As I lie under the gearbox of my 7.5 tonne truck the rhythmic tick-tocking of the hazard warning lights slowly lull me into a state of blissful contemplation. The brake fluid slowly dripping on my face does not stir me. Nor do the lorries thundering past on the dual carriageway mere inches from my head.
The tarmac on the hard shoulder seems to lift up to hold my body in a moment of stasis as the stressful truth of my situation drifts away and my thoughts evaporate into a dreamscape of blurred memories and possible futures. I dwell briefly on the ridiculous nature of surfing, the endless paddling through wave and tide to reach the calm beyond only to turn and ride back in. Those few brief seconds that fill you with joy. Joy enough to make you stand facing out to sea and paddle out once again. The joy that will make you drive for hours, fly for days, search for years – just to ride back in…
The splendid roar of a supermoto pulling up behind the truck and the sight of a friend’s giant grin stirs me from my thoughts…
“Oi! I’ve got a big hammer in my bag. Which bit do we hit first?”
I surfed today and yesterday and the day before. Tango made me do it…
(There are more photos from the WCT Portugal 2010 at my flickr page)
glad you surfed. hope the hammer was large and hit the right bits. oh, and that you got no rust flakes in your eyes… that’s usually what happens when i’m on my back under one of my ancient vehicles.
Maybe you should get them to shower first…
Oh, and here I thought you were thinking about me under that truck … 😉
Of course I was but it doesn’t need to be said… x
you’ve changed your hair 😉
ps.. thank goodness for Tango x
…and became Australian apparently.
PS.. indeed x
miss tango is a very smart woman for making you surf!
That she is. I need to listen to her more often. The report looks good for tomorrow… x