Making Waves

Surf's Up in Halifax - Who knew?

Halifax, July 31 –  I went to a dinner party at a friend’s place. While I was interested in experiencing a slice of Haligonian family life with my friend and her neighbours, I had ulterior motives. I was hoping to find an eligible bachelor for my surfing date the following morning – something I had lined up through One Life Surf School & Spa in Lawrencetown Beach. Now, you’d think finding a single guy up for an free afternoon of fun and sun would be easy enough, yes?

Nope. 

By the end of the dinner party, it was obvious none of my fellow guests were down for riding some waves. Technically speaking, there was actually only one eligible bachelor in attendance, and he seemed to go suspiciously quiet every time the subject came up. Clearly, he wasn’t into spending his Saturday morning wiping out. So my girlfriend got down to business and starting working the phone. I think she put a call out to everyone she knew in the greater Halifax region. 

Nada. 

Tough town. 

Anywho, not one to fight fate, I didn’t stress out about it and decided to take the lesson by myself. Maybe striking out at every turn was some sort of divine intervention. I mean if I’m meant to bump into Mr. Right on the beach, then a filler date would only cramp my style, right?

Well, we’ll see…..

Halifax, Aug 1 a.m. – As planned, I got up early and took my first ever surfing lesson sans date. Which was probably best – the wetsuit is not my most flattering look (in fact, I’ve seen prettier packed sausages in the meat section at my local supermarket).

And predictably, I didn’t come close to standing up, but my One Life Surf School instructor is a total pro when it comes to reading people’s  limitations. Even though she’s a young free, fearless spirit herself, she seemed to get that my fearless years are long behind me now. So we just basically bounced around in the water, while I lazily rode the board lying down. I have to say, it was totally invigorating getting tossed about by the Atlantic. I seriously, loved every minute of it. I highly recommend checking out this surf school to anyone passing through Halifax. 

And while I didn’t catch any waves per se, word on the beach was I did catch the attention of a hot 20-year-old surfer. Flattering, but not quite what I’m looking for. To be honest, my shuttle driver was more along the lines of what I’d be into (he’s all of 30). But as he explained to me on the ride out to the beach, he’s currently in a “complicated” situation. Gotta love the Facebook generation.

So for those of you keeping count, I’ve only got eight more nights to find Mr. Right. But you won’t catch me panicking (goes against my Deepak Chopra teachings). Besides, I have faith in Halifax. I’ve got one more date here this afternoon with an obscenely positive sea kayaking tour guide. Who knows? His optimistic outlook on life might be contagious. 

And then tomorrow, I take my search to St. John’s!