September 18, 2011 Sunday

Bolinas	Straight out from the ramp
8:00 am to 10:00 am	2' to 3', sets to 3.5'
Low tide	Slight NW cross breeze
Bright and sunny	Memorable

Memorial Paddleout for Novato Pete - Part 1.

The fog that had oppressed us for the last few days was finally gone, the sun was high in the sky and sky was blue. The weather had turned for Pete.

This morning we - the Bolinas regulars and friends of Pete - gathered for a paddleout in his memory. Pete had passed away on July 12th, his family had spread his ashes at the top of Mount Tamalpais (one of Pete's favorite biking destinations) last weekend and today his surfing companions were going to celebrate his life.

All of us had talked about holding a paddleout from the moment we heard about Pete's death, and now we were finally going to do it. All of us wanted to do it. Mary had quietly taken charge of bringing the celebration together through countless emails inviting every one to come and to spread the word. She also had conversations with Frank the stand-up guy and Mark the archaeologist for their assistance. I have participated in a few paddleouts before and had a notion of what to expect. I had received Mary's email with the basic directions: location - Brighton Beach Bolinas, the time - eight am, and the directive to be ready to enter the water at that time.

I arrived at 7:30 and several of the regulars were already suited up and others were getting ready. With board in hand I marched down the ramp to the beach. Mark, who has participated in paddleouts before, took charge - good for him. He directed everyone to lay their boards on the sand diagonally pointing to the water in two rows with ten to twelve-foot spacing between them. Everyone stood by their boards and when we had all gathered, Mark directed us to enter the water two at a time - one from each row. As a procession, we entered the water in pairs forming a long continuous line of surfers slowly paddling at out sea. Thirty surfers entered the water and two of Pete's biking buddies stood on shore watching the celebration. Fortunately, the ocean in front of the ramp was flat and calm and we easily proceeded out about fifty yards from shore. By Mark's direction we formed a large circle, holding hands and awkwardly bobbling up and down. Mary pulled out her waterproof camera and took a few pictures.

Frank the stand-up guy now took charge. He explained that we were here to celebrate Pete's life and that each of us if he or she felt like it could say a few words about Pete. Frank started off with his own words. Over an hour, everyone - all thirty of us - cited a memory or trait about Pete. The praises were too numerous to repeat here, but one thought came pouring through - Pete had more friends than he realized.

"And thank you Pete for lifting the fog," the last person completed his words. Everyone that had paddled out with flowers threw them into the middle of the circle, while the rest joyously splashed the water. "Look at the dolphins," as if on cue, two bottlenose dolphins surfaced twenty yards out from us and began happily diving and surfacing in a circle. "Let's go surfing and ride one for Pete." We all turned and began paddling to the Channel. I could only imagine what the six surfers at the Channel thought when they saw thirty surfers heading right for them at the one and only peak that morning. Our spirits were high and we had a grand time playing around in the small weak waves of that morning. And guess what? The dolphins followed us.

But something spiritual happened in that circle. As we held hands, looked at each other and expressed our feelings about our Pete, we came together. After the ceremony, I heard conversations about we're friends, companions, a community, a family and a tribe. The emails the next day talked of coming together, taking care of each other and being thankful for the companionship.

Pete, in your own wacky way, you have brought us together. Thank you. We all now realize we are a community, and you are still part of it.

Rest in peace, Peter Weiss.