El Faro 17

Erwin on a rare El Faro tube.

Too Much Fun

Playa El Faro is what the locals call it, Pacasmayo is what travelers call it, but for me, it should be called “Too much fun”  Love this place.   Tom and I arrived early, and got two great days with some nice sized waves.   Super long rides were the norm, as I caught many waves that were over a 1/4 mile long, with one 593 yards long.    After Erwin and Jeff arrived, we had one day that I caught an 809 yard wave.   Think about that.   I was 71 yards short of a 1/2 mile ride.  INCREDIBLE.   Waves so long that your legs are hurting.   Thank god for the Zodiac, which both increased my wave count, and saved me so much energy that I would have otherwise expelled on the paddle back up to the point.   With each year I come here, it gets tougher and tougher to leave.   On our last day,  we had a few hours to surf before the Taxi was coming to take us to the airport.   On my first wave, I caught another super long one of 678 yards.   As I got out of the water to walk back up the point, I broke down and started crying.   I did not want to leave this paradise, and the world class waves it had to offer.  

Part of what make Pacasmayo so remarkable,  is also the relationships I have developed with my Peruvian friends.   These people have the biggest hearts, and once you are a friend, they open them to you.    Now that I have been going to Pacasmayo for so many years, it is a special treat to see them and spend time with them.   It makes me realize that the world is full of good people but none better than the Pacasmayens.    Edgar our MotoTaxi driver from years past recalled all the stories from years past, as we laughed together about previous good times.   He went out of his way for not only me, but all my friends.   His brother Carlos brought us four octopuses that Rosita, the cook, made specially for us.   Alexandria, Carlos wife, baked my brother a cake for his birthday.   As we ate it, it was still warm from the oven.  On our last day she made Alfajores cookies, not just for me, but for each one of us.   Maquenzie, the father of my god daughter Sol Manuela, came on his day off, just to make sure we had our morning coffee before our morning surf session.   Miquel and Alex, our photographer, and videographer knew we wanted a lobster dinner before we left, and set it up for us.    The kindness and friendship is one of the things I will miss most.    

On our last day Miguel said to me, “you don’t want to leave, do you?”   I told him no.   He replied “Don’t worry, you will go back to work, the year will pass fast, and you will be back next year”   Words of wisdom, but I truly wish I was there right now.