One week from this coming Thursday. The long awaited premiere of The GRANITE GIRLS and The River Women at Ashworth by The Sea on Hampton Beach July 12th, 2018! The BUZZ is very encouraging.

THURSDAY JULY 12th 2018 at the ASHWORTH 6:00PM to 9:00PM
The Movie Starts at 7:00PM and admission is FREE. That's right FREE.
There will be a donation jar if you want to donate, otherwise it's FREE.



Looks like Ali is stoked! She's going along with so many other Granite Girls and River Women from the seacoast. I'm looking forward to see everyone.



This young man turned 50 on Saturday June 30th, 2018. That's right, Dave "CROP" Cropper turned the big half century mark. This pic is from his little shop on High street back in 1983. It was the beginning of something very big. From that little side room to what Cinnamon Rainbows is today is nothing short of remarkable.

I am also reminded of Crop's guitar playing back then. I was chuckling to myself yesterday thinking about it. I'm not one for holding back when it comes to guitar players. Suffice it to say, Crop has come a long way since those days of "strangling sea gulls on the beach." I like to think that I helped motivate him to play better. And make no mistake about it. He can play a hell of a lot better than he did back in 1983.



And speaking of guitar players. My wife Cory, and our son Max, saw these guys last night. KING'S X. It was Cory's Birthday as well. In fact, Crop was supposed to go with us, but they had a special surprise Birthday Bash for him along with a Bonfire at Kyle Linseman's house. Oh, that's right, it was also Kyle's Birthday! Is that crazy? Three of the tribe's birthdays all fell on the same day. Max hadn't seen these guys since he was 8 years old. But he was singing along with every song. Yeah, we raised our family on the songs of KING'S X. We love the band (obviously). They've been together since 1980.
Think about that for a second. 38 years of playing rock and roll.



I first saw them in 1990 at the CHANNEL in Boston. I was first aware of them in 1989 when they had a Big Hit "OVER MY HEAD" from the LP "Gretchen Goes To Nebraska". Truly an amazing record. They have a huge underground "cult like" following. Every show is sold out. And they tour every year. I have seen them every year since 1990. So it's safe to say, I'm a fan. I'm in the cult. Or as they are fond of saying "The Church Of Rock and Roll."

So that was part of Cory's Birthday gift. We had a great day. We all went to the beach. I mean ALL of us. The three kids and the three grandkids. It was fun. Hectic but fun. There was surf out there so it was all about being in parent/lifeguard mode. Nothing we haven't done before. Max was out surfing the whole time. Then we all came back to the house and had cake and opened gifts and cards.



Oh yeah, this is how we roll. Hey we're a SURF FAMILY.



Life is good. And June 30th is a day we all look forward to here on the coast.



The water warmed up and the swell hung around for three straight days.



Colby was out carving with his hat on. And then he heard there was an opening in his driveway so he bolted for the hot top space.



It's funny how they say that Memorial day is the Unofficial start of summer. I've always said that it's The Fourth Of July Week that kicks it all off.



Mikey Evans agrees with me. Hell, he was wearing trunks out there.



Mackey V the day before. Friday June 29th, 2018.



May there be more waves like these all summer long. Carter Walsh with his hair out of the bun and flying free like the Flag!

" Surfing Heals All Wounds."

This is an old photo of Ed. It's from 1970. One year out of the ARMY and Vietnam. He lived a good life. It's hard to believe that his life ended 4 years ago today. July 1st, 2014. Damn, that went by way too fast. As long as I live, Ed's memory will live right along with me. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.


Now for Some Local, National and International News
So on the first day of the swell Thursday June 28th, 2018 the surf came up out of the fog. And it was short lived due to a violent thunder and lightening storm.



The skies got dark and the thunder could be heard fro miles around. Lightening was showing it's frightening strikes up and down the coast. I was pleased to see so many surfers exit the water. It's no joke. You can get your ass killed by lightening. Lots of people have. Hell, I can honestly say, that I was hit by lightening. I have the ambulance and hospital records to prove it.

Plus my wife and kids were witness to it.

Now before any of you think I'm going to tell you I was out surfing when I got hit, that's not what happened. I was struck when I was shutting down all the computers in the house when the storm hit.

The bolt of lightening that hit our house hit the tree first and then it ran along the pipe underground and just lit up our house. TV's computers, and other electrical items were cooked. I had my hand on the mouse when it hit. It traveled through my arm and hit my chest. I felt like Mike Tyson hit me. Who by the way shares the same birthday as Cory, Crop, and Kyle. Strange coincidence.



