boys worked quickly to hook the wench up to try and pull the truck up. Eventually the truck was safely pulled back onto the trail and the only damage was a nice sized dent on the passenger side where the tree had protected the truck from a hefty fall. The boys then both climbed into the truck via the drivers door because the passenger door would no longer open. Then as if nothing dangerous had just happened, all the trucks continued up to the rock quarry for some target shooting.
Everyone had a gone to themselves as beer cans and garbage were shot up. Rounds and rounds of bullets were expelled as everyone continued to carelessy enjoy themselves. Taking another trail back to the campground we came across a huge mud pit that held just enough rain water to make the trucks really muddy… so everyone started racing through it. After a an hour or so here and stomachs starting to rumble, we mobbed back to camp up on a ridge that overlooked Clearlake far below. From here the lake looked pristine and beautiful; we even almost forgot that it had a major algae problem that caused fish to die and float to the surface as well as a horrible odor.
Back at camp we repeated the crazyness of the night before and acted as if we were never going to feel that way again. The dread of knowing the next day meant going home and then having responsibilities and school and parents again was enough to keep us going well into the night.
At dawn, some people left early to get home at a decent time, but some stayed well into the afternoon to get the most out of there weekend. Although most people knew they would be back up there on Friday, it still seemed like years away. My last weekend there was unknowingly my last. Maybe that is why everyone always savored the moment of being there because who’s to know when it will end.
Part C
Classmates:
2. Catherine appreciates the stability she had growing up.
3. Diana didn’t know Berkeley boomed because of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
4. Gabriella has lived in the same house her entire life.
5. Jacob thought that Berkeley was a real hippy town.
6. John has moved many times in his life.
7. Karl didn’t know that Alcatraz could be seen from Berkeley.
8. Maria learned that it is important to do research and ask questions before doing something.
9. Nikole did not know that LA has honkey-tonk bars.
10. Robert didn’t realize that Berkeley was so diverse.
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