Like many other times, I went for a surf and left my flipflops on the beach. I stuck them between two rocks on the retaining wall.
I had a pretty good session, considering, but when I got out of the water a couple of hours later, my flipflops were gone. I looked around. Nothing. Maybe I remembered the wrong rocks? Not applicable. Later, I organized a special trip to the beach and a systematic, canine assisted search of the target area. Nope.
They stole my flipflops.
A couple of tourists were, like: "They were not here when we got to the beach!" I believe them.
My flipflops were very basic. They probably cost $2.50 at the dollar store. They were faded blue, with the word "Surf" written in cursive italics. They were not in very good shape. The letters were peeling off. One of the soles was starting to delaminate. Frankly, they were pretty embarrassing.
All of that being said, they were my flipflops and I loved them. We enjoyed many trips together to and from the beach. They were always there when I needed them. They served me faithfully for many years and I am grateful for that. I will miss them.
A guy I know from the water lost his Apple watch surfing last year. A few of us paddled around looking for it after it happened but couldn't find it. These Apple watches are supposed to float. Conversely, the Pacific is a really big ocean. This was the second Apple watch he lost.
He thought that someone may have taken my flipflops by mistake. He added that in the US, but not in Canada, you can buy insurance for your Apple watch which includes full replacement in case you lose it.
To that I say two things:
- Not enough to make me want to go to the US. Not by a long shot.
- I don't think extended warranty or insurance for my flipflops would have helped, even if, technically, they were not lost, but stolen.
A few days later, another, parallel, but not unrelated development. I found another (long lost) pair of flipflops in a bag at the bottom of a hidden compartment in the trunk of the car.
These ones are fancy, almost never worn Billabong flipflops that I got for my birthday. They must have cost 30 times more than the stolen ones. There is probably a Billabong poster with a dreamy blonde surfer girl in a flower print dress wearing these exact flipflops. I'm not sure yet if I will ever leave them on the beach.
Overall, it ended as a net positive week.
If you are the persons (in case it was a conspiracy) or person who stole my flipflops: I have accepted their loss and moved on. Not sure I learned anything from this, but, hey! no ill feelings. I wish you all the best. Enjoy my flipflops as much as I had. May they take you happily to the beach and/or to many excellent surf sessions.
On my way back to the parking lot, a comiserating surfer shared how they stole her crocs at Florencia Bay. Go figure.