What is it that attracts us to the sea? Why does it call all of us? Is it that it reminds us of our primordial origin? Is it our very cells or DNA that turns our consciousness toward the oceans? Perhaps it is its insurmountable immensity that which reminds us of the unarguable insignificance of the human ego, and that therefore submerges us – however briefly – in the great unity of everything.
Whatever the reason may be, the bewitching call of the sea has been heckling me for a few days now, seeing that I’ve been traveling for quite some time through unknown lands very far from the water. And just when I couldn’t take it anymore and was beginning to gather up the money for the flight home to Vigo, I stumbled upon some videos that have saved my sanity and allowed me to smell the sea salt and hear the murmur of the waves even here in the mountains among the Cherokee ghosts.
The first is from la ruta norte by the Basque surfer Kepa Acero, who has embarked on trip along “The Northern Route” of the Camino de Santiago, traveling the north coast of Spain on bicycle and surfboard meeting and recording its people and its waves. The second is from the blog desde la croa, from Ferrol, Galicia, that documents the history of surf in Galicia and captures nice videos and reflections on the surf life in my home waters. They both have great taste in music and very high-quality videos. If you ever get a craving for a glimpse of the sea, it’s worth your while to check them out.
saudade brothers 
Thanks for the english version. great videos…bikes and boards.
This is why I love me some Hopkins!
Awesome. Both have great music, and-though it isn’t hard to make surfing look incredibly desirable- these made me really want to learn to surf. I just love the style of the video of the guy on his bike going all over the place. Sweet post!
Sweet, now all i want to do is go someplace tropical and surf. nice work.
Dude, if it makes you feel better about being away from the ocean, I grew up in the Appalachian mountains, and am presently ensconced in them as well as you. I don’t know if there is a connection to that background or not, but I personally have never been deeply enchanted by the sea, and in fact, have had some of my most harrowing moments while staring at the sea. On a cloudy day, the sea looks death-like to me. I say this not to dampen your joy at thoughts of the ocean, b/c I too have found great joy in, at, and on the sea. I suppose I relate my personal (and slightly morbid) thought about the ocean in the event that you feel like you are missing something by being away from the salt water. From one landlocked brother to another, I tell you, it is the land that sustains life!
Perfect! With this yin to my yang the piece is complete! Brilliant stuff, my brother. To it I lovingly add the following quote from Xuxo, a Galician fisherman, in the last days of a 3-week stint at sea:
“There’s a saying: ‘the night is for foxes and the sea is for fishes.’ Out of choice no one comes out here. No one.”