Just drove up from Big Sur, and saw the following spots. Too wordy for report, I guess:

Sand Dollar Beach: poor to fair, knee to chest high, glassy. Surfed there the last few days, same conditions. Coke bottle clear water, mmmm.
Scott Creek: Flat. Fire burning 1/4 mile away!
######: Knee high, poor, light onshore, 8 guys out... sitting mostly. Pretty pathetic.
Gazos Creek: same as W but glassy & no one out
Other NC beaches: flat.
HMB jetty:really flat. Almost inverted. Orange water.
Montara: A few guys out, did not stop or see what they were waiting for. Sunny, at least.

Hell if I know! It's damn subjective. Particularly if you get a great ride, or if you're just really loving life that day (and more power to you)! And as King of Kooks noted, our beloved beach break changes by the minute.

Saw a great "Nova" on PBS about the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito (which I never new existed). It's the finest marine mammal emergency vet in the world, and it's right in our doorstep. They're the folks to call if you see a sick or injured seal or sea lion.

The TV show explained why we're seeing so many sick animals lately. It's mainly because of a particular toxin that the animals take in through a unique algae that forms as a result of agricultural runoff and human shit (sigh). The toxin produces a neurological deterioration; kind of like alzheimer's mixed with convulsions.

Bored with the windy flatness!

Here's a gnarly surf story, from my travel diary last year. It may not seem that hardcore (and it was written to be understood by my non-surfing friends), but it was one of the scarier trapped-by-the-rocks experiences I've had:

This is for King of Kooks, who needs a place to practice his mat technique.

This place has "heaps" (clue #1) of uncrowded point breaks. Cheap as (#2) for Americans, and if you're under 30, you can get a one year work permit. What's stopping you?

I've been there 3 times, we loves it, we needs it, my precioussssss (clue #3).