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The Midnight Surfer
Slightly north of the seaside community
of Del Mar along the coast of southern Solana Beach
was until a few short years ago pristine and virtually
uninhabited. Kids growing up in the early 50fs and 60fs
called this area Cherry Hill. Named after the first
person to ever catch a wave there. At night cars were
seldom seen on the two lane road that was the only path
for cars traveling north or south before freeways. After
crossing the road one would have to weed through trees
and vegetation before finding oneself on the furthest
west point of the continental USA with a spectacular
view of the Pacific Ocean. Standing thirty feet above
Californiafs fine grain sand on top of the serrated
cliff one could look as far west as the humane eye could
see.
Narrow trails along the precipitous
bluffs allowed one to actually walk the edge of this
continent. Traversing these single person width foot
paths left no room for error. Most of the time people
who did travel these paths would keep one hand on the
wall for security and never look down. Should one fall
the possibility was high for serious injury and yes
even death.
Years before this in the mid 40fs they
say someone unfortunately did slip and fall to his demise.
A teenager named Cherry Hill. Hill was one of north
countyfs first surfers. Many early surfers seemed inscrutable
and eccentric by outside standards and observations.
Hill was no exception. In those days surfers were wilder,
more unpredictable and mischievous. Being a surfer in
this time period was considered off the wall. Which
makes it no surprise that Cherry Hill and his pals were
always doing something totally unorthodox.
According to people who were there it
was a crisp clear October night with a bright full moon.
Night time waves lit by the silvery moonlight along
with a few beers gave the boys inspiration. They decided
to go night surfing. As the story goes early surfers
not having wetsuits would build warming hot fires right
on the beach. This way when they came in, teeth chattering
after a bone chilling go, there would be a place to
thaw out. The clean fall air was getting heavy and cold.
It appeared as if smoke would come out of their mouths
as they talked. Together they built a huge bon fire.
So big in fact it was said that it could be seen from
La Jolla quite a few miles away.
Being experienced night surfers they
knew the best time to paddle out would be midnight when
the moon would be directly over head. This would be
the best time because the moon would produce the most
light. Warming near the fire while waiting on the moons
perfect position they laughed, talked story and shared
a bottle of alcohol to stay warm. It was Hill who came
up with the idea to climb up the cliff. He wanted the
others to take a picture of him holding his beloved
red surfboard while overlooking the nightscape. After
all he had a reputation and was also known as the Midnight
Surfer.
This would be a monumental occasion
more than anyone could possibly know. Holding his favorite
red surfboard under one arm and a bottle in his other
hand he made his way up the cliff. Climbing up to a
perfect over hang about 15 feet above the beach he took
a few more gulps from the bottle while his friend attempted
to load the camera with film. At that exact moment as
if all fury had turned loose a strong gust of wind started
howling. The wind caught the surfboard like a planes
wing on take off. Trying to hold onto his surfboard
he lost his footing and then his balance. Letting out
a blood curdling scream he and his red surfboard tumbled
into the yellow flames of the raging bon fire blaze.
The flames rose higher. The fire was so hot and the
flames so high no one could save him. Hill and his red
surfboard were consumed.
The next morning all that remained was
a wisping cloud of blue smoke and some chard ashes,
or so the story goes. Years later but before the current
structures that now occupy the bluff above Solana Beach,
people would sometimes camp out . One star filled October
night a group of young cub scouts were huddled together
earning their astronomy badges. Suddenly a motion in
the shadows and the sound of rustling footsteps captured
their attention. Out of the dark emerged what looked
like a surfer carrying a red surfboard.
The troop followed the enigmatic figure
to the edge to watch as he began to descend down the
steep face of the bluff. Instead of climbing down the
ghostly figure floated eerily away from the steep bluff
and out to the waves. They could hear the surfer laughing
almost howling as he and his red board transcended into
the dark sea. The cub scout leader turned white as the
full moon and ran faster then the troops who by now
were all running in terror. When they all reunited back
at the car the leader still visibly shaken looked at
his watch. It had stopped at twelve midnight exactly.
There have been numerous accounts of
this mysterious surfer and his red surfboard. Each time
the sittings occurred on or about midnight in late October.
Now days people say when something mysterious or unexplainable
happens at the condos that now occupy the bluffs, itfs
the ghost of Cherry Hill being mischievous. Ask a long
time resident or anyone who has been here for a while
and there sure to know about the fabled midnight surfer
Cherry Hill. Happy Halloween, See you in the surf
Come, Live the Life
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