November 13th, 2011-New RUN is 38 out of 38 Weeks.
Waist high or better, at least once a week.
The Surf on Veterans Day Friday 11-11-11was Really Good!! |
Friday November 11th, 2011 I stood at the Main Beach in Hampton watching 4-5' waves peel across the sandbars. It looked good. It also looked pretty cold. But I could clearly see that the surf was here. It had picked up overnight and the stiff NW west winds were grooming the faces to perfection. I knew that just up around the bend things were more than likely looking a whole lot better than the main beach. It always is.
So what was I doing at the main beach at 7:30AM? Doing what I always do.
Being the Commander of my Veterans Post and holding the annual Veterans Day Observances. We do 4 services each Veterans Day. Four. One on the beach at 8AM. One in Hampton Falls
at 9AM. One at North Hampton at 10AM and then one final one at our Post next to "me and ollies" at 11:00AM. The last one was kind of unique because of the unusual numbers aligned.
It was exactly 11-11-11 at 11AM and at 11:11AM at 11seconds past it was...
11-11-11-11-11-11....are you kidding me? Those were unique numbers. But aside form the once in our lifetime numbers aligning up I think of my missing the surf as a minor sacrifice when you stop and think about what the men and women have done for this country and what they continue to do.
I know so many Veterans who are surfers. I mean I know hundreds. And so do you. Except most of you might not know they are Veterans.
It's not like we all wear name tags.
Well, I'm more visible than most of the men and women who surf and live on the seacoast. Let's face it. I'm in your face week after week. But I'm telling you that our line-ups are populated with Veterans. Mostly younger vets. It's hard to believe (for me) that I have now become part of the older group of Veterans. How the hell did that happen? How did I get so old? Yet as old as I am...I kept looking over my shoulder at the beach during our first service. I was looking at the waves. Some of my fellow Vets all knew what I was doing.
"You can surf later Ralph." They said.
I just nodded my head. I know.
But honestly? I couldn't help but think of the men and women veterans who are SURFERS sitting on some cold desolate mountain top in Afghanistan. If I was uncomfortable can you imagine how they must be feeling? The same with Vets all over the globe. Stationed everywhere. Surfers are serving our country. For right or wrong as some may view these wars, the guys who are sent to fight them are not the ones who started the wars.
They are the "Chess pieces" that are moved in and out of harms way. Some come home unscathed. Some are wounded. Both physically and emotionally. And while others never make it back. They are killed in combat. No more family. No more loved ones. No more surfing.
Later in the day when I finally had a moment I drove down to the beach to shoot some photos. I had several surfers recognize me and say "thank you
for your service". It was a nice feeling. Hearing surfers say that. But I have always been fortunate in that sense. For years, hell for decades I've had close friends who are all surfers call me each Veterans Day and leave me a nice message. For years. And each year that list grows. And with the Facebook gang all chiming in it's been twice as many. So I am lucky to have that many people in my life who care enough about me and my service to our country.
So let me just say THANK YOU to all who called and FaceBooked, emailed, and walked up to me this Veterans Day
to say Thank You. You mean more to me than you will ever really know. I love you all.
So how about that Veterans Day Swell? Tropical Storm Sean? What the hell?
How many November Hurricanes have we gotten in our lifetime? Not many I bet. And the damn weather has been crazy too. One day is 70 degrees, the next day it's in the 40's. What the hell...? Say you don't really think that this whole Global Warming thing is for real do you? Shit. Al Gore was right? Damn.
But that swell was pretty. The silver lines glistening in that afternoon sun was
so pretty. I was underneath the Wall trying to stay out of that brisk NW wind. Shortly after I was joined by my good friend Tony and then my right hand man and fellow Vietnam Veteran brother Ed O'Connell showed up. He was with his boss Andy from Great Britain. Andy, who's more used to race cars than he is with surfing, was digging the beach scene. In fact, he snapped this pic of Ed and I.
And I believe it is the ONLY known photo of Ed and I shooting together. I think it's ironic that Ed and I are Veterans from the same war, and here we are some 42 years later safely shooting on the beach. It's amazing to think that Ed who was an ARMY Medic in Vietnam in 1968, and who saved more young American lives than most of you will ever know, and me a Marine Grunt in 1969 are together shooting photos of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. That blows my mind.
