DESERT POINT, closing the seasion!!

  After G-Land  I was ready to go to Brasil. I was mentally prepare to don't go on any other surftrips at Indo on the season 2006 and was already starting to picture myself inside a Churrascaria (meat restaurant) when Batatinha showed up in my room with Gustavo Deutrisch. They needed me to find them a good car to go to Desert Point to try their luck on a medium swell that was on the way and would arrive on the next day; They didn't have to push hard and 15 minutes later we were all loading our gear in a very nice brand new truck that I got for a very cheap price with a good Balinese friend. On the way to the ferry we made 2 strategic stopovers, at a very nice restaurant that I know and everyone got stoked eating a lot "Goreng".

  We stayed at my friend Suleman for 3 days and the routine was surf super early or just before dark on the last hour of light; The rest of the time there was a very strong side shore wind that was sweeping all over.

  On the biggest day there was no chance and the side shore was punishing with anger. On the following days the swell dropped a bit and the weather was one of the craziest I've ever seen. On 1 hour we had sunny day and super strong South wind that turned to North wind even stronger and the weather started to get cloudy and shortly after started raining heavily lasting for 15 minutes when it stopped and the offshore came blasting super strong.

  On this last "magic hour" the sets were taking a while but those in the water scored. The show was lead by Mr.Desert-Paul, the local Hugo, Beto, Cacá, Marlon, Batatinha, Gustavo Deustrisch and Gabriel amongst others that were playing with the cylindrical Desert Point Express.

  The point was dominated by Brazilians and there were very few surfers of other nationalities.

  I've met again many friends and the vibe was 10. Even if we didn't get it epic, for me the vibe on the trip was the most important and will be remembered. There was jokes all the time and "Little Stewart" (Gustavo Deutrisch) was now officially Batatinha's newest son and Gabriel became known as "Like a Virgin". It was good to see these two in the water. Always pushing each other and keen to go out no matter the conditions. And the surfing level...way high! I saw them both get some good tube time at this trip!!!

  I went back to Bali with counted time and already on the countdown. The last trip of the season had been done. One more time with good friends and styling. Now the saying was "It is not enough to have the Dom (portuguese for skill), you gotta be the Don (referring to Don Digone de Bali) " a joke that the crew would trow each time I pulled some cards from up my sleeve and made life a lot easier for us. It was the car, the restaurant, the cops on the ferry and so on.

  Arriving at Bali me and Batatinha had a little mission to do. Take care of the silver business, choose, bargain, buy, pack and send. The next 3 days were dedicated exclusively for the business and I decided that before going home I should make a ceremony to thank the Gods  for the good things I had lived in one more season of great waves in Indonesia. It was time to leave.

  Rodrigo "Digone"