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Published: March 8th 2015
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Smile at the drone
I'll have a fresh coconut please Megan is one part of Pitstop Hill management, a 10 guest surf resort tucked into a niche of the Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra. I asked her if our particular group of 10 were collectively the oldest to have bunked down there in the resort's 8 year history. I had barely squeezed out the last word of the enquiry before;
"Yes".
"Would you like some more time to think about that Megan?"
If you take out the 24 year old son of one of our crew and if my numbers are correct, the aggregate age of the other 9 hit the scales at around 540. That's over half a Millenia of prime Cronulla manhood trying to prove they can still dance the Funky Chicken. The purpose of these 11 days was ostensibly to go surfing in a region of wedding photo backdrops. While the waves were the essential ingredient, another was simply the opportunity to catch up with long time mates and a flicker of "the good old days." For that week and a half the realities of life back home were put in a holding pattern.
More than a few ales were consumed although
Beng Beng Beach
Nice angle from the drone palates run deep enough these days for the odd gin and tonic to be thrown into the mix. Meanwhile, anecdotes from a hazy past were ramped into overdrive. A few facts may have been stretched to breaking point but there was simultaneously a solid relationship with the truth.
As a venue for such a reunion, the Mentawais are as good a choice on paper as any. For decades now the islands have been serving the appetites of surfers looking for their warm water hit of Vitamin Sea.
For the last 5 or so years I've been stalking the islands in the low season to escape the severe numbers of the Southern Hemisphere's winter months. Unfortunately that off season script has gone up in an "I Dream of Genie" puff of smoke. As the surfing globe shrinks it's becoming exponentially tougher to rediscover the sense of being alone in the world. 4 charter boats anchored in the channel can quickly dissolve that salt water fantasy.
Don't run off and grab the tissues just yet. The champagne up here still has plenty of bubbles. For starters the waves are the same and the ocean nudges a balmy 30 degrees.
Pistols
Rallo off the bottom at Pistols on our last session And despite increased crowds, the ambience in the water is rarely acrimonious.
It may require some smoke and dagger tactics but solo sessions were still eked. Everyone from our mob grabbed a share despite the fact that a few of us are ready to pack a Zimmer Frame into the travel survival kit.
The surf wasn't quite as epic as some previous visits (although not far off) but if we'd scored the same waves on home sand it would be reason enough to crack your prime bottle of Cabernet from the cellar in celebration.
Beautiful surf in the types of locations that cram coffee table books. This is why we fess up the big bucks to visit places like the Mentawais. The fact that we have to share this with a few more people of a similar mindset has to be the essence of a first world problem. I'm sure my wife back home at work was full of sympathy for such dilemmas.
Speaking of whom, as a generic travel partner I won't ever look beyond the blushing bride. Following God knows how many years on the road together, the volume on the wedding vows still
ring as loud as ever. Perhaps it's our counterbalancing act. I'm the flighty one who loses everything. She's the one with the steady hand on the rudder who then finds it. Textbook yin and yang. On the other hand, shoehorning a trip with long time compadres coming to a retirement village near you is a sojourn that screams "yes" to life. Age gracefully? One of these days. Sometimes it's great to be a bloke.
All images provided by Alex Cleland @Pitstop Hill Management
for more of my images:
www.colvinyeates.zenfolio.com
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Greg burke
non-member comment
Pitstop.
Hey old boy, glad you had a good trip . I was following the Dip on FB so have kept up to date. Interesting your comment on the crowd factor. My last stint late last year coincided with John boy. We both said how the crowds had swelled. With a camp downstairs, the one at Beng Bengs , Diago's camp at the village and the 2 brazo camps and the soon to be Nipussi camp it's a shame to see, but it's interesting when you talk to Tarsi, Michael and the rest of the boys ,they want the development. They want a Bali type experience and that's understandable considering they live most of their life in a jungle , looking after surfers. Most on the older side. ? like most places times have changed.. By the way, nice cuttie ..