The Team

A successful surf trip needs waves of course. But unless you are traveling alone, the mates (notice the Australian influence here) you travel with become critically important. it has been said that it is not an adventure until something goes wrong and when shit does go wrong you want those around you to be cool, calm and thoughtful. You also want companions who are similar to you in many ways. They want to ride the same size waves you do, They must have a similar sense of exploration and adventure, and work within the same basic budget.

On the other hand, if all of you were identical it would be pretty boring. So you want mates who while similar, do bring their own package of personality, sense of humor, and opinions. We are fortunate here at the Lazy Dog Villa in Bali to have assembled a world class team.

First we have to mention those members on the DL. Michelle Painter, South Carolina Belle and champion high school cheer leading coach was unable to come due to 50 gall stones which we think may be a world record number. Michelle has set a high bar for the 'Taking one for the Team award' when, as she was on her way to the hospital for surgery, was emailing and faxing the landlord at the Lazy Dog Villa to make sure that all arrangements were set.

Gene 'The Geno' Gentile also has not been able to make it due to an eye ailment that was quickly on its way to making him permanently blind. He cannot be in the sun for a month. Gene is the team's "Social Director' and his absence is sorely missed especially when we are done surfing and looking for something to do. Gene's job as social director is a constant struggle for him. Jack and I are thirty years older than he and therefore have about a quarter of the energy and verve. This is a good balance because without some sense of balance, the team would flame and burn out.

For example, we took a walk through Kuta yesterday. Kuta is Bourban Street, the running of the bulls in pamplona, and Ipanema all wrapped into one huge mess of a party. Gene's plan was to have us stay at the Bounty Hotel and Discoteque on the main drag in Kuta. I'll post the picture later, but the ad outside the hotel/disco shows a woman licking a record on the turntable. I'm not sure if she was the DJ or the hotel receptionist. I remind our readers that we would have arrived there at midnight on Saturday night after having traveled non stop for 24 hours.

Jack is 'Team Captain' and manages the rest of us with a calmness that comes only with years of experience that ranges. Not much rattles Jack. His steady presence and wise decision making have gotten us through some pretty good jams over the last few years. Like everyone else he is not perfect. This year he has rolled out his battleship gray rashguard and he is wearing it with brown baggies. It hurts to look at him and Gene would be hammering him if he were here.

Nancy is the team's mother but she is nothing like your Mom. Nancy dominates the lineup on the left's at Apple Bay, can drink you and your brother under the table, and then get up in the morning and walk five miles in the mountains in 60 minutes, and then come back and cook breakfast for everyone in the house. Nancy's struggle this trip is that Marley, her 13 year old pet dog, was not permitted to come to Bali.

Susan is our newest member of the team and is clearly way ahead of the field for the 'rookie of the year' award. Bali is her first experience out of the USA and she is handling it with the ease of an experienced traveler. The oppressive heat, strange food, and hours of travel have done nothing to diminish her lovely smile.

Then there is me. I've reached yet another milestone in my life. You know those....your first bike, your first driver's license, turning 21, etc. Yesterday I walked into a surf shop looking to buy a board. When I told the young kid what I was looking for he said with innocent incredulity, "You surf?????" OUCH.

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