byron bay v1.1

• gabs left earlier in the day to begin his trip home to switzerland. gabs, or "arnold" as he is known around camp for sounding just like california's governator, shared a claim to fame with the author of these notes. it was on the second day that gabs and i caught the same wave and managed to shake hands while surfing it. adios arnold. hopefully you'll be back.
  
  we had one last blowout in byron with the remaining surfers. a big game of kings with way too much male nudity (don't worry i only lost my shirt) due to girl friendly rules. then we had our own full moon party on the beach for one last night of slapping the goon. people lost cameras, passports, and wallets, however, with friends, the loss of dignity is only temporary and is restored after ribbing the next day. when big dave collapsed in the sand what could we do but bury him? the irish were kind enough to carry him home and deposit him into the tub for the night. then it was paddy and me singing radiohead both on the beach and our walk home. man. we sounded champ.
  
  by the morning everyone had awoken covered in sand, and kevin and paddy had already caught their 6am transportation. lyds and i also awoke to a tsunami warning that closed the beach. my hangover would have hindered my ability to escape any wave, but luckily the warning was downgraded as the day wore on. we quickly made the decision to get out of dodge. all of our close friends had left besides big dave, and who knew when he would arise from the tub. it just felt like we had been senoirs too long and it was time to graduate. we checked out of our hostel in 10 minutes flat, and lyds booked our next hostel in surfer's paradise. then it was time to see the beach in daylight (a first for both of us), and lunch at paul hogan's restaurant. unfortunately, there was no sign of mick dundee.
  
  back at the hostel it was time for goodbyes with the remaining mojosurfers. we had partied hard for a full hannukah cycle. some people were drunk before dinner, and still blind when they woke up in the morning. but it just got to be one too many mornings waking up with no socks and matching underwear. lyds and i were both exhausted, but we'll both look back on byron and our surf crew with happiness and pride. we rocked hard, surfed hard, and slapped the goon hard while avoiding sharks and dishes.
  
  rehab is for quitters. happy easter.