Undiscovered Potential

During the March hols, my family, along with a few friends, went on the annual Easter camping trip to Langebaan. Now I know that Langebaan isn't exactly a stop on the ASP World Tour, but under the right conditions, the waves can be magnificent. Not a far paddle, yet a long ride. Endless barrels all to yourself, because no one else is brave enough to tackle the sometimes frigid water.

Easter weekend was over spring tide. The moon was almost full, and the waves were ranging between 2 and 4 meters with a right break. It was heaven, even though I did get eaten quite a few of times.

But this post isn't about my dream wave. Its about waves that people have no idea exist, and waves that will probably never get ridden. A short walk from our campsite in Langebaan was another stretch of secluded beach. The waves here looked just as magical. I didn't get a chance to ride them, because my wrist was giving me problems, but I'm making a point of charging them next time.

Taking a drive out to Saldanha Navel Base, where access is highly restricted and not really a place you'd expect to see someone with a board tied to their roof. There is a small section of about 200m of beach between 2 rock outcrops that the officers use to torture the troops by having what they call "Beach Parties." Access to the beach is tricky in itself as it involves a steep decent over sharp rocks and thorns, but the reward is mind-blowing. Its a discovery I made last year February as we were staying in 2 houses that are for rent there. The wave doesn't have a definite break, but that doesn't stop you from getting some tube time. Quite a paddle, but after a dip in the sand, you can pretty much walk in waist deep water to where the waves form.

Backtracking a bit to the Saldanha Harbour, A small blink-and-you'll-miss-it road just to the left of the Navel Base's main gate. A long-ish drive through an access controlled boom that leads to the Port Control tower, and down a gravel road. There is a stretch of pure rock where you can see some people fishing. There breaks a wave that I am itching to take on, but I know I wont because of the dangers. So much potential. Glassy barrels that will give you an amazing 2 second ride before smashing you into the rocks.

The point of telling you about these waves may seem pointless, but this post isn't so much about surfing as it is potential. There are so many waves out there that will never be ridden. Perfect waves that break too shallow, or over a rocky outcrop, waves that are just too small to be ridden, but that look inviting. Then there are those waves that radiate perfection in every way imaginable that lie hidden in the far corners of Indo and other small islands that are just waiting to be discovered. The same is true for people. People can go their whole lives without realizing their dreams. Without discovering their true talent. Without taking a leap of faith that will change their lives forever. I think people are too scared to take the drop.

People spend too much time doing what's expected of them and too little time exploring themselves. They live and they die without discovering themselves and what makes them truly happy. Their potential gets lost in the rush of society, while some people are over-exploited and no longer find pleasure in what they once loved.

A balance does exist though, to those who are brave enough to seek it. The first step to realizing the balance it to discover your passion and what can drive you to experience a feeling that will make living worthwhile. The next step is to practice it. To enjoy it, and most importantly, to preserve it. Because in that moment, of feeling like you can do anything, that's when you discover your true potential.

Excuse the quality of these photos, they were taken with something that wasn't quite a camera.

Off Saldanha Harbour

Langebaan sunset

The joys of spring tide

The beach away from the campsite

Late Afternoon Boredom

Some shots that resulted from a lack of anything better to do

Confusion

I've been a very bad blog writer lately. I would love to blame it on matric, the amount of work, university applications, an operation and recovery, a busy social life or even an overload of creative ideas, but the truth is (even though all these factors have eaten up a huge deal of my brain lately, especially the whole university thing) I haven't had anything to post recently. My creativity levels have been null and void since the March exams ended.

Now I know that this isn't exactly a problem, since I think I have a total readership of 2, but it's been a while since I've written anything not related to school. And I don't like this. Its disturbing to think that I might be neglecting one of my favorite pastimes. It makes me wonder.

In truth, my mind has been a very dark and obscure place lately. I've been feeling a lot of conflicting emotions about a lot of situations, ranging from the standard friend trouble to what could possibly be a medical mystery relieving itself on my left arm. A lot of thoughts have yet to find their way on paper or a computer screen (though I don't think some of them should) and I need to get cracking. Even as I sit here, the deep voice of  John Paul White from The Civil Wars distracts me and I find myself staring at the keyboard wondering what to write and what the actual point of this post is.

I think this is a point in itself. There's so much going on in our minds that we don't share, and this makes us wonder who we are and why we find ourselves in the situations we're in. In times of confusion like these I find it necessary to take a step back to think about and reassess a few things. Take a few minutes or maybe even a few hours and just be by yourself. Let your thoughts have their way with you and I know how scary this is to do, but its good for the soul, or so I'm told. Let them escape through a muffled giggle, tear, pen, lyric or music note. But what ever you do, do not get up and and worry about them as intensely anymore. If you can, don't even worry about them at all, though I know this can also be quite difficult. But if you never try, you might be stuck with them for a while, and that might cause even more confusion. And don't let that become an anchor, because if you do, your ship might never find a decent place to dock.

Honestly, I have no idea what I just wrote. I promise my next post will be more coherent and will actually make sense. I hope.