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Published: December 30th 2009
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Awww, Lancelin.... Home-away-from home for the last two weeks, the Lancelin Lodge reminds me of Australia’s version of Hotel California. Kite, windsurf and surf gear line the garage walls; there’s a huge kitchen and dining area, barbecues, a pool, beach volleyball, hammocks with dudes playing the guitar and loads of tan people in board shorts. It’s a couple of blocks from the kite beach and bikes are free to use as you please. After being on the go for the last 2 months, it’s been so nice to just chill in one spot and kite. (& clean toilets to stay for free... yes, for 1.5 hours every day, I cleaned 5 toilets, 5 showers, 4 sinks and 2 floors to be exact. Times that by 13... wow, quite a change from my office with a view, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world!)
Kite kite kite... that was the theme. Progression was the other theme. When riding every day with talented people, you have no choice but to just get better... to do more tricks, to boost higher and to actually land well most of the time. And, most days the wind cooperated quite nicely. On the few days that
it didn’t (& the couple days I rested a knee injury that could have been much worse... thanking my lucky stars) we just hung out... swam, played a bit of funny ball and laughed til our sides hurt. We hit the local tavern a few times where some new friends (also living at the lodge), Simon, Mike and Chris worked. A fun place with a mixed crowd of small town hillbillies and surfer dudes. $8.50 a beer I could do without, but good to get out with the group for a some laughs. When in Australia, become a wino... its good and its cheap 😊.
It’s almost the New Year as I head to New Zealand. It’s hard to believe when the temperature outside is over 100 degrees F. Celebrating Christmas in the summer is quite different indeed and I was a little worried about being away from my family and loved ones during the holidays. But, any worry was quickly washed away as I adapted to life at the lodge. We had holiday celebrations that battled ones at home in any year. Fun people, yummy food, Christmas music and cheers a plenty.
Right now, I’m on my way to
Perth to catch a flight and I honestly write this in a pretty bittersweet mood. On the one hand, I am en route to God’s country, the land of beauty, wonder and extreme sports heaven and on the other, I part from one of the best times I’ve ever had. Before I tell you about why I rank it so high, I have to tell you about the town of Lancelin itself, apart from the lodge. It’s a very small-town on the coast of Australia with 2 small grocery marts, a pizza place, 2 trailer parks, a surf shop, a few other small shops, a tavern you might find in central Nevada that closes at midnight and virtually nothing to do in town on no-wind days. Most of the time, the wind rips through the place from the south making it almost impossible to even ride a bike in that direction. There are horseflies and sand dunes and tons of sage brush. There is a beautiful beach, but if you’re not a kiter, even that can get boring after a while and you probably won’t fancy (yes, I picked up some classic Englishman talk 😊 the sand pelting your face
as you layout in 20 knot winds. At first impression, you probably aren’t booking your next vacation here. Well, as the cliche goes, first impressions can be deceiving... There is no way to describe Lancelin other than that its truly magical. No, not for the hillbilly tavern, the beautiful beach or even for the perfect wind, it’s magical because of the incredible lodge, a shared love for an amazing sport and mostly the people you meet when you come here. The magic has been proven in the hearts of many as travelers return to the lodge year after year and stay for months at a time. I have met new friends from many places... Germany, Holland, Sweden, Scotland, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Britain, South Africa, New Zealand and Japan. We had quite a crew and stayed up some nights laughing hysterically until 2 AM without even noticing where the time went. Whether Simon from England renamed Chris from the UK “Prince Harry” (a very strong resemblance, yes) or Dan from England was teaching Frank "the tank" from Holland good english slang (“you f**king muppet”) or Frank was telling a story about Owen from Ireland sleep-attacking him by the ankles as he
The dorms...
not so bad except the snoring... lucky to have earplugs! walked by Owen’s bunk. I wish I would have had a camera rolling footage constantly because a comedy could be made of of the fun we had. I will never forget it or them and I can’t say that I won’t be back some day (preferably with Monty of course! I miss you babe!). Lancelin is magic... pure addicting magic.
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linda
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Goodbye Lancelin Boo Hoo
Thanks for the great story on international kiters' haven. What a great place! Monty also returned with pictures of lodge dining in 04 so it is interesting to see those (as though) again. What's the news on your knee? All better now? It looks like you were able to kite in spite of it. Let the healing continue. The summer looks so wonderful; I almost wish I were there myself. Now your solo journey really gets underway! No doubt the Lancelin kiters will also be following your blog. Seven more weeks of travel? Wow, good for you, and keep those blogs coming! love, Linda