You will find trip reports by Lloyd Johnson here.   The most recent reports are at the top.

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Don't read too much into my reports.  Gaps in coverage sometimes indicate bad weather, but also reflect my schedule.  I'm a strong swimmer and generally don't notice currents unless they are very strong.  I'm not a surfer and don't really know how to measure a wave.  Nobody believes my temperature readings.  They all come from a Suunto Mosquito dive computer.

July 25, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  Geoff had already set up a bulletin board at the trailhead.  I hiked north beyond Hully Gully.  I set up another bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella for myself and went for a swim, to the reef.  I did a few dives down and swam back.  I also played a little volleyball and did a little body boarding

The sun came out a few times, and it warmed up a lot.  There were times when I felt cold, but not for long.

There was a grill set up, but I didn't see anyone use it.  Geoff had a table set up for the surf event.  I saw six names signed up and I saw a few surfers in the water all at once.  I even saw some prizes given out.  I'll have to ask Geoff for details later.

It was still warm when I left about 5pm.

July 22, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I didn't set anything up.  I undressed at the trailhead and hiked north to the volleyball court at Indian Canyon.

I was there just for a swim.  I swam to the reef, did a few dives and swam back to shore.

I hiked out about 4pm.

July 18, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up a bulletin board at the base of the trail.  I hiked north just beyond Hulley Gully and settled down there.  I set up an umbrella and tried to stay cool in the shade.

I went swimming once, to the sand dollars, with a buddy.  I also went body boarding a few times.  I caught a few good waves.

I cooked some sweet corn on the grill, and passed it around.  I didn't see anyone else cook anything.

It was still hot when I packed, dressed and headed to the trail.  I left the parking lot about 6pm.

July 16, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up a bulletin board at the base of the trail.  I hiked north just beyond Hulley Gully and settled down there.  I set up an umbrella and tried to stay cool in the shade.

I went swimming twice, once to the reef and half way to the reef.  My reef swim was solo, and I did three dives to the reef.  I caught one wave on my way back to shore.

It was still hot when I packed, dressed and headed to the trail.  I left the parking lot about 7pm.

July 14, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  The trail was so hot it was burning my feet.  There was already a bulletin board at the base of the trail.  I undressed, hiked north just beyond Hulley Gully and settled down there.

Geoff was already flying the club flag.  I set up an umbrella and tried to stay cool in the shade.

I went swimming twice, once to the reef and once to the sand dollars.  My reef swim was solo, and I did three dives to the reef.  Before reaching the reef, I did a dive and found a jellyfish.  I caught one wave on my way back to shore.

It was still hot when I packed, dressed and headed to the trail.  I left the parking lot about 7pm.

July 11, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up a bulletin board at the base of the trail.  Then I hiked north, just beyond Hulley Gully and settled down there.

Geoff was already flying the club flag.  I set up an umbrella but only used it to hang things to dry.

I went swimming twice, both times with buddies.  The first time we only swam past the surf, and the second time we swam past the sand dollars.

I played some volleyball.  We didn't keep score; good thing.

It was cooling when I decided it was time to go, about 6:30pm.  I packed, dressed and hiked up the trail.  I left the parking lot about 7pm.

July 4, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I undressed at the base of the trail and set up a bulletin board.  Then I hiked north, just beyond Hulley Gully and settled down there.

Geoff was already flying the club flag.  I set up an umbrella for myself and sat in the shade much of the day.

It was cold, so I left early, about 4pm.  I packed, dressed and hiked up the trail.

July 2, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I undressed at the base of the trail and set up a bulletin board.  Then I hiked north, just beyond Hulley gully and settled down there.

I raised the club flag.  I set up an umbrella for myself and sat in the shade much of the day.

I went swimming twice, once with the reef in mind and once just to catch some waves.  The current was too strong, so I aborted the reef swim.  I didn't manage to catch any waves either.

It was still warm, but cooling when I decided it was time to go, about 5:15pm.  I packed, dressed and hiked up the trail.  I left the parking lot about 5:30pm.

June 22, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  There was already a bulletin board set up at the trail.  I hiked north and stopped just past Spencer Canyon/Hully Gully.  There I undressed.  Geoff had already raised the club flag.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang stuff for drying.

I swam to the sand dollars twice, once with a buddy.

It was cooling off  when I decided it was time to go, about 5pm.  I packed, dressed and hiked up the trail.  I left the parking lot about 6pm.

June 19, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  A rock near the bottom had been removed, making a portion of the trail wider, but also making it a big step.  I hiked north and stopped just past Spencer Canyon/Hully Gully.  There I undressed.  Geoff had already raised the club flag.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang stuff for drying.

I spent much of my time body boarding.  I never got an accurate read of the temperature, but my thermometer got down to 70.  From shore I saw dolphins.

It was still sunny when I decided it was time to go, about 4pm.  I packed, dressed and hiked up the trail.  I left the parking lot about 4:30pm.

