Thanks for the comments... much appreciated my friends!
We are very fortunate to live in a world with good waves, nice sand banks and no crowds.
I have grown an appreciation of the ever present Great Whites... for thinning the line-up

and yeah... I totally understand that that comment will resurface if I get chomped, but it's true: empty waves are the bright side!
It is always easy to paddle a short distance and find a totally empty peak... even during a perfect swell.