Mac Meda Destruction Company

Butch Van Artsdalen – Legendary Surfer – WindanSea Lot

Legendary surfer Butch Van Artsdalen trades gash in head for keg of beer. Photo taken by Jon Sarrett,WindanSea Parking lot

Recently I attended a memorial service for Harry Phillips, the former owner of Flowers by Adelaide in La Jolla.  I was having a conversation with some of the former delivery boys who worked for Harry over the years.  Randy Miller, Harry’s nephew, told a Windansea Tale.

Legendary surfer Butch Van Artsdalen was holding court at the Windansea lot and Randy was with Charlie Broan in one of the Adelaide’s delivery trucks.  Read more... (318 words, 1 image, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)

La Jolla Prospect St & South Coast Blvd Short Cut

What goes down may get stuck!

In downtown La Jolla at the intersection of Prospect and Girard Street there is a short cut; a  set of stairs, about 150 yards long,  8 feet wide that goes to South Coast Blvd. below. This cool short cut always came in handy when the cops or someone else was chasing you.

After the bars close,  Meda drivers would drive down the stairs in 4-wheel drives, and/or in the infamous VW Bug for a late night thrill. One such feat, in either Bill Phanner (RIP) or Dean Burriston bug,  after a Mister Todds wild ride down, stopped at the bottom at the shocking look of a elderly couple taking a early morning stroll.  Read more... (217 words, 1 image, estimated 52 secs reading time)

La Jolla Christmas Parade – Hot Curl, WindanSea Shack, Albert

Usually on the first Sunday in December La Jolla’s Town Council puts on the Christmas Parade.  The parade begins at Girard Avenue in downtown La Jolla at 2 p.m. and finishes at Prospect near the La Jolla Recreation Center and ends with Christmas Tree Lighting at the Rec center.

The La Jolla Christmas Parade attracts about 15,000 people that line the sidewalks.  Some 1,200 people, from all over San Diego, take part in parade, whether in the marching bands, drill teams, scout troops or among the dancers, float builders, equestrians, car aficionados, politicos or promoters. In addition to the parade, YMCA’s Holiday Festival, a street fair along Silverado Street with arts, crafts, food for sale and entertainment, helps make this a great event for the La Jolla community.  Read more... (328 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

Four Escape Death – 200 Foot Plunge off La Jolla Cave Street

Mac Meda people have always cheated death and quite frankly, some we are surprised that they have lived as long as they have.

No doubt, this post is probably one of the luckiest ones.

Back in February 1968, Richard Krug’s friend, Larry Cornellius, asked to borrow his brand new pickup. Richard hesitated, then gave him the keys.

Hours later wondering where his truck was, Larry finally came back and explained his truck was at the bottom of Cave street in one of the most unreal feats of escaping death.

La Jolla Outrageous Parties, Drinking Beer and Wild Women

Jack MacPherson (co-founder) , Albert (president) and Robert Rackstraw (co founder)

Occasionally, when reading surfing publications, there is a reference to the ‘Mac Meda Destruction Company’ of La Jolla, California.  The writer often makes a reference to outrageous parties, drinking beer, wild women, tearing things up, surfing, and generally having a really bitchen time.

The Mac Meda Destruction Company was started in the early 60’s by Jack Macpherson (Mac) and Bob Rakestraw (Meda).  Jack surfed.  Rakestraw didn’t.  Both lifted weights.  The two shared a house at 7436 Girard Street and the stories about the house and their friendship have become legendary.

“The party went on for 7 years, 24 hours a day.  The door was always open,” Macpherson remembers fondly.  Read more... (915 words, 4 images, estimated 3:40 mins reading time)

La Jolla Abalone Dive – Mac Meda Contest

Why would anyone brave cold and potentially dangerous surf, unpredictable currents, and stories of bull-shitting, man-eating sharks for abalone?

Strangely enough, ab divers spend an estimated $6,000,000 and $10,000,000 for abalone and at $100 per pound in places, we are talking a serious shellfish.  Presuming it’s unlikely that all of the estimated 40,000 recreational abalone harvesters are quite simply crazy, there just might be some reasonable explanation for this madness.

Well, Craziness is Mac Meda’s motto!

The giant snail inches its way across the rocks in relatively shallow water. Even so, diving for abalone has become one of California’s most hazardous recreational activities, over 10 people a year die from ab diving.  Read more... (463 words, 2 images, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)