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August 18th, 2013 The RUN is 4 out of 4 Weeks Waist high or better, at least once a week. There was waist high Surf this week on Sunday and Wednesday! |
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The Long Goodbye to the Summer of 2013.. “Bury the head!” the tanned little girl yelled to her sister as they playfully buried their daddy up to his neck in the white sand. Their laughter filled the air. The dad however laughed nervously, as the tide crept up around his entombed body. I watched this playful summer scene unfold, while sitting on the sand at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, writing this week’s blog. And a few yards from where this dad was being buried, I watched in total fascination, as perfect mini-A-frame peaks unfolded in front of me. Surfers are jaded. And I am one of them. Talking about both being a surfer, and being jaded. In the past, I would have sneered at the thought of Myrtle Beach and Surfing in the same sentence. But here I sit watching perfect thigh high peaks peeling off on this sandy beach. Why am I here? Well, my wife and I are here to drop off our youngest child as she heads off into her freshman year at Coastal Carolina University. Why would I bring a board to Myrtle Beach? There is no surf here. Or is there? Well, yes and no. At low tide, at certain parts along this long white, sandy, beautiful beach, there were ridable peaks. I know this, because if anyone knows anything about riding waves that are borderline non-existent, it’s me. Mr. I can ride a 6” wave if I have to – and I have many times. So you can imagine my frustration when I woke up at The Breakers Hotel this morning, and saw some ridable waves. What else would a surfer do? Much to my surprise, the sun popped out and the surf cleaned up, so I jumped in. And, I went body surfing. That's right. Back to the basics. No SUP, No boogie board. Just me. Body surfing. And, I had a blast. The water was warm. Warm? It was tropical. And the mini peaks were beautiful. And I felt at home in the ocean again. “The sea is the cradle we all rocked out of, and it may be the homeplace to which we will someday return.” – Tom Robbins (from Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas) It was sad saying goodbye to our baby. I know it will hit me in the next few days or so, this empty nest that is now our home. The mere presence of her energetic personality will be missed by all of us. And look, I know she will be home by the Holidays. It's just that for the last 18 years she has been here. In our home. |
Hundreds were killed in Egypt over the weekend after last week’s bloodshed as the Muslim Brotherhood battled the Egyptian Army. So much for peace in the Middle East. I do not believe we will ever see peace in that region. I mean it. It’s too complicated and there’s just too much division between all the different religious sects and political forces throughout the entire Middle East. So scary. Speaking of scary. Patriots Nation collectively held our breath this week as Tom Brady took a shot to the knee. Thank God our Golden Boy was okay. Can you imagine? Tim Tebow starting over Brady? Thank you God! August 15th was the 44th Anniversary of Woodstock. Do you know that half of the performers that played the original Woodstock, have gone off to that large marijuana cloud in the sky? Peace out. I couldn't help but put Khalidy Sheik Mohummed in the Woodstock scene. Look how peaceful he looks. |
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Don't forget to go back and read the whole DAILY BLOG on My CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY. (Click On the Banner below on this page.) Started on July 26, 2010 ENDED July 26, 2011. A Wave a day for 365 consecutive days. Just click on the banner ads on this page. |
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Yesterday- 54 Surfboards on the roof of a VW Bug! Hampton, NH. Circa 1974. (Below) This is a follow up photo from last week's Yesterday pic. The summer of 1974 Jay Hammer and crew stacked 54 surfboards on top of a VW bug! Don't try this at home. Photo courtesy of Jay Hammer. |
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 To contact the advertisers below, simply click on the Ad itself. Anyone wishing to find out info about advertising here can do so by emailing me directly by clicking here. Ralph's Email I'll send you a template and other info on how you can become a paid sponsor We highly recommend the various businesses and artists listed below. Why? Well simply put, each and every one of them is a Surfer, who lives the Surfing Lifestyle, and their business is a reflection of that lifestyle that we all love. |
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 All PHOTOS BELOW SHOT THIS WEEK *Unless otherwise noted. |
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 (Above) Austin Helm taking the drop on Wednesday August 14th, 2013. Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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Today- The Morning of August 14, 2013. Photos by Ed O'Connell  (Above) The lack of decent waves this summer has everyone scrambling for the longboards at any sign of a swell. Bryan Johnson taking the board of length for a spin. Wednesday August 14th, 2013. Photo by Ed O'Connell *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.  (Above) Shawn Macdonald was out sharing waves with the crew on the morning of Wednesday August 14th, 2013. Photo by Ed O'Connell *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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Today- The Afternoon sessions. August 14, 2013. Photos by Ed O'Connell  (Above) James O'Hara following in the Ohara roots. August 14, 2013. Photo by Ed O'Connell *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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 (Above) Ryan Reed's smooth cutty. August 10th, 2013. Photo by Heather Day *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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Today- The August Sky. Monday August 12th, 2013 Photos by RALPH  (Above) I drove down on Monday morning just to shoot the sky. And it was worth it. August 12th, 2013. Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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Today- The Sunday pulse August 11th, 2013 Photos by RALPH  (Above) As you can plainly see, there was still waist high waves on Sunday. August 11th, 2013. Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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Today- The ESA ALL STAR files. Part 1. Nicaragua. Summer-2013. Photos by Lenny Nichols  (Above and below) Kai Nichols driving hard in the deep hollow barrels in Nicaragua. This is the first in a series of some amazing photos by Lenny Nichols documenting the ESA All Star trip to Nica. August 2013. Photo by Lenny Nichols *Click on the photos above and below to see the Whole gallery.  |
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Today- The "Rivermouth" Summer-2013. Photos by Maureen McNamara  (Above) Summer dreams at the Rivermouth. Photo by Maureen McNamara. *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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 (Above) Stairway to heaven. Summer 2013. Photo by Maureen McNamara. *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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Today- The Pics From Around The World. August 18th, 2013. Photos via The Internet  (Above) This is one of those spots that I would LOVE to surf. Photo via the Internet *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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 (Above) The dirty brown and cold of New Jersey. Photo by Via the Internet *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
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