On a stinkin’ hot day at Spanish Banks a great way to go completely super nova is to try and find a parking spot.  So on those sort of days, my secret parking spot is at the end of Blanca street.  There’s a trail from there that leads right down to the beach.   Now having people park in your neighbourhood isn’t always that cool, I know, you should see my hood come PNE time, but hey…when life gives you lemons….I charge $20/d, $27 with a pancake breakfast.

On my last trip I noticed these two enterprising young men had set up a lemonade stand right at the beginning of the trail.  Hmm….I guess my spot isn’t so secret after all, but it just got a whole lot better.

adventures in parking bonus story……

So this one day I’m late for low tide, which for most people it means nothing, but for a skimmer like me, it sucks.  Not only do you miss the best conditions, but all your skim bros give you a hard time for not being able to read a tidal chart.  I knew the parking lot would be a zoo because it was really nice, so I parked up on Blanca.

I get out of the car, grab my stuff and just start running, I’m a bit stressed because I’m late, but at the same time, stoked to be out, it was a wonderful day, so I’m smiling.  Runnin’ and smilin’….Maybe smiling a bit too much as I pass this elderly lady wearing one saggy one piece.

“Excuse me?” She asked.

Aw man….what do you do though….

“Can you help me?”

I start walking towards her to see what she needs help with, probably directions, you know how old people can get so confused.  Nope.  She’s got a bottle of suntan lotion in her hand.  As a dude…I know the play, but how to defend?   I was dumfounded, probably still smiling as she grabbed my wrist squeezing a giant mound of suntan lotion into my hand.  At this point, I didn’t need direction, like I said…I know the play….but still…she had to say it…..

“My back….rub it in good…”

And I tried, but she had put so much in my hand, her back looked like a finger painting.  I had no idea what to do with the excess, and I feared she might ask for more areas other than her back to be oiled up, so as gross as it sounds, I started putting it on myself.

“Oh how rude of me….let me…”

Yep….she was on me…first my neck…then some real strong kneading of my shoulders.  It wasn’t bad, but it sure was wrong, so I felt it was time to get the hell out of there.

‘Whoah….whoah….OK…I gotta go…”, I said.

“Suit yourself!”

I started breaking into my familiar jog, when I looked back just to see if what happened…really did.  I saw the old lady and noticed she was walking in the opposite direction.

“Hey the beach is that way!” I yelled….

“Oh…I know….”