OFF THE BEATEN PATH

“Off a tip from a local surfer, we found ourselves driving through back roads and farmers fields, winding down the mountainside to a deserted Mexican coastline.”

After bypassing several cattle roadblocks, we emerged on a rugged coastal road. potholes and ditches were filled with seashells allowing us to cross some dicey terrain. After about an hour of searching for waves, we stumbled upon a rugged left-hander breaking off a rocky point.

success.

We surfed for hours in the baking sun. To soothe the burn, I took the last hour of the session to sit on the rocks and snap a few photos for the memory bank. We later called this wave ‘la flying piña’ (for reasons I won’t get into).

After leaving la flying piña, we stumbled upon a deserted town named Arroyo Seco, which had been decimated by hurricane Patricia two years earlier. Nearly all of the buildings were in disrepair. With cracked foundations and missing roofs, it was truly a sad sight to see. The only inhabitants seemed to be local builders, working tirelessly to restore their beloved town.

With a sick friend and no hotels in sight, we met a hospitable lady who opened her doors to our motley crew. Through broken English, we shared our story over dinner. Later that night, we discovered another beautiful left breaking just out of sight at the end of the beach, merely a minute walk from our air-conditioned rooms.

I will never forget this day - luck was sure on our side.

Jalisco, Mexico

February 2018

Canon AE-1