I don't know about you guys, but I was glad to see July in my rear view mirror this week. I said goodbye to some very dear close friends and loved ones in July. Some forever. Some remain uncertain.

Regardless, it was a month of sorrow and pain. And I am glad the month is behind me. I am hoping for a better month ahead for all of
us. Lord knows we could use it.

But first, we must deal with yet another passing.

Three days after the Paddle for JT, a third surfer from Rye passed away. Allan W. MacGregor age 62 passed on July 21st, 2014. For the record, that's three surfers from Rye, NH who passed in July.
Ed O'Connell, John "JT" Taylor, and Allan MacGregor.



Allan MacGregor was a surfer. He was a partner in the first ever surf shop in Rye, NH "MAC'S SURF SHOP" in 1969. He and his cousin Mark MacGregor had that shop and served the Rye guys during that short time period. A regular foot with a stylish flair, he was loved and respected by all who knew him.



I was not close to Allan. I did see him surf and did share waves with him over the years. I knew his cousin Mark better. In fact, I just saw Mark at JT's paddle on the 19th of July. And it was Mark who told me the news about Allan. It's hard to think of surfers passing away.
Even if they had become ill in the latter part of their lives, it's still hard to think that he will never surf again. At least not on this planet.

I like to think that there is another ocean waiting for us all.

Hopefully he is now with two other Rye surfers who have left us before their time. Dwight Hamsley and Todd Ross. Doug Hamsley told me how instrumental Allan was when his brother Dwight came home from Hawaii after suffering a major injury that left him paralyzed. "Allan took care of Dwight every single day. He cooked for him, and was just a wonderful caretaker for my brother."



This is Dwight Hamsley and Joey Lavoie enjoying another great meal that Allan prepared. Allan lived with the Hamsleys for quite some time. Always giving. Always helping. He was a brother to the Hamsleys.



The Rye boys in Florida circa 1970's. That's Doug with the Flame board throwing out the Shaka, next to Doug is Allan pointing the blue board, and on the far right in trunks holding the orange board, is the late Todd Ross.*You can see all of these images and more in the gallery I have posted for Allan further down on this week's blog.
These classic images of surfers past and present are like gems to the family of those surfers who have left us.

Allan's sister Martha (MacGregor) Lardent knows that only to well.

Martha was just saying to herself while shooting JT's paddle "Someday I would like to do a paddle for my brother Allan." She told me on the phone the other day, "Little did I know, it would be 3 days after JT's paddle that Allan passed."



They even named a break after Allan. They called it "Al's Peak".
I hope he's there right now. Surfing with Todd Ross, Dwight Hamsley, and JT. And Ed O'Connell is on the beach taking photos. Sounds like heaven to me.

Rest in Peace Allan. Your suffering is over.

Please join the Rye Surfers and family and friends of Allan on August 17th, 2014 at 6:00PM at STRAWS Point in Rye for a Memorial Surfer's Paddle.

Last week I wrote about my 50th year surfing. I started surfing in 1964. I wanted to catch a wave at dawn with the sun coming up, but it was overcast. But I still managed to get out around 7:30AM and catch a wave in just my trunks and rash guard. The only other surfer I knew was Bryan Johnson. Somehow he knew what the day was and we shared a few waves.



Before I paddled out. I'm holding the GoPro. I actually dropped it on my very first wave. But I learned a new technique on how to hold the camera while paddling. Though I may lose a few teeth in the process, I think I have it down. So it was worth it.



This is my 50th Year Surfing Ride. Cory took the photos. And for the record. Cory has been shooting surfers since 1984. That's 30 years .It felt good to surf again. I like that it was so intimate out there. No crowds. No noise. Just me and a friend surfing. Just like I did 50 years ago this summer.

Afterwards we had a small party at the house. Just my immediate family. It was nice and peaceful. Like life should be at this stage.

"Surfing "50 Years" Heals All Wounds"