San Elijo State Park visit

[Newbomb]

Heading to the park for a stay in May with a group of seasoned Great Lakes surfers. Most are prone. I figure that since I've heard it can be a friendly vibe, for the most part, I hoped to get some insider's views of the the SUS vibe.

By the way, we are having quite a season across the all the Great Lakes as it has been unseasonably mild and the lakes don't have much ice coverage. Water is still above 32 degrees so we're hoping for open waters for another week or two, or three... We hade beautiful 3' peelers on Lake Erie Friday with snow all around. Heavenly.

[SoCalSupper]

Great spot bomb-lots of room to roam as you head north towards Swamis-Cardiff Reef is fun but crowded-all along the campground there are some nice sandbars usually and a few rocks/reefs that should offer up some waves-good pick you should have a good time!
If you feel studly you can keep paddling north around Swamis and hit Boneyards

[kneecap]

I camped there for a few days a week ago, though it's about a half hour from my house so not that exotic for us.  We had a blast.  The campsites are nice, facilities are good, full hookups in several sites (unlike South Carlsbad- which has a lot of fun waves too). We had full hookups right on the cliff so I had a hot shower anytime I wanted.

The beach is also nice there.  I avoided the main Cardiff break, it was just too crowded for my taste.  I do catch it fairly empty from time to time though so you may get lucky.  I just kinda hung out and found little waves breaking off of a boil.  I could usually find something fun to ride with just a few guys out.

Other bonuses: We could whale watch from our site- several pods running by.  You can always make a run out to the kelp paddies and try fishing.  There's good food and the Patagonia Store right across the street. Bull Taco, right in the camp, is amazing!  It's way warmer than where you are.

The only real bummer about the place is  that the train starts running around 6:30 and stops about 10.  Since you're so close to where it crosses an innersection, you'll hear the horn.

Let me know when you're here and I can point you to a few more hidden gems and hopefully grab a surf.

Chris

[Newbomb]

Fantastic. Now that's the way to get some Aloha. Makes me even more stoked. Thanks SCS and Kneecap. Will hollar when it gets close.

[SoCalSupper]

do yourself a huge favor and go hit the family owned donut-pastry shop in the shopping center near Pipes Cafe acorss the highway-forget the name-like an italian name-help me out Knee!-dive face first into their apple fritter and then go nap!

[pdxmike]

do yourself a huge favor and go hit the family owned donut-pastry shop in the shopping center near Pipes Cafe acorss the highway-forget the name-like an italian name-help me out Knee!-dive face first into their apple fritter and then go nap!

Doesn't this belong on the primal diet thread?

[StuBro]

Usually a pretty friendly vibe there at "Campgrounds" but you may get a bit of a vibe at "Pipes" if it's crowded which is a bit more North.  Dawn patrol on the weekdays is always pretty sparse and friendly.  DON'T paddle out at Swami's further North or you will experience hate in the water which sucks.

Watch out for Cardiff Reef (South of Campgrounds) if it has recently rained as the lagoon drains there and almost everyone gets sick there after it rains.  Not something to joke about either.

Have fun.  I second the Bull Taco stand in the park.  I'll often ride my bike down just to grab some tacos.

Have fun!

[Boludo]

You're gonna have a blast!  Such a cool spot with awesome breaks.  That's mine and my families favorite spot to camp even though we live 10 miles from there.  Feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to catch a few with you.  East Coast Pizza is a must!  You can just walk across the street to Seaside market.  Killer Pizza.

[SoCalSupper]

You're gonna have a blast!  Such a cool spot with awesome breaks.  That's mine and my families favorite spot to camp even though we live 10 miles from there.  Feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to catch a few with you.  East Coast Pizza is a must!  You can just walk across the street to Seaside market.  Killer Pizza.

Seaside market rules-also head south on PCH and look for Las Olas Mexican Food- right across the street from CHart House-great food!
Also you can spend any remaining cash you have in the Patagonia shop.

[kneecap]

Bleedover from the sunset thread!  San Elijo a few weeks ago the day before the big swell filled in

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

[hbsteve]

I camped there long before the trains.  Beautiful. 

[Newbomb]

Great tips Zoners. Damn, is there a way to fast forward time? I need to be there. Thanks for the Aloha.

[Cardiff Sweeper]

I'll go ahead and brag....

That's my home break.    

BTW, kneecap, I looked for you during your camping visit, but you didn't post your campsite #  (and I wasn't a registered user at the time, so I couldn't ask you).  Next time!

See you all out there.  

[supdiscobay]

San Elijo has become a family tradition for the past 10 years.  We live on the Delta in Discovery Bay and water time is split between flat water SUP, tournament slalom skiing, wakeboarding and the occasional trip to Santa Cruz for a good swell.  We used to take the motorhome  to San Elijo twice a year, now we are down to once.  Primarily due to the price of gas. 

The place is great, tons to offer.  2 years ago we took our stand ups with us, and worked our way up the coast.  Got heavily vibed when we passed swamis, but just north of swamis, was a great break that no one surfs.  25 guys at swamis and 200yds north there were 4 of us SUS.  Me for the first time on a 12' doyle.  The other guys were on 9' Blairs and one offered to let me catch a couple.  Being able to bottom turn was much better than my Doyle.  You can contact J Blair and he will let you demo boards at Cardiff.  Riding a wave board is so much more fun. 

The real highlight of that paddle north was paddling with local boy Rob Machado.  He gave us some great tips. 

The tacos at the campground are great, Las Olas is a must.  Seaside market is great and of course Pipes cafe.  The best breakfast burrito around.  The great thing about camping there, is that you can react quickly to the conditions.  Cardiff can go from 20 surfers to 5 in 10 mins, and vice versa.  The sand bars between cardiff reef and Pipes (just south of swamis) are all fun and depending on the conditions, SUP's and prones can live together.  Paddle up the coast and surf your way back.  When you find a break that works stick around awhile.  But the surfing is good too, so don't forget your surfboard!

No kids at home now, so we go alone and invite them.  Somehow they always seem to make it down. Our youngest has break from Irvine Feb 25-March 4th, so we will be down there, Sunday through Friday.  Couldn't get a site for Fri/Sat.  But thats typical.

Enjoy your trip. You will want to come back again.

[Newbomb]

One week. Pumped. Looking forward to checking out your place Mr. English. Will be in camp sites 70. & 71 with Great Lakers and former GLers now living in SoCal. Having a nice little BBQ on Saturday the 5th. Give a hollar. Looking to SUS and possibly some distance paddles.

Cheers