Time to move..but NW or SW?

Don't know about the sw young groundy too crowded for me, but I do know the nw a bit. Not as crowded but less places to surf and less sociable surfers, if you have a thick skin and are polite and persistent you will get waves after quite some time, but these friends you have from the sw, you'll have to ditch them, no one likes the blowin that has the mates that want to come for a holiday and share the line up.

Might be good idea to go up there and look around before you pull up stumps and move, though I s'pose there is a bit of adventure in there just moving to somewhere you have never been.

Yur from vicco aren't you, they hate victorians up there, but that's only cause the all came from queensland.:-)

Get a 4x4 and head north.

I'd be tempted to head north for the waves, but the south has an enviable climate and lifestyle (and great waves too!). It's 50/50 for me, and would depend on where you wanted to be in the next five to ten years.

Shaun nailed it.
They're both unreal. Both are amongst the greatest parts of Australia and therefore the World and you'll land on you're feet whichever way you go. Down South is a lot more accessible with more options for waves and lifestyle. North has an appeal that can't be denied with better waves and fishing.
I wouldn't worry about locals, you'll get your waves.
Just blow in, it will work or it won't .
South is getting that "Global " feel, if that's what you're into, whilst North still retains that true purer Aussie vibe. For better or worse. Personally , I love it.
You're lucky to have the option. Best of luck ,mate.

Doesn't the north have more of an off and on season due to wind strength and direction?

Kinda, but so too does the south. Margs can see weeks on end of howling westerlies.

I am heading over there in a couple of weeks and hope to cruise roughly from Margs to Geraldton. So hang on for an instant expert opinion!

Driving or flying over BB ?

There is waves off season, just nothing to write home about...if you get my drift.

If you like hot weather and flies you'll love it, the off season is the time to climb up the pecking order.

You're not wrong there Shaun, my last surf there about 3 weeks ago had a pecking order of 3 people.

Lots of windy , flat , fly ridden days.

Geraldton is a wind tunnel. Its a windsurfer's paradise for a reason. All the trees are sideways for a reason. The waves in the area close to town are horrendous. The gates is the best, and thats a one day a year scenario. Usually you'll get it all to yourself for a reason. At least it has size and the paddling through the 100 knot sea breeze back to shore keeps you fit. There's legendary beachies that require more cost and work than getting to Portugal. Flatties is consistant if you consistantly like surfing shit. You'll hear of all sorts of 'legendary', breaking like wherever set ups, with legendary names. They are horrendous shit. Higher up is where it is, but this time of year the most fun is throwing yourself of a cliff, and seeing how far back inland you'll land. Or guessing whether or not the sea breeze will hit at one or two minutes after dawn, and whether or not it will reach 100 knots by dark. Great islands, your girl will love them. Buy her a wig now. Basketball is good there though.

Go south. Everyone does. Find duttsy and gaully, they'll look after you and take you surfing. Mention goanna's... and 'the kid', say you 'bin' up the NW'. Act legendary, stare out to sea and nod, you'll be fine. The gym is good there though. Your girl really will love it there.

Why would his girl need a wig ? Basketball and gymnasiums- that's what WA is all about.

I am flying over, doing Rottnest and the south and then see what happens. I will check out the forecasts and go north if it looks like I can get a few waves. Maybe go anyway just to see a stretch of coast I haven't seen before. If I feel the need for a chaperone I'll give Brett a call......well actually I will do that anyway!

Brett ?

'Why would his girl need a wig ? Basketball and gymnasiums- that's what WA is all about.'

The water quality and wind will make her hair fall out in a few weeks.

Brett moved for a reason. Brett's mind's gone. It went years ago... the mist. He'll just tell you to ring Heb's, and Heb's will just tell you to ring me.

.

cycd wrote:

I live down south and have a van at Gnaraloo.. Hands down up north is world class as we all know in autumn through to late winter but shit it's windy 85% of the time in spring and summer with only the odd window to escape. Down South is sweet but again in winter it can be weeks with howling onshores....lifestyle down here is awesome though ( the party in town confirmed that last night)

A healthy mix of both is the go

Groundy, I'm begging you don't do it. Brett talked me into checking out gerro. Raved about it. I should have realised when he was squealing his head off in glee at 1 - 2 foot cross shore blacks. I lived there for two years and became the town hero. Brett is still in witness protection. The women? The water destroys everything, the trees really are sideways. Think bald leather.

Think of it like this. Once, no one in their right mind would have dreamed of, or been caught dead ever surfing Medewi in Bali. Now there's actually fucking resorts there, and people go there specifically to surf and film the ludicrous slop. They are called kooks. They don't know any better.

Blinder is a school teacher, he'll never learn, and he'll just blindly go. Then he'll have to try and explain it. Teachers do that. Think articles about foamball pits and cultural, artistic wonders and moments in gerro. Chrissie fibs.

Go even further south than sw.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, tra la la la la la, la la la la

Tis the season to be jolly...

uplift wrote:

'Why would his girl need a wig ? Basketball and gymnasiums- that's what WA is all about.'

The water quality and wind will make her hair fall out in a few weeks.

Brett moved for a reason. Brett's mind's gone. It went years ago... the mist. He'll just tell you to ring Heb's, and Heb's will just tell you to ring me.

So you'll be chaperoning Blindboy around WA - make sure to send me court transcripts after the mood between the two of you in the hire car gets murderous ten minutes out of Perth. Should be hilarious.
Or.... you could stare into each other's eyes and find true love. Have fun gents.

He won't make it past the first gym.

But he'll come in handy for bicep curls, a bit too light for deadlifting though.

uplift wrote:

But he'll come in handy for bicep curls, a bit too light for deadlifting though.

You've still got it Lifty. Keep giving the punters what they want.

Move to the SW
Personal choice if you like the southern margs end or back up at Yalls/ duns
Lots more waves over summer, weekend trips to the far south coast and did I mention trees, yes glorious trees and greenery, much more appealing to the eye and soul than endless spinifex and saltbush.
Have 4-6 weeks off in winter and head north with a camper stacked full of boards and a tinny on top and life would be sweet.
Kalbarri is a one wave town, more options in Gerro, life is good out the islands but wind will do your head in
Exmouth would be good if it's wasn't so hot, suppose you could do the reverse and head south for 4-6 weeks mid summer

Lies, all lies uppity. I have all the GPS data you sent me with the photos of every secret spot from Adelaide to Esperance. From here on in I am Mr Blindboy, or Sir ....... or it all comes out.

Hey Groundy, when someone tells you something like " Kalbarri is a one wave town " then you're best off agreeing with them . Don't you think ?

Groundy , what's your skillset ?
Who do you know on rotto. Generally speaking they only hire back in sept for the summer .
And most hospitality jobs are share accom. . Let me know what you best at I still know people there .
If you want waves and fishing go to Exmouth . If you want friends and scenery do what lifto said and try the far south coast .
Bb , let us know when your leaving , maybe might be a few spots on at the right time !

Geez Groundy how on earth have you managed to live in Perth...?
I cringe when I have to stay there doing courses and de-mobbing to work.

I know a few blokes who I work with that live in Margs area and they say it struggles for work.
But a great place to live and surf.
Now I'm sure what kinda work you do, but reality is we have to work to pays bills and live, unless your single footloose and fancy free or silver spoon feed. Then the worlds your oyster.
Good luck, either way you will endure great times and waves:)

Groundy ,
Your skills could be handy over there .
Programmed maintenance need " luggage " and outside maintenance staff . Forklift and other tickets would help . Your best bet would be to wrangle in with your mate at the GC ( last time I was there it was sand scrapes , so you mates role as greens keeper sounds interesting . )
I reckon you should take him up on the offer and while your there impress local live ones ( not many ) with your easy going approach , and perhaps hit up programmed once you get to know them . If you have elec contractors licence or even an A grade license then you might be even better off , usually though the live on roles with them requires a HV switching ticket and experience with generators through to light bulbs .
But you might be able to impress as lower paid elec maintenance man !!!!
When I was there I had to take a large paycut , but lived the dream for a few years .
As for the GF , unless you want to settle down and have kids , I would suggest you keep her on the mainland , especially during summer . ;-))

Blowin wrote:

Hey Groundy, when someone tells you something like " Kalbarri is a one wave town " then you're best off agreeing with them . Don't you think ?

Like

'Lies, all lies uppity. I have all the GPS data you sent me with the photos of every secret spot from Adelaide to Esperance. From here on in I am Mr Blindboy, or Sir ....... or it all comes out.'

Et tu blinde? As you can see grounder, I have helped others, many others, knowing full well the consequences. But, 'The Truth' (as I was labelled by that Merryweather board riding champ) will always shine through. I have given the exact same advice blinder got to many treacherous east coasters. Its like handing the keys to a Ferrari to a two year old child. What are they going to do with it anyway. Snap their straw like legs... 'twinge' their excuses masquerading as backs... tear their strand of cotton like knee ligaments? Blinder will just spend the whole trip tracking down every back specialist and chiro in the southern and northern hemispheres. He'll get his 'Mr blinder' all right... as the chiro receptionist prints out another ludicrously expensive account.

If you ignore 'The Truth', then when you are flailing desperately in the midst of a howling onshore tornado at the crack of dawn, trying to catch a useless piece of windslop supposedly breaking like sunset... remember this day well. Remember 'The Truth'. You will. They always do.

uppy ru u a merryweather fairy-jest- at uni and when i went back for girls uni, i am proud to be called a Stocko boy. Great peaks turned into hundreds of metre close outs meant that it was the hossie or the boat to get waves. I am sure being the character u r, you must know BERGER- cut snake not close to describing him.
hey shaun Kalbarri may or may not be a one wave town, but in an offshore after inland rain, it's a one fly town!!!!!!!!

Way too many surfers in the sw already, more crowded than east coast, expensive, sharky go north.

very windy too, shit place to live, go north

shaun wrote:

Blowin wrote:

Hey Groundy, when someone tells you something like " Kalbarri is a one wave town " then you're best off agreeing with them . Don't you think ?

Like

haha,
I lied, apart from lopes and jakes there are others , just fickle.
Kalbarri has waves when there is swell, good fishing, spearing, 4wd, quad biking, sunset beers over looking the mouth, life is good. But can also be along time between quality surfs and windy as anywhere else on the west coast.

Do what ever makes you happy mate, if you despise the cold, love boardies, flies and tiger sharks, head north.
If you enjoy surfing in a steamer, prepared to surf with blowin's every day of the week and see a positive to leaving this world in the jaws of a GWS, head south.

Either place will send you crazy dealing with the locals, wind that never stops and lack of work.
Just try to find that happy medium and you will be on a winner.
Cheers
Grumpy uncle : )

Or go where the money is best and if its the same money north or south, weigh up living cost/lifestyle etc and go where you can save the most coin and take advantage of those cheap and short flights to Indo :]

Go up North. Work one year on / one year off. Save hard. Then go wherever the fuck you want.

Today's news from Albany would have to be another tick in the " Up North " column.

SW no doubt ... get few weeks off during winter and head to NW