Dusty isn't gone

No really Dusty isn't gone. He can't be. As long as waves still break at Little Dume he is still here. So don't even try to say he isn't here.

Matt Rapf introduced me to Dusty when we first moved to the point in '92. Good thing he did. Matt had regaled me and Linda with many many classic Dusty stories while we were house-hunting. Most of the stories centered around Dusty's fierce defense of Little Dume and general intolerance for newcomers to his break.

So the first time I hit the waves at Outers I was on my very best behavior. I was taking my time, sussing out the pecking order and the peak - there was a nice swell running that day. Finally a wave came with my name on it. I turned and dropped for my first Little Dume ride, only to realize Dusty was already on it. Much to my abject horror I dropped not just in front of the notorious Dusty Peak - I dropped ON him. Took him right out. We both tumbled under the whitewater. I contemplated staying under and drowning myself, sure that sinking to the bottom would be preferable to a pummeling from Dusty. But the call of oxygen prevailed and I surfaced, apologizing before I even breathed. Dusty just smiled and said no worries. It felt like a presidential pardon bestowed on a death row inmate.

Years later karma showed up. I had a nice new board out on a particularly big sweet swell day at Outers. The crowd was becoming unpleasant until the enforcer showed up. Dusty called it, loud and clear "Everybody take off your leashes. Now!" The riffraff left rather than chance losing their boards into the rocks or facing Dusty's wrath. The rest of us kept our leashes off.

Again that perfect set wave came for me. I dropped. But this time Dusty dropped on me. And again, I mean ON me. Took me out. My brand new board went sailing into the rocks. I came up for air, turned and looked at Dusty. All I could do was laugh. Dusty had his revenge, inadvertant as it was. I actually felt so much better that my karmic debt had been paid.

He's not gone. I'm calling the cartographers. We're renaming the point. Point Dusty. Big Dusty. Little Dusty. Dusty Left. The Dusty.

He's not gone.