June 15, 2010: Black's Beach

Parking at 12pm	street: full gliderport: plenty of spaces
Visibility	I could see a hazy Longbeach.
Burro Trail	mostly good, a few big steps
Climate	mostly cloudy, some sun, wind from north
People	a hundred or so
Activities Observed	swimming, body surfing, surfing, paragliding, RC gliding, volleyball, scuba diving
Water	surf: 5' tide: It was rising slightly. temperature: 68º current: I didn't notice any. visibility: 10'
Wildlife Observed	crows, western gulls, terns, pelicans, squirrels, garibaldi, surf perch, sand bass, sheep head, octopus, cowerie, keyhole limpet, blacksmith, anemones, star fish, lobster, greenling, sponge, senorita fish, sea snails, sea cucumbers, gorgonians
Lifeguards and Law Enforcement	I saw lifeguards in a white truck.

I arranged all my scuba gear in a backpack-like configuration and hiked down the Burro Trail.  I hiked north and stopped just past Spencer Canyon/Hully Gully.  There I undressed and Geoff raised the club flag.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang stuff for drying.

About 1:30 I started my swim to the reef.  It was difficult getting through the surf.  I had to use some of my air supply to go under the waves, otherwise they kept pushing me back to shore.  I reached the reef and started my dive about 2:15.  I reached a maximum depth of 46', a bottom temperature of 59 and did a 41 minute dive.  I started with 3000psi and finished with 500psi.  I saw a variety of fish and invertebrates.  The highlight was an octopus.  I returned to shore about 3:30.  Geoff shot video of me suiting up, heading to the water and returning.

It was overcast while I was under water and while swimming.  The sun came out about the time I returned to shore.  From that time it was sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunny.

About 5pm I was packed and ready to go.  I dressed, stood up with my gear and headed to the trail.

June 13, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up my bulletin board and headed north, but stopped just past Spencer Canyon/Hully Gully.  There I undressed and raised my club flag.

I set up an umbrella, but never used it.  Some of my friends set up a wind block, but I didn't think it was that bad.

I only dared to go swimming once, to the reef.  I swam the distance and heard the fish.  I did one dive and found it murky at about 20 feet down.  I didn't see the reef.  I think I was off a little bit.  I didn't try again.  I was cold and getting cramps, so I swam back to shore.

The sun would come out for 5 minutes or so, then there was about 30 minutes of clouds.  About the time I was putting on a shirt to warm up, the sun came out.

About 5pm I decided I'd had enough.  I packed, dressed and headed to the trail.  At the trail I collected my boards and hiked up.

May 30, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up my bulletin board and headed north, but stopped just past Spencer Canyon/Hully Gully.  There I undressed and raised my club flag.

I set up an umbrella, but never used it.  Eventually the wind picked it up and I had to run after it and fold it up.  Some of my friends set up a wind block.  I later joined a card game there, out of the wind.

I only dared to go swimming once, due to wind chill after getting out.  I went beyond the sand dollars, but didn't see any.

About 5pm I decided I'd had enough of the wind.  I packed, dressed and headed to the trail.  At the trail I collected my boards and hiked up.

May 29, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I undressed and set up my bulletin board at the trail head.  I headed north, but stopped just past Spencer Canyon/Hully Gully.  There I my club flag and set up another bulletin board.

I set up an umbrella, but never used it for shade.  I used it to hang swim gear to dry.

I went swimming three times, each time to the sand dollars.  I didn't see much because the water was murky, red tide.

About 5:30pm I felt a little chill from the wind.  I packed and headed to the trail.  At the trail I dressed, collected my boards and hiked up.

May 27, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I headed north, but stopped just past Spencer Canyon/Hully Gully.  There I undressed and raised my club flag.

I set up an umbrella, but never used it for shade.  I used it to hang swim gear to dry.

I went swimming twice, once beyond the sand dollars and once to the reef.  I saw two dolphins.  I only saw them after they passed, so I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to take a picture.  I swam to the reef with two buddies.  The water was murky, so we didn't swim down to the reef, nor see it, but I know we were there.

About 5pm some clouds covered the sun, I packed, dressed and headed to the trail.  At the trail I dressed and hiked up.

May 1, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up my bulletin board at the trailhead, undressed, and I headed north to my usual spot near Valentine Slide.  I raised my club flag and put another bulletin board under it.

I set up an umbrella, but never used it for shade.

About 4:30pm I packed and headed to the trail.  At the trail I dressed, collected my boards and hiked up.

April 30, 2010: Black's Beach

This was my first visit since fracturing my wrist a month ago.

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I forgot my bulletin board.  At the trailhead I undressed, and I headed north to my usual spot near Valentine Slide.  I raised my club flag.

I set up an umbrella, and actually used it for shade for a short time.  Before long I got cold and moved to the sun.

About 4pm I packed and headed to the trail.  At the trail I dressed and hiked up.

March 20, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up my bulletin board at the trailhead, undressed, and I headed north to my usual spot near Valentine Slide.  I raised my club flag and put another bulletin board under it.

