Fog, Fog, and more Fog. Great surf. The wonderful irony of the ISIS fighters being killed by wild boars, and of course, more crazy shit from Crazy Kim Young Un.

I think I drove down to the ocean every day since Monday and was met with a thick pea soup fog. In other words, I couldn't see 5 feet in front of me. The photo above was all I could shoot on one of those days. If you look beyond these cottages you can see the fog. I knew there was surf because I could hear it. And I knew that there were people out surfing it.

I just couldn't aim my camera to capture any of it.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Was as foggy as it gets. The only thing missing was the sound of the lazy bell clanging. It wasn't until late morning on Friday that the fog finally lifted.

And when it did, everything was beautiful again.



In front of our home is a bush that produces these beautiful flowers every year.
They bloom right around our oldest daughter's birthday. We started to call them "Gabby's" flowers. It's funny to see her girls try to grasp that concept.
"See those pretty flowers, those are mommy's flowers." They smile, and that's all they need to do to acknowledge that little family fun fact.



I wish I could take credit for these flowers, but I can't. It's all Cory's doing.



On the ocean it was still just a tad on the foggy side. Oh and this pic? This is why you don't walk with your child in a stroller during a plus high tide with a decent swell running. These kinds of days are for kooky out of towners who think it's funny to get sprayed by the waves. It's not that funny when a rock the size of your fist hits you in the head.

Think I'm kidding? I've seen rocks strewn all over the boulevard that came from the angry surf.

But like I was saying, the surf was finally visible, and I was able to do my job!



The water had a funky color to it. But there was size enough for the boys like Kai Nichols above to have fun in.



This is Kai pulling off a reverse air (and making it).



Kai was joined by Tom Hay who had himself a field day out there.




And there was still a strong enough pulse the next day. Here's Kyle Linseman riding Rick Evan's 11 footer that his son Mikey shaped.



I posted this wave that I shot on Saturday to give props to my
weekly Ed's Corner. Glass on glass.




Yesterday morning. Still waves after a week of waves.




The 3rd annual 5k walk for cancer is this month. Saturday May 20th, 2017
at the American Legion Post 35 in Hampton. Having known Steve McCarthy since the early 70's I will be attending (again) and my band The Nor'easters featuring my brother Johnny and I on guitar and vocals, Lenny Dunn on drums, and Rich Appel on bass will be playing from 12 noon to 2:30.

It's a great cause for a great man and his family. Sign-ups are in the morning at the Legion and I believe the walk kicks off around 11:00AM.

Two days before the 5k walk, I'll be playing a show at Flatbread.



Click on the image above to see a larger version.

"Surfing and Music Heals All Wounds"

I have always been a big fan of the empty wave. Any part of the wave is to me a thing of absolute beauty. Ed felt the same way. I learned alot from Ed when it came to shooting empty waves. You need to be patient, and you need to be able to anticipate what the wave is going to do. Ed had it down, and I owe most of my empty wave pics to Ed.

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
Gee, I'm not sure how many of you have been paying attention to that loony bird Kim Young Un in North Korea but...you ought to be.



Mr Haircut is doing more than rattling sabers. Seriously, this is news that could change the world overnight. I'm surprised that there's not enough attention being paid to this volatile situation.



There is some seriously dangerous maneuvers taking place in North Korea. People are to fixated on the first 100 days of Trump. If this strange little man has his way, we will all be facing something that was once considered an impossibility. A Nuclear War. Wake up people!

I honestly don't believe that 45 will actually build a Wall. It seems like one of those campaign promises that "politicians" say, when they are trying to be elected. Just seems highly unlikely to me. Made even more unlikely when this was uncovered last week.

President Trump with President Xi from China.



That wall won't be built in 4 years, 8 years, or a 100 years.



OK this is one of those "feel good" stories. I swear you can't make this stuff up. As some of you may know, eating Pork is a No No in the wonderful world of ISIS and Al Qeada. So when I first caught wind of this? I was almost too giddy for words. A herd of Wild Boars killed three ISIS militants in Afghanistan. Killed them and ate them. Ha! Come on people this is one for the ages.



These scum bags were killed by wild boars!!! I can only imagine the true horror that those weasels had to have felt, when they realized what was happening. How on earth did this happen?



I swear people sometimes the news just writes itself. Pork eating ISIS. I hope SNL does a bit on this. Precious times in Afghanistan.

Back to more important things. Here's the 2017 Patriots schedule.



If we win another superbowl? We will need 45 to build a Wall around New England. Cus them haters be coming for sure!.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
When the news reached KSM about the PORK Attack against his allies ISIS poor KSM had a terrible nightmare at GITMO. He had a dream that he was eaten alive by a pack of Wild Boars. Below is a scene he described to his therapist at GITMO.



No surprise here that he resisted. 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 Pork Chops at Home Depot
this week.

Prayers and positive thoughts to Erica Nardone's recovery.
Prayers and positive thoughts to surfer Jason Kooken who suffered
a spinal cord injury in New Jersey last month.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jay Gould May 7th, 2017!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Leah Grondin May 8th, 2017!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gabby Fatello May 9th, 2017!
HAPPY Mother's Day May 14th, 2017!



CONGRATS TO ESM on their 200th Issue!

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) Ten over on Big Red. Kyle Linseman on his trusty 10 footer.
April 29th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kai Nichols in his All Star suit carving another beautiful cutback.
April 29th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- Late Friday April 28th, 2017.
Photos by RALPH



(Above) Max Fatello stalling on Friday afternoon. April 28th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Becca Speak, happy to be home. Friday afternoon. April 28th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The next generation at 10th Street. Keeping the tradition strong. Friday afternoon. April 28th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Shayne Forsely out of the shadows and into the glass.
Friday afternoon. April 28th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Colby riding the wood chipper. Friday afternoon. April 28th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) It didn't take much to convince him that it was worth going out.
Tom Hay lifting off once again. April 28th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Kai ripping a nice cuttie in front of Thacker. I believe that I have this pic that Thacker shot in his gallery. April 28th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) From a multi shot sequence. Kai Nichols April 28th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) I can't decide which I like better, his cutties or his airs. Tom Hay sans gloves digs in to return to the force field. April 28th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The first successful "Reverse Air" I have ever gotten. Kai Nichols.
I wish I had this on video. April 28th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- Sunday Green Sunday April 23rd, 2017.
Photos by RALPH



(Above) I believe this was the very first pic I shot that morning.
April 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kai Nichols perfectly slotted from a multi shot sequence.
April 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Weston Rogers basically had the lefts all to himself. April 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Matt Colby on the fast track. April 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Perry Reynolds jumping around in the mist. April 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) On the way back home, I pulled over and saw this one wave coming.
I pulled out the NIKON and snapped just the one pic. I have no idea who this is. So if anyone knows, let him know. April 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- In The Water With Thacker. April 28th, 2017.
Photos by Brian Thacker



(Above) Tom Hay flinging his hair to the west. April 28th, 2017
Photos by Brian Thacker *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kai Nichols quite possibly from the same pic I shot from land.
April 28th, 2017 Photos by Brian Thacker
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery