When lightning strikes, most people stay inside for safety, but that’s not always the case in Hawaii.
I’m writing this from inside the car at Sunset Beach, where we’re posted up until the storm passes. It’s not even 10 a.m. and already dark enough for the street lights to be queued on; the thunder rolling in as consistently as the surging surf, with bouts of lighting crackling in the distance.
It’s a good thing I have a warm cup of apricot oolong tea latte (and my iPad) because it looks like it will be a while before the storm clears up. My phone just alerted me that Oahu’s now under a flash flood advisory until 1:30 p.m. Despite the foreboding conditions, there’s still 10 or so guys charging the sloppy 8-to10-feet surf out in front. What the heck!
Crazy? Optimistic? Maybe a little bit of both, but one thing’s for sure, lighting and large bodies of water do not mix well – or end well, for that matter. I refuse to let Noa paddle out in these conditions, not as long as there’s lighting! I’m sure each surfer out there has a significant other waiting, worried, at home. This is not a good time for anyone to be at the beach.
So why are we still here? Sitting in a stuffy car of surfboards and sunscreen; the consistent drumming of rain on the rooftop and intermittent squeak of windshield wipers as our Sunday morning orchestra. The truth is, I have a very optimistic fiance. If it were up to me, we would have turned around as soon as the storm hit. Another truth: I write really well when it’s raining outside, so I have no complaints whatsoever!
He gave it 20 minutes, and it’s right about at that mark with no patches of blue sky in sight. Looks like we’ll be headed back to town after all!