I set up an umbrella, and actually used it for shade.  I went swimming twice, once beyond the sand dollars and once just to do a little body surfing.  The flies were pretty bad.  Bug spray was a must.

About 5pm I packed and headed to the trail.  At the trail I dressed, collected my boards and hiked up.

March 17, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up my bulletin board at the trailhead, undressed, and I headed north to my usual spot near Valentine Slide.  I raised my club flag and put another bulletin board under it.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.

I went swimming once, and planned to go a second time.  My second time in the water I felt a ray sting me on my arch.  I immediately turned back and headed for what little dry sand there was.  Several friend came to my aid.  They brought me what comfort they could, but it was up to me to endure the pain.  This was my fourth sting, so I knew what to do and what to expect.  Bleeding flushes some of the toxins out, but I couldn't get it to bleed much.  Heat breaks down the toxins.  There was hot sand, but not very hot and not very much.

After about an hour and a half, I decided to get myself home, despite the pain.  I packed and headed to the trail about 5pm.  At the trail I dressed, collected my boards and hiked up.

March 14, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I set up my bulletin board at the trailhead, undressed, and I headed north to my usual spot near Valentine Slide.  I raised my club flag and put another bulletin board under it.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.  I waited a while for the tide to go out, then laid out a sheet to soak up some UV photons.

I went swimming once.  I didn't quite get out to the surf, because I was drifting too fast.  I expected that, after watching Geoff's attempt to surf.

The flies were really bad.  I resisted using bug spray and made a sport of swatting flied, 40 confirmed kills, 4,000,000 to go  Eventually I did use a bug spray and finally got to read and doze off.

I woke up just a little cold, and packed up.  I hiked to the trail, dressed, collected my bulletin boards and hiked up.  I left the parking lot about 5:30pm.

February 28, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  There was still mud from rain the day before.  I had to go slowly to avoid slipping.

I set up my bulletin board at the trailhead, undressed, and I headed north to my usual spot near Valentine Slide.  I raised my club flag and put another bulletin board under it.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.  I set my things down and a wave came so high that it got them wet.  The flies never left me alone; I had to keep moving.

I went swimming once, just to body surf.  I didn't even get out to the waves.  They kept pushing me back to shore.

I received an urgent call and had to leave suddenly.  It was still warm, as I packed, hiked to the trail, then dressed, collected my boards, and hiked up.  I left the parking lot about 3pm.

February 13, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  There had been some improvements since my last visit, but it was worse in another spot.

I set up my bulletin board at the trailhead, undressed, and I headed north to my usual spot near Valentine Slide.  I raised my club flag and put another bulletin board under it.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.

I went swimming once, just to body surf.  I caught one big wave and made a few other attempts.

It was still warm, but I had evening plans.  I left about 3pm.  I packed, hiked to the trail, then dressed, collected my boards, and hiked up.  I left the parking lot about 4pm.

January 24, 2010: Black's Beach

I visited just to survey the storm damage.  I hiked down the Burro Trail.  It suffered only minor damage along the top 2/3.  The bottom third suffered serious damage.  Steps had eroded away in some places.  Large boulders had rolled onto the trail in other places.

There was a dead cetacean on the beach.  It was small and black, perhaps a pilot whale.

I left right away and took pictures of the trail on my way up.

January 10, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  Once at the bottom, I undressed and set up my bulletin board near the trailhead.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.

I went swimming three times, each time to body surf.  I caught a few big waves and I got tossed around by others.  Very few of the surfers I saw dared to attempt the waves.

Clouds came and went starting about 2pm, but it was mostly warm.  I was cold because of my time skinny dipping, so I was in and out of a sweater.  I packed about 3pm, hiked to the trail, then dressed, collected my boards and hiked up.  I left the parking lot about 4pm.

January 9, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  Once at the bottom, I undressed and set up my bulletin board near the trailhead.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.

I went swimming twice, each time to body surf.  I caught a few big waves and I got tossed around by others.

It clouded over about 2pm and it looked like the day was over.  I started packing, but the sun came out again.  I stuck around a little longer, but it cooled off again.  I packed up and hiked to the trail.  At the trailhead I dressed,  collected my bulletin boards and hiked up.  I left t he parking lot about 3:30pm.

January 8, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  Once at the bottom, I undressed and set up my bulletin board near the trailhead.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.

I went swimming twice, once beyond the waves and once just to body surf.  I caught some good rides.

About 3pm I packed up, dressed and hiked to the trail.  Then I collected my bulletin boards and hiked up.  I left t he parking lot about 4pm.

January 2, 2010: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  Once at the bottom, I undressed and set up my bulletin board near the trailhead.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang food and swim gear.

I went swimming once.  I tried some body surfing on the way back to shore.  I didn't manage to catch any good rides.

About 4pm I packed up and hiked to the trail.  There I dressed, collected my bulletin boards and hiked up.