Man Overboard

This past week was a blast for Heywood and friends. He attended the fire department annual abalone trip to Van Damme state park, two miles south of Mendocino, for a week of camping, abalone diving, golfing, mountain bike riding, and massive amounts of alcohol consumption. This trip has been going on for 35 years. A few more years if one were to count the other campgrounds that this group has been asked to leave and never return. Attendance varies from year to year but is usually between 50-60 guys. Many are retired fireman who still are capable of venturing out into the seas and showing the younger guys how it’s done. And as typical, Heywood likes to really get down to nature and rough it.

So while at work on Monday, the day before departure, Heywood along with three other fireman loaded there gear into fireman number 5’s 40 foot diesel pusher/toy hauler. Now Wood is well known for inviting himself into others living space, (thanks Fred, be at your place in two weeks) but this was freaking amazing. He was staying in a mobile mansion. Even had its own garage that was sealed off from the rest of the living quarters. While on the five hour drive up, the visiting four guys played an exciting game of Texas hold’em poker, prepared lunch from the full refrigerator, and ingested numerous cold beers. Wood was even able to lay down during the drive, reenergizing his aging body on a king size bed before arriving at the campground. Now this was the life.

Upon arrival to the campground, Heywood and friends jumped onto there favorite two-wheeled steeds and hit the trails for an invigorating 10 miles. The trail follows the creek for about 2.5 miles with frequent water crossings. Then it is 1.2 miles up a smooth, vertical fire road with large redwood trees providing shade. Once up top, 2.3 miles down on some of the best single track Woody has ever laid eyes on. The trail is flanked by luscious green ferns and gigantic old growth trees as it winds down to the creek. Then, 2.5 miles back along the same creek where spawning salmon can be spotted.

The highlight of the trip was day two for Heywood. 0700 hours, Wood was up and on his way to the harbor with a few other guys. Three boats headed out into the treacherous seas together and went south about 10 miles. This is where favorite fishing spot is located. The only problem was the 8-10 foot swells that continued to rock the boat making fishing impossible while standing. Fish didn’t know the difference and were eager to eat the hooks. Each fisherman landed his limit of 10 rock fish with a few ling cod thrown in the boat. The group decided to go closer to shore and go ab diving. The men from two of the boats decided that diving in these conditions was too dangerous and not worth the risk. Unfortunally Heywood was not on those two boats. He was on the boat with the guy saying “I think we can still do this.” Heywood has no good judgment at all and agreed with the captain of his boat. The two idiots donned there wetsuits and fins, tested their masks, and jumped into the water. Ocean seemed to get worse when the two swam for the rocks. Looked very similar to a washing machine with too much detergent. Visibility was around four feet. Each dive was into the dark abyss. Once the bottom was reached, one would have to grab onto the kelp just to keep from being pushed around by the surge. Hands down, the worst conditions Heywood has ever seen. Miraculously, the two were able to reach there limit of 3 abalone per diver and swam back to the boat which was patiently waiting just off the rocks about 100 yards. Getting into a boat with these large swells was a problem by itself. After returning to the camp, the news was that no else was able to “catch” abalone that day except for the two idiots mentioned above.

Heywood was able to get in a round of golf at the Little River Inn Golf Corse. He teamed up with the right partner and was able to get some cash out of his opponents’ pocket. All said and done, another great trip. Look forward to next year.