I guess me talking about April Fools last week, kind of back fired on me and
you (if you live around here). It snowed Sunday, and then again on Monday. I swear, even for us old timers, this New England weather can be a pain in the butt. And in the back, if you're not careful. At any rate, there I was again, outside shoveling snow...in April no less. We've had the mildest winter but Spring has been anything but spring like.



I refused to wear a hat and put on my winter boots. So I shoveled in just my vans, with no gloves or coat on. That's my new shovel I bought this winter. I call it "Big Yella". It works great in anything from 8" and below. And the lighter the snow the better. It's a good work out and the back saver design really helps your back. But honestly, I'd prefer to be talking about lawnmowers then shovels.

The good thing about these storms, was the obvious...we got surf. And it was fun. Though very cold on the beach. But still, beggars can't be choosers. And if you're paying attention to my weekly run count. We are now up to 22 weeks of at least waist high or better during the week. That's pretty good. The boys down south wish they had what we have. Though, they'd prefer the warm water over our chilly water temps.

Not Toby Parke seen below. He likes his sessions just like this.



The best days of this week was the 8th and 9th. Wow, we actually got some size without the snow. Every spot was firing on all pistons. When the swell gets that good, there's no need to paddle out into a crowd. None at all. The beaches were wide open on both days. So if you have a little gusto in your gut, you could easily paddle out at any of the beach breaks and have it to yourselves. It's beach break weather. Hey it's April, it's time to think about the 4/3's.

The lesser the rubber, the better you surf.

So start shedding kids so you can start shredding (oh no I didn't just write that?). I don't believe I have said that word before. "Shredding" it's so kook like. If you ever hear me say that word in public, you have my permission to walk up to me and slap me across the head. I swear, I'm turning into some kind of geek on an infomercial about NH surfing. Nah, just trying to shed (or shred) some light on the time of year, and what you should be wearing. Shake off the winter gear, and get looser and more flexible, with the Spring suits.

My name is Ralph and I approve this message.



Look at me here. Another hard day at the office.

Hey, it's not as easy as it looks. Being a photographer/blogger in this neck of the woods is not for the feint of heart. So not to pat myself on the back here, but... this week marks my 12th year doing this blog. For twelve years, every single week, I bring the documented action to your home and or office. I missed 2 weeks in the 12 years I've been doing this. That's not bad.

And the truth is...it's truly a labor of love for me. I love surfing that much.

And though I don't get in the water nearly as much as I used to, I still have my finger on the pulse of NH surfing. I've made new friends, and lost some old friends along the way. But I am there, every swell, at the right time, to capture these precious moments of our lives. I love surfing that much.

Surfing will always be that special to me. No matter how old, or how hurt I am.

The same with music. And last week a bunch of us went and saw Joe Satriani at the Casino. It's hard to believe that "Surfing With The Alien" is 30 years old. What?? Is that possible? Yep. Joe started with "Surfing With The Alien" and his current release is Shock wave. He is a monster on the guitar. I mean, he's like a freaking alien. The sounds he makes are not of this earth. His melodies, riffing, and song structures are incredible. And...it's all instrumental.



I've seen Joe a bunch of times in the last 30 years. Cory and I were reminiscing about his music as we left the Casino. Dave Cropper was there with us. Dave and I always manage to sneak out and catch the guitar gods when they come to within and hour or two from Hampton. The Casino is a mere 5 minutes. My son Max also joined us and he was impressed.



Nobody was leaving until he played his last note. The surf the next day was unreal. And I told Mackey and Cory that I'll be using one of Joe's songs for this new clip. It seemed appropriate enough.



Speaking of music. This image has been showing up at the Wall the last year.

Only those who have lived through this time will recognize it. The rest of you could probably care less. All I know is that when I first saw it, it made me smile. Yea it's graffiti I know, but that image was the last time the four of them collaborated on making music. And that last LP was a work of shear brilliance.
There was never anyone like them before, or since. The year this image came out was 1969. The record was called Abbey Road. The band? The Beatles.

"And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love, you make."


"Surfing and Music Heals All Wounds"

I was shooting all day Friday April 8th, 2016 and by about hour number 5 my back started to hurt. So I broke down and started to leave. When unbeknown to me, my friend Toby Parke took off on a bomb and got the barrel of the year. Suffice it to say, I missed it, and Toby was bummed. While I can't make up for that wave Toby, I can at least run this pic by Ed. This was on April 24th, 2013. Hope this makes you feel a little better. And remember, I was shooting mostly video and I did get your first barrel. So there's that to look forward to.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. Be sure and pick up a copy of the COLD COAST and check out Ed's own gallery.

Each week I will feature one of Ed's great pics from this blog. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.

There's lots of cool stuff coming up this month at Cinnamon Rainbows. On Tuesday the 12th, Timmy Reyes will be visiting the shop from 3-6PM with the Firewire crew. There will be a board raffle and signings. So check it out.



Then on Tuesday April 26th, 2016 there's going to be a bevy
of talent coming to town. Mark it down on your calendars.



The name is legendary. Donald Takayama was Guy's uncle.



It's a triple header at Cinnamon Rainbows

.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances

I have to say, I agreed with what Bill Clinton said to the BLM protesters this past week. It's true. I'm not a Clinton fan, but it's true. As far as his wife? Negative. Trump, Hillary, and Cruz. All losers. If anyone of them gets in, we're done.



KSM Photoshop of the Week
Here's our boy this week sitting in with the Black Lives Matter meeting along with Bernie Sanders. What he's doing there is a mystery to me, even though I am responsible for his weekly photoshopping. I don't know why I chose this gathering other than to say, I think KSM looks like a fool in a dress



As always... take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self must pick up a case of panty hose at Home Depot this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Duffy McCarthy April 9th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Casey Lockwood April 9th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lisa Shaheen McCarthy April 10th!

Please Pray for a NH Icon from the Seacoast. North Beach Matriarch Jane McCarthy is needing some love and prayers. Jane is the mother of Duffy McCarthy and the whole McCarthy clan. She's been a fixture on the Wall forever.
You all have seen her, you might not know her, but trust me, she has seen you all. And please continue to pray for local Hampton surfer Terry Morrison and his family.

Also please pray for Marine SSGT George Masten. A combat Marine who served in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the purple heart for wounds received in Vietnam in 1967. George is battling cancer.
PLEASE say a prayer for him.

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 11 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

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CLICK ON THE GRAPHIC ABOVE TO SEE EVERY
SINGLE WEEK FROM THE LAST 11 YEARS!

(Above) Unknown taking off and hoping for open space.
Saturday, April 9th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Ryan Jackson got a few nice ones out there, before the crowd arrived
Saturday, April 9th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- The First Day. April 8th, 2016 Photos by RALPH



(Above) Mighty was the wind on Friday morning. It made for some interesting drops here. MVF gets out of the dredging hole to pull a wide and deep cuttie.
April 8th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The waves seemed to get bigger before dark. April 5th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Sequences of April 5th, 2016 Photos by RALPH



(Above) This wave came out of nowhere and Jon Kiskinis was lucky
enough to be sitting in the right spot. April 5th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery