Road to Gliding Barnacles

Beyond grateful to have spent my birthday at the most exciting, authentic and rowdy surf festivals on the map. Filled with the most comprehensive group of international creatives and sliders. I had the opportunity to spend the week painting and surfing, banging my head to a rock band or two, copping knees and elbows in the middle of the mosh pit, twisting and shouting to beach disco parties, sipping one too many espressos, creating lifelong goofy friendships, while gently nursing last night’s headache with a freshly cracked bubbly cerveja.

I was invited to Gliding Barnacles approximately 6 weeks after reestablishing myself on the coast of Tofino, BC after 9 months of traveling. I just finished tying up my fairy lights in my newly bought 1986 home on wheels when the invite popped into my Instagram messages, Here I anticipated a summer and fall of campfires, parking lot showers, thick rubbered surfs and brewery beer. But how that message quickly turned things around. As quick as I came, I left, sold all my belongings, quit my two jobs, and headed back to Portugal. With a one way flight, and no plan beyond September 2nd, I joined a motley crew of GB folk and headed towards the sunny coast of Biarritz. Spending September tearing baguettes and eating creamy Gateau Basques, surfing the charming coastlines, I fell in love with my decision to sell everything for a week long surf festival that turned into yet another 3.5 months of traveling.