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Since the advent of the automobile age a century ago, the beach cruiser
has become a nostalgic presence found along ocean shorelines worldwide.
Usually old, and always rusted, the beach cruiser is an integral part of
the beach and surfing culture. To those who cast only a cursory
glance, the cruiser is often seen as no more than an unwelcome eyesore.
But to those who look beyond its rusty and faded skin, the cruiser is
truly the embodiment of a unique lifestyle marked by sun, sand, salt and
surf.
Oh
if the cruiser could only speak, what a story it could tell. Decades ago
it rolled off a far away assembly line with the shine and new car smell
that made it a prized possession. Somewhere a lucky person became the
proud first owner of the latest in style and advanced mechanical
features. Perhaps our young cruiser drove along a beach highway and
thought to itself, "When I get old I never want to look like
that!" And in the naďveté of youth our cruiser simply turned its
head and continued down the roadway -- probably headed for the pleasure
of a pleasant car wash and the protected comfort of its own garage.
But
with time change is inevitable. And in the automobile industry styling
and mechanical advances lead the way. In the span of a few short
years our state of art cruiser was no longer the newest and latest.
Indeed before long it's likely our cruiser found itself in the hands of
a second or third owner where utility rather than the latest look became
the priority. Our cruiser undoubtedly experienced a less pampered
existence as the harsh realities of life now took center stage.
Fast-forward a decade or two and for most cruisers life has evolved from
a world burdened with few concerns to one focused on day-to-day
survival. Routine maintenance and regular washing, let alone an
occasional polishing, are a thing of the past. Minor dings and
emerging rust spots are ignored. The ethos becomes "keep running
and deal with this new, harsher life -- or else". Or else the
junkyard or the car crusher may be just one breakdown away.
Where
do these classic beach cruisers come from? Cruisers come from
Illinois, Tennessee and Arizona. They come from Vermont, Missouri
and Idaho, as well as California and Florida. Some live their
entire pre-cruiser existence without ever having ever inhaled a breath
of salt air. What nearly all cruisers have in common, however, is the
good fortune to have been spotted by someone (probably a young surfer)
who cared little about looks. The job description is simple.
"Can this cruiser carry my board and myself faithfully to the beach
everyday? Will it wait patiently in the warm sun without complaint and
then faithfully carry us home again? If the answer is yes, then
another beach cruiser is born.
Cruisers
come in all shapes and sizes. There is of course the classic Woody
station wagon. Seen much less frequently than in decades past, the
Woody's heir-apparent has been the Volkswagen Bus. In fact VW's of
all styles as well as old Fords and old Chevies and practically every
other make imaginable and found on the world's beaches. Jeeps,
pickup trucks and homemade campers are becoming increasingly
popular. The ability to access remote beaches as well as a vehicle
that facilitates “staying over” at the beach is highly desirable.
Certainly the latter is a factor in the popularity of the VW Bus.
Some
cruisers have had incredible life experiences that would make many of us
feel our lives have been quite mundane. We know of a Woody, for
example, that carried a President and later toured with the Beach Boys.
We know of an old Chevy cruiser that once was Elvis' favorite getaway
car and another that came within a hair’s breadth of becoming a movie
star. Still another, whose
owner worked at a recording studio, inspired a hit record. But
accomplishments and past life experiences don’t really matter very
much on the world's beaches.
What
defines a cruiser? The obvious things are a surfboard rack, a
generous dose of rust, duct tape (and occasionally baling wire), tires
and body parts that don't match, and of course lots of dings.
But it is what lies beneath the cracked and faded paint that
really matters. It is the character and wisdom that comes with age as
well as appreciation for life that defines a beach cruiser. It's not
about the past or good looks. It's about a spirit and a special
way of life that is focused on now. The past doesn't matter and the
future lies no further ahead than the next breaking wave.
We
see character etched in the leathery face of an elderly person or in the
facade of an old building. That same character and wisdom are
found in the rusted and wrinkled sheet metal of the beach cruiser, most
of whom have lived longer and seen far more of life than their current
owners. It's not about looks and status. The young and beautiful have
their time and place. But to have survived and to be able to live one's
Golden Years parked on the sands of a tropical sun-drenched beach is the
ultimate reward. Leisurely
passing time with fellow cruisers while your owner endlessly searches
out that perfect wave is truly Paradise – the Paradise of being a
beach cruiser.
(Copyright
1999-2012)
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