It wasn't that far back, when San Onofre was
a bona-fide surf beach , not a Mommy/Baby
Day Care Centre. Back then San Onofre
surfers were real he-men. The beach was
packed with suntanned guys, unshaven, their
baggies droopy, cold Acme quarts chilled to
perfection. They were the real life guys, like
Barney Wilkes, Bill Banards, Doc Paskowitz,
Eddie McBride, Pete Peterson, Whitey Harrison,
Viking, George Stremple, Art Lavaningo. The days
were slow, the sun blistered the sand like it
were hell on earth. Tarzan Smith roared a
jungle call the heat demons sucked moisture
from the morning sky. Suddenly, the boys
stirred sensing movement on the horizon.
McBride was first in the water followed by
Wilkes, Pete, Whitey, Tarzan and the rest.
The water had a slight surface chop but not
enough to mar the quality. In rising surf,
there are no barking dogs, no mothers
playing with their baby, just men riding
their surfboard. No pop-up blue tents,
nothing but emerald breakers and white foam .
And thank goodness, no Father and Daughter
Easter Egg Hunt.

Written by Moms Mabley
BRUCE SAVAGE SAND ASSOCIATES