SURF-SYRIA-DON RICKLES. What a week.

I'm not going to say anything negative about the current run of surf we've had as of late. The April Fools Day Swell last 4 solid days. Al beit, the first day was a washout. But the 2nd and the 3rd? Outstanding. Two gorgeous days with the a solid ground swell. The conditions for April were perfect. It did feel like Spring. Everyone had a smile on their face. I know you can't tell from this pic above but I do believe the lad is smiling.



Kyle Linseman had the gang over for a first strike session on the first clean day. Kyle has this spot dialed in. No question about that. There is only video footage of the first day. But I must say, you need to check that edit out. There are a couple of firsts that I did with the APRIL FOOLS DAY SWELL. It's the first video in the video section.



There are times when I surprise myself with my cameras. When I snapped this pic, it was in a millisecond of swinging my camera from one side of the bay to the other. I never really know if I got the shot. So it's always a pleasant surprise when I come back into the office to unload the card on the external hard drive.
Finding a pic like this makes my day. Any surfer worth their salt will agree.
There's something about this image that has mass appeal to 90% of the surfers we know.

These were all taken on the 2nd of April. I've got a million of them.



One of the perks of running this blog is, every now and then someone will send me pics that stop me in my tracks. Now as you all know, I get lots of photos from different photogs and surfers. And while the majority of them are good I will from time to time find some really good ones.

That's the case with new comer to the Blog Rachael Galipo.

Not only were her pics beautiful, but they were perfectly sized, the horizons were straight (one of my pet peeves), and she has a watermark. Her gallery is down below with all the other galleries from this week. Be sure and check out her work. Hopefully we will be seeing more of her work in the months to come.

Mid week I usually run my dog Patch to work out the kinks. Trust me, when you get older you will be dealing with Kinks. But when I say I'm running my dog this is what I mean. Patch has one speed 100mph. He can fly for a canine.



He has lots of energy to burn, so there is no leash involved when we get to our destination. I have a setting on my I-phone that tells me how many miles I've walked. Typically it's between 3-5 miles. But if I am walking 5 miles? Patch is running three times as that. He covers a lot of ground. I should stick one of those I-phones on him and see just how far he goes. Or maybe not.

On the way out of the woods that day, I spotted a strange looking snowman.

It looked familiar but I just couldn't put my finger on it. And then it hit me. Of course, the snowman looked like The Elephant Man. John Merrick. So, I put my mad photoshop skills to work and came up with this. Can you see the resemblance? Sure you can. Just use your imagination. There you go.



Later in the week I was busy sizing pics for the blog when I looked up and saw the wave cam. It had been blowing onshore for the last two days when the wind finally came around. This pic (above) was late afternoon on Friday. I had been exchanging pleasantries with a true East Coast legend Larry Pope on Facebook when Mackey called. It was one of the quick convos that we have when the surf is good. Within seconds I was packed and out the door.



Not gonna lie. It was worth it. Though, I did not bring gloves, and it was cold.



That particular session yielded some of my favorite images of the week. The skies were dark blue and purple and the ocean was a deep green. The sun came out and created all kinds of cool lighting affects. It was so good, I almost want to say it was better than the 2nd and 3rd. Almost. But you decide when you go through the galleries.

"Surfing Heals All Wounds"

Interesting subject matter always seemed to fall into Ed's lap. This was one of those times. Mike Stanek and his pet Parrot. That's Hannah Vokey trying to get a smile, or a bit of sarcasm from the bird. These birds do talk don't they? Not sure if he still has Parrots with the new baby girl in his life, but I wouldn't put it past him.

* I just noticed something for the first time with this pic. If you look in the upper right and corner, you will see that the house on the corner has the same blue as the parrot and Mike's shirt. I never noticed that before. It's obvious that Ed sampled the color and then masked it onto the home to give the pic balance. Why you little sneak Ed. Ha! You got me brother. Sorry it took so long.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. 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.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances
This Blog can't be complete without mentioning what happened in Syria this week. As most of you are aware, there was a horrific gas attack in Syria that killed a bunch of innocent children. The airwaves were flooded with these images. (* I blurred the photo below as best I could. The original was too haunting.) Like most people I was outraged. I even went ahead and posted my feelings on Facebook. Here's what I posted at 3:00PM on April 6th, 2017.



"If what we saw in Syria yesterday has been going on for six years under the Obama Administration then SHAME ON US! How can we as human beings allow this to happen to innocent children? I am no fan of the current POTUS (far from it), but Good Lord we need to stop this immediately. Fuck Assad and those who stand with him. There needs to be a world reaction to this madness. A swift and violent reaction Now!"

Within a few hours after posting this, the US launched 59 Tomahawk missiles on the Syrian airstrips from which the planes that carried the Sarin gas took off from. It was at the very least, a start.

Needless to say, my post generated 100's of comments. Most agreeing with me, but a good number of people used their hatred for Trump claiming that the launching of Tomahawks was all politically motivated. While there may be some truth to that, I believe that Trump had a change of heart after seeing those dead kids in that video.

Everyone should see that video. I mean it. If you haven't seen it, Google it and watch it. You will be sickened by it. This is not about Trump. It's about stopping this evil from ever happening again.

Will we got to war with Syria and Russia? I don't know. I do know, that this is cause for the world to wake up out of their protective slumber, and do something. It can't just be the US. Our allies and NEW allies need to step up, and show their alliance, to the good and compassionate countries, who will not put up with this bullshit.

This must stop now. The World needs to join forces and stop this.



Speaking of the world. We lost another comedic Icon with the passing of Don Rickles. I always thought he was funny. Uncomfortable at times, but funny. My wife was not a fan of his humor. I was. His peak was when he was on the Carson show. He was brutal. But people loved him. "Mr Warmth" he was called. He and Bob Newhart and their wives were very close and would vacation together. I can only imagine the stories, and the jokes, and the tears.

Rest in Peace Don. You might want to tone it down a little in Heaven.



Speaking of Heaven. Today is Palm Sunday (man that was quick).
I can remember as a small child my dad getting as many palms as possible. He wanted us all to have one, plus he wanted enough extras to bring to the cemetery. My late grandparents apparently needed a few palms adorned on their headstones.

What I really remember is my brother Johnny and I having sword fights with them. I mean they were palms. Nobody got hurt. Wait, next week is Easter? Say what??? OK I need to pay closer attention here.

The older you get, the faster that clock moves.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
How did I miss this? KSM being roasted by Don Rickles? Whoa.
That must of been one hilarious night. Typical KSM can't even crack a smile with Mr warmth himself. Maybe if he laughed a little more, he wouldn't be such a miserable son of a bitch.



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

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

Prayers and positive thoughts to Erica Nardone's recovery.
HAPPY EASTER April, 16th, 2017.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RALPH'S PIC OF THE WEEK my 13th year of blogging. Started on April 15th, 2004. 5

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

*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

(Above) Now this is "Fast and Furious" April 7th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Weston Rogers weaving his way through the white stuff.
April 7th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) He pulled this completely around. But I don't believe
he landed it. Mackey V April 7th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Perry Reynolds paddled out and the sun came out. April 7th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Oh yeah, then that Rainbow came out. Mackey V pointing it out to us. April 7th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) There's the "Pot of Gold" under the Rainbow. If you paddle fast enough you just might get it. April 7th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This is my favorite from this session. The dark gray ocean
against the dark blue sky. April 7th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Matt Colby midway through a roundhouse cutback. April 3rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kody Grondin shot out of a canon and looking for the net
to drop down into. April 3rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Weston Rogers with a cool hand drag. April 3rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Andy Elliott keeps getting better and better each time
I see him. April 3rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) I can remember the first time I ever saw this place. It was the mid-60's. It blew my mind back then, and it blows my mind today. April 3rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- Day II April Fools Day Swell. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH



(Above) Kyle Linseman dropping into a potential open hole. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Glassy and hollow for sure. But dam near impossible to make.
April 2nd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) I love the colors here. It was a preview of things to come.
Tom Hay, glistening cuttie. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) These waves look like sea serpents. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Johnny Meehan slipping through the back door. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) I'm not 100% sure who this is, so I will wait for him to ID them self and contact me. It could be Jon Kiskinis. But again, I'm not sure. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This is not what you think it is. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) One peak. One surfer. One dream. April 2nd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- Rachael Galipo's Pics From Monday April 3rd, 2017
Photos by Rachael Galipo


(Above) These pics are a first submission from Rachael Galipo. These are stunning pics from a photog that I had never heard of before these showed
up in my email. Hopefully, we'll be seeing more from her. April 3rd, 2017
Photos by Rachael Galipo *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Carter Walsh ripping the lid off this beautiful Monday morning pulse. April 3rd, 2017 Photos by Rachael Galipo
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Chris Stelman performing his version of the "Dab" as he skirts along the edge of this heaving right. April 3rd, 2017 Photos by Rachael Galipo
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Usually Chris Stelman is moving around so dam fast it's hard to get
a pic of him where he's stationary. Rachael captured him in a timeless
position. In the barrel. April 3rd, 2017 Photos by Rachael Galipo
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery