Fall is nigh -- to the beaches

There are people who think Newport-Mesa residents live a charmed

life, what with “The OC” and other such glossy portrayals of life in

this part of Orange County.

Truth be told, however, it’s been a tough summer around here,

particularly at the beach. There have been red tides keeping people

out of the water, and black jellyfish to sting those who got too

close. In the water, there was the surf, or more accurately, the lack

thereof.

Until this week. Some quality sets finally arrived (on Wednesday),

courtesy of a southwest swell, giving bodysurfers at the Wedge

10-foot-high sets to work with. And things are projected to pick up

again this week, as a south swell is set to come in.

The only bad news is, there’s not much time to take advantage of

the waves before school’s back in session and before summer turns to

fall. Sounds like a good excuse to hit the beach.