So this guy was out surfing in the storm. Don't know who this is. But I'm glad he didn't become a sad story for the blog. Spoiler alert. LIGHTENING CAN KILL YOU. GET OUT OF THE WATER THE SECOND THOSE COUDS GO DARK. Don't wait .

GET OUT OF THE WATER!

Now for something soft and cuddly. Meet FIN. The Grondin's new puppy. he looks more like a Polar Bear cub to me. He loves to rip apart Kevin's garden. I would expect the puppy to be weeding the garden before the summer is over.



Puppies and Babies for the Grondin family this week.



Everyone knows that Susan Sarandon is an activist. She makes herself a highly visible icon to be reckoned with. She and her ex husband Tim (something?) have been leading protests for as long as I can remember. There's no qualms about her feelings.

I think I said this last week. I can't remember. But my thinking is, if they (ICE) find illegals coming across the border with kids. They ought to at the very least keep the kids with the adults they crossed over with. I'm not saying let them free. Just keep them together. If you absolutely need to detain them, just keep them together. And once you've figured it all out, you can deal with them as a family unit. Why create more problems?



You know, I have photos of my kids crawling into our dog crates. I chuckle when I see them. This made me think of that. Plus I once made a young surfer ride in the dog crate so he could get some gas for his vehicle. He ran out of gas on a day with perfect waves. He begged me to give him a ride to get some gas. I agreed but ONLY if he got in the dog crate. He reluctantly agreed. And off we went. Oh no, not to get gas, but to drive around to show all my surf buddies the new dog I bought. Suffice it to say. He never ran out of gas again. And if he did? he wasn't about to ask me for a ride.

That's another TRUE Ralph story.


KSM Photoshop of the Week
I know I sometimes push the envelope when it comes to my weekly KSM Photoshop fun. But this might not be too far off the mark. Clearly he would want to support this. He is after all a Muslim. He just so happens to be a radical Muslim. The kind we don't want. It's funny how some people can't make that distinction. Because there are CLEARLY Good Muslims. you do know that right? Sure you do. Even you Trump supporters know that. I hope.



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 Goat manure at Home Depot this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rick Evans July 2nd, 2018!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Beth Harrington July 2nd, 2018!
REST IN PEACE Stan Brown WWII Vet Age 91.
CONGRATS to Leah and Rob on the birth of their new daughter Lily Katherine Piersiak June 22nd, 2018.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cory Fatello June 30th, 2018!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dave "Crop" Cropper June 30th, 2018.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kyle Linseman June 30th, 2018!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mike Sidebottom June 30th, 2018!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mike Tyson June 30th, 2018!

FYI Lenny Nichols is looking for someone or someones to take over the ESA-NNE District. Please contact Lenny Nichols by calling his cell (603) 944-2418



THE GRANITE GIRLS and The River Women showing at the ASHWORTH By The Sea on Hampton Beach this July 12th.
Admission is FREE. Pass the word. We are going to make history this night!




Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 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) The waves were clean and green and they had some push to them.
Saturday June 30th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) There was enough juice for the shortboards and enough room for longboards. Saturday June 30th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Granite Girl Becca Speak was out with the crew and getting her fair share. Saturday June 30th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) This is Mikey Evans mid cutback. Now, if you had no knowledge of who Mikey was, you might think that there's no way he pulled this off.
Well, you would be wrong. It's a sequence. See for yourself.
Saturday June 30th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Like I was saying, the Fourth is the Opening Volley of Summer.
Here's proof. Saturday June 30th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The smartest dog on the beach this morning. He was cooling off in the inside dribble. All the other dogs were panting and heating up. Not this guy.
Friday morning June 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This is what you missed on Friday morning June 29th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Birthday Week Swell. Day 2 Afternoon.
June 29th, 2018. Photos by RALPH



(Above) This is FIN. He's the new Polar Bear Cub that the Grondins brought home last week. Friday afternoon June 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Witness the seed being planted. This little guy will be surfing before you know it. Friday afternoon June 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Max was out punting a few for Team Hampton.
Friday afternoon June 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This is Gavin O'Hara and man has he gotten better since the last
time I saw him out. He is going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Friday afternoon June 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Birthday Week Swell. Day 1
Thursday June 28th, 2018. Photos by RALPH



(Above) Mikey Evans was all smiles at the arrival of the new swell.
Thursday afternoon June 28th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery