Aloha from the Gulfcoast of Florida, Pinellas County to be exact. A few weekends ago we had some windy conditions here gulfside. Why you may ask? Well, what alot of people do not know is when there is a hurricane off the Atlantic Coast of Florida and it gets spinning really good- not only does it affect the wind and water over on the other side of the state where the hurricane is but……. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE GULF WITH WINDS! As the hurricane spins Atlantic side it will suck air into it Gulfside. What happens when we get stiff west winds gulfside? We get WAVES!!!! YES- the Gulf of Mexico actually gets some good waves from time to time.
I spent the better part of 2 days surfing my long board and my fun shape (older mans short board) in some fun waist to occasionally chest high surf!! I got to play in my favorite playground and with the exception of being a little slower with age, it was just like being a kid again. The perma-smile that was plastered across my face after every ride was absolutely priceless. This is also still very important for me because it still proves that life is not over and the R-I-D-E NEVER ENDS, an ETERNAL DANCE with Mother Ocean & King Neptune!!
Just wanted to let everyone know that sometimes we forget as we age the fun and enjoyable things in life that we did when we were younger do not have to end. We just have to rediscover them! Just like the waves that suddenly appeared on a coast that is not always known for its huge swells and surf, sometimes all we have to do is remember our forgotten coast!!
And YES the surf knots and belly rash, along with numerous sealice and jellyfish stings were well worth the chance to be young again and remember when surfing warm Gulf of Mexico tropical storm waves…. was all life was about.
– Sean
Liquid Rhythm Adventures' Journal 