(If you looking for the WFL surf forecast it will be up in a bit). This will be a detour for a minute. Allow me a sense of nostalgia for a moment on this here blog and don’t get mad if I spot name just this once. Just a couple of things I don’t want to forget. After 40 years in Pinellas Im moving in a couple weeks to Puerto Rico. This has been a long time dream of mine. Im so excited my feet are not touching the ground right now. I still feel a slight sense of nostalgia and sadness to leave behind my friends and extended family. I wanted to just right a few things down that meant a lot to me living here on the gulf coast. Things I dont want to forget…
It all started so simply. I grew up a short bike ride from Madeira beach. In the 80’s scoring waves was easy. If it was stormy we would grab whatever floating device we had and head for the beach. Later on it got complicated. I wanted to move forever but between business and fam i got stuck. I spent my 20’s working and traveling always wanting to find a new home. But life on the GC was not that bad. I think one of the best things that happened was when Tony moved back from Cleveland and we started surfing every swell together. We had a alot of good times surfing Sharkys in Venice and Whitney and Siesta. We had a good run of surf and me and Tone were on every swell chasing barrels all over the GC. That’s when he got the idea for gulf blvd. I can’t imagine trying to make that movie now. The surf has been so bad the last year or so. Back then we scored great surf at Sharkys. I got the best tube of my life there. We got super shacked in front of the last life guard tower on siesta. We surfed over re barb in the barrel at the south end of Whitney. Those were great sessions. The favorite hurricane sesh that comes to mind was when my friend Shaun and I were mowing grass in Largo in October of 1995, i had a little portable WX radio and we heard over the static, the buoy report while Roxanne was down by Mexico, 10ft at 11 seconds. We dropped everything and went to twin piers in b-ton and scored super long lefts off the end of the north pier. March 08, me and Brandon got great waves at 33rd in b-ton. He got the most legit gulf shack I’ve ever seen, took off a freak set way outside and got dry barreled all the way across the sandbar. Good times… Im planning on riding my fish a lot in PR. I always have liked them but watching Gorkin rip AMI during Gustav got me riding them almost full time.
Honestly, I dont know if I’m going to miss much. Certainly I will miss all you guys and my friends I see every time I paddle out. I like comida criolla, the plato tipico de puerto rico but I am going to miss the fantastic Asian restaurants in St Pete. Mostly Bangkok Number 9 on Central ave and 6th st. That has been my wife and I ‘s favorite date nite out for at least a decade. I will miss going offshore and catching fish but I’m hoping to go fishing a bunch in PR.
I wont miss the condos and crowds and flatspells. I hope the surf turns on for you guys and you get good waves. I don’t think the freezing cold will last all winter. I hope you all get to take trips and have fun and friends and not get too stressed out in the crazy Florida life. Always remember your a surfer and your above all this materialistic 21st century garbage and it’s ok to drop what your doing and go for a surf when it’s up. If your ok staying on the GC then all the power to you. I know tons of people enjoying a great life here. That’s super cool. But if your dieing to get out like I was, have a dream, formulate a plan and charge it.
peace.
MW
Peace to you MW, thank you for your forecasting and reports. You have the aura of an awesome guy and it sure is great to see someone make their dream happen. So cool that you are going to live the life a GC surfer dreams about and it sounds like it’s about time! You are going to be healed of gulfitis haha…
Mi Amigo, Mi Amigo –I AM GOING TO MISS YOU– we’ve never met, but I’ve been here from the beginning — just took a while to have the nerve to post on the blog here — I’ve had the pleasure of some correspondence through the years : ) I still have my original Aurasurf shirt….I still watch Gulf Blvd!!! Geeze — now I wonder what happened to the poster you had….HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
I’ll admit to dropping a few tears reading above — visiting and reading your posts has become a way of life…during these years, I finished raising my youngest surfer boy & your bonita Chica’s entered the scene. How I delighted reading about your adventures & seeing your nature photos — there was a sense comradery, you felt about the world, nature, surfing, our precious environment, much the same as I do. As I struggled to better my surfing (which is still grom-like) your forecasts certainly helped me find every possible opportunity to surf & practice –so I hold lots of gratitude for your time & for the teaching “why the waves were happening” that also happened here. Suppose Aura is one of my better habits…..(Cudo’s to J@Compound ’cause he’s the one who sent me here wayyyy back)
But — While I WILL MISS YOU — I hold the deepest joy to see you make your dream come true….a great example to many “have a dream, make a plan,charge it” I admire that attitude — no whining….. dream, PLAN, and do it!!! Thanks for permission to leave work (lol) “it’s ok to drop what your doing and go surf” I will carry that tattoo’d on my heart & soul – and will be sure to tell Boss/Hubby YOU said it was okay to leave work – ROTFL… I wish you ALL THE VERY BEST in your new casa – thanks for all you have given, I believe the HigherPower will provide & care for you — you have given much to sooo many – Peace
just think you’ll get more waves in a couple months in pr than the past decade here, can’t wait to bounce myself, good move!!!probably add a bunch of years to your life
thanks guys. i will still be forecasting from PR, thanks to the compound so I will try and still help out. you guys have been awesome to me I won’t forget.
Thanks for helping a Brevard County transplant learn how to find waves over here.
When is your last day in the Burg Micah?
I envy you! I will truely miss you Micah and your photo’s, it’s been great swapping peaks with you over the years and look forward to swapping peaks in the future. I have the bug for that island and various other islands around the globe that makes me wonder how much more I can endure here on AMI. Until then the best of luck to you and your family.
thanks Tommy that means a lot coming from you.
Good luck down there Micah, your a wild man just like Bob Bulatowicz. I’m glad I met you both via air conditioning. (discount air) my girl and I have the dream to move to Santa Catalina in four years after her daughter gets out of high school. (i cant freaking wait!!!) The G.C. is not the same anymore. Sand key has become the Sabastian inlet of the WFL and Sunset and Upham are a mess. not the same as it was in the 90’s. I miss the old days. anyhoo I still got some good friends to travel to the E.C. with. Thanx for the photos and the positive vibe, and thanx to Scott Orsini for telling me about this site ( i was too busy surfing and drinking PBR to get on-line) Hang Loose!! Paul “the A/C guy”.
thanks man for everything thru the years!