You can tell it's summer

[SlatchJim]

Don't get me wrong, I know there are locals out here too.  I've seen it with snowboarders, dirt bikers, hikers, and strangely enough high school basketball players.  I see them get cocky (ridiculously so) when every they're playing a team from the OC...well, as long as it's not Mater Dei.

Jackasses are everywhere, and I vow to do my best not to be one.  Summer is definitely one of the jackass migration seasons.   

[Strand Leper]

Nice post Slatch...

The best kept secret (as you know) is that the OC beaches are at their most gorgeous from September through February...

Don't tell all of your friends in Rancho Cuc (pronounced kook ) though.

You happen to live in beautiful country... before my kid went off to college... we spent pleny of time in your neck of the woods hiking Old Baldy, West Baldy, Mount Ontario, Mt. Harwood, Ice House Canyon, etc.  When he was seven we did Old Baldy from the Ranger's station... up the Bear Valley Flats trail... even got "lost" in the Sheep Wilderness Area once*...  Did the Mt. Baldy Run to the top one Labor Day (I was the fastest non-runner out of shape working stiff I think).  Jr. would always want to stop at Baldy Village for pie and ice cream on the way home...

SL

* a man with a compass and topo map is never actually lost... just taking a few moments to gather his bearings.

[surf monkey]

It's always fun to hear people justify why they surf at a spot, I like to poke fun at localism living at a beach that has good surf and lots of locals it gets entertaining and ugly at times. But for the most part as long as everyone is out having fun I don't mind people coming to our beach that's what it's for. I always feel lucky to live in the tiny postage stamp of a lot, especially when I fly into LAX make that banking turn and look out at all those lights it's crazy.

But when they steal your old shoes, leave trash, drive/park like fools then give you a hard time for surfing in front of your house it makes it hard to get along. Yes SL I'm looking forward to Sept /Oct good weather kids back in school come on up when the East winds meet the West swells good times.

[SupVato]

I always find it funny how some people think their poop don't stink cause they live in a certain area in SoCal..I've lived in a few different codes from 714 back in the day,808 to 909 now and each time interacting with all types of people and improving my real estate. I don't care being the 909 Kook today I can get to the beach in 35 min and will always Surf and have the Ocean in my blood. What's funny is now us Sup'ers are haters of anyone east of the 5 frwy... Dang Vern are the proners rubbing off on us? or "Can't we all just get along".. Aloha people!..

[kneecap]

I'm not sure that I'm seeing a whole lot of hate toward inlanders in this thread.  Most of the folks are happy to see school start up which steps far beyond area code.  Plus, this summer has flat out sucked for surf down here so fall can'r come soon enough.  I'm far more concerned with the driving habits of the busy ladies from Carlsbad who go ripping through the lot where I park drinking lattes, talking on their phones, and making sure little Billy has his Zinka on than I am about getting run over by a golf cart with flames on it being driven by a guy with an Affliction t-shirt (that was a kick-ass run-on sentence!).  There's just been some cliches dropped.  I live almost ten miles from the coast, definitely the wrong side of the 5, and everyone calls my town "Veeeeeeeeeeesta".  Gives me a good chuckle every time.  I welcome any and everyone in the ocean as long as their goal is to have fun and not mess with anybody else.

[SupVato]

Well put Knee but, some of those busy Carlsbad soccer moms are smokin' hot!

[SlatchJim]

But when they steal your old shoes, leave trash, drive/park like fools then give you a hard time for surfing in front of your house it makes it hard to get along.

I promise not to steal your shoes Tim.  And trust me, I don't go anywhere near San O in July or August.

From my time in the mountains, everyone below a 4000 foot elevation marker were "flatlanders". In similar high season fashion, the first snow fall would hit and it would take me 3 hours to make a normally 15 minute commute up Highway 18.  Local kids in jeeps could make $500 to $1000 a day on a weekend towing people off ice and out of snow berms.  High ski season at Big Bear makes San O look like the surface of Mars.  Bad traffic...you have no idea.  And yet, even with mountain residents whining and complaining, without tourism, the economy would have tanked. It's just that with 33 million people in the state, you'd think they wouldn't all do the same thing on the same day.  And don't get me started about Glamis...

p.s. Even us inlanders make fun of brodozers.

Slatch,
That nice guy at your home break

[surfinJ]

You can tell it's summer when you're heading to the ski slopes with your mountain bike.  Here the mountains
empty in the summer leaving a peace like the beaches in the winter.  Which is nice because it is now 
invasion time.  Their licence plates, accents or language, give away their status and distance traveled.
In my life, the distance to the ocean has varied from a few steps, to a days drive.  I've been at both ends
of summer stick and neither is perfect.  Though the stress and aggression are definetly up this year, early
go's and back roads have led to some very relaxed sessions.  We are nearing the dog days, a crisp fall is
coming soon.

[Easy Rider]

I just rent "my spot" and invite who I want. 
Once we are in - I close the door and the lifeguard doesn't let anyone else in.   

[SoCalSupper]

fun thread-im in the 949 now but in my bones im worse than a 909er, i grew up in a town of 250 people on the Salton Sea called Bombay Beach-stick that in  your google and smoke it!

My shit still stinks but ive noticed a slightly less offensive aroma since abiding in Dana now these last few years,must be the salty air?

COme one come all i say!-run what ya brung just dont be a snake-give more than you take, be cool, relax

With that being said hurry up Fall/Winter and give me my break back!.....

[hbsteve]

One of the other things I like about fall, is glassy afternoons.

[Tom]

All this talk about area codes reminds me of the 619 gang. There were a bunch of skate/surf punks from Pacific Beach that were so local they all got 619 tattoos.  A couple of years later, Pacific Beach's area code was changed to 858.

[OUTSIDEWAVE]

Back in the day it was "Valley go  home"    can you guess where?  My point is  surf where you want but don't act like you own it you are visiting,   be polite and  know your limits.   stand out because you are good at what  you do not becuase you weigh 250 and are surfing a yellowed  1980' era  something that hasn't been ridden in 25 years or  are a  LAer driving to where south oc san diego or in your pretend work truck with  your new boards which you still can't surf and then sit then are brag about your trip to mamoth and what  Mtn man you were last week..   as Iused to tell my t-ball team " no ballerinas"