Because there were times for both of us, that were
in question as to whether or not we would ever get to see the ocean again, let alone be shooting photos of it. But call it fate or whatever, we are both here and both digging the surf lifestyle.
And we both have the same caustic humor that keeps us both laughing.
Thank you Andy for this memorable photograph. It is one of the most special
photos I have ever seen in the 47 years I've been surfing. Of course Ed likes to remind me that he's been surfing one year longer 48 years. DOH!
Why you gotta be so hurtful Ed?
Speaking of hurtful...The ASK CRACKIE SERIES is now into our sixth week. Who knew Crackie was that popular? Most of you by now know that CRACKIE has his own Facebook page. If you have a question for Crackie no matter how absurd you might think it is please email him directly.
Crackie's email: crackie@adlantic.
I know personally that he'd love to hear from you and I know he'd love to friend you on Facebook.
Thanks again for all the V-Day well wishes
...."Surfing Heals ALL Wounds..."
Now
for some of my Weekly Global Observances:
So PENN STATE coach Joe Paterno is on the outs due to the sleazy Child Molestation charges being brought up on one of his assistant coaches. Come on Joe...didn't you learn anything from the Catholic Priest fiasco? Dude you gotta be kidding us?
Look you're in your 80's you had a good run. Time to get out and just fade away.
The Patriots Play the JETS today. This is a serious game. The Pats are facing the first time in recent history where they may actually lose 3 in a row. We'll see what happens. But I have to say I have abad feeling about this game...a very bad feeling. I hope I'm wrong...I hope I'm dead wrong.
I forgot to mention earlier that I had the distinct pleasure of actually watching a young student at the local Junior High School get to talk with her dad in Afghanistan on Thursday. It was the neatest thing. SKYPE. Mind boggling really. It's just amazing where we are at with today's modern technology. We all interacted with him during the school's assembly. Very cool. I left there feeling old again though...DOH!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Congrats to the NH Surfers Stevie O'Hara, Casey Lockwood and ...?who made it to the FINALS in the Maine CORE CUP. With Casey Lockwood taking the CUP! Cool.
Photo by Michael Sander
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Peter "Salt" Irelan November 13th, 2011!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Barbara Savastano November 15th, 2011!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ashley Lockwood November 16th, 2011!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joe Gangi November 17th, 2011!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jesse Green November 19th, 2011!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Chris Ferreira November 20th, 2011!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Chris Grippa November 20th, 2011!
GET WELL SOON Joanna Rob...The Friends and family of Toby Parke ALL LOVE YOU!
GET WELL SOON MR CROPPER...WE ALLLOVE YOU!
CONGRATULATIONS To Allie and Michael (Zappy) on the birth of daughter Rory!!
November 13th, 2011. We LOVE YOU GUYS!
CONGRATULATIONS Again To My Good Friends The Rowlees...It's going to be a BOY!
I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Don't forget to go back and read the whole DAILY BLOG on My CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY. (Click On the Banner 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.
CHECK
OUT THE NEW/Old YESTERDAY PAGE! ALL OLD New England and
beyond Surf Pics! *NEW PICS added each week!
*Check out the NEW updated DROPPING
IN ON RALPH blog Section.
It's coming soon (I promise).
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to Ralph's Pic
Of The Week
every week for the last 8 years. **Think about BUYING a Photo
from any of the weeks
on RPOTW as a GREAT Gift Idea. A nice framed photo of your favorite
Surfer!
Remember
my friends...Surfing Heals All Wounds....
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph |
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Yesterday- The Summer of 1965- Ed's 1957 Chevy
(Below) Anyone who is old enough to remember the 57 Chevy knows how cool of a vehicle this was. Ed O'Connell, local surfer/photographer had one back in the summer of 1965. Talk about cool. He tooled around the beaches with his longboard on the roof and was I'm sure just digging the lifestyle of being a surfer in the 60's. And then along came something called Vietnam. Before you knew it, Ed was gone and in the ARMY. But he made it back from the war and has been taking some great surf pics of local surfers for many years. He still has this old Black and white print of his pride and joy from 1965. Photo by Ed O'Connell |
Click on the photo above to see the larger version. |
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Today- Friday November 11th, 2011 The Veterans Day Swell.
Photos By Ed O'Connell |
(Above) Is this the Hollister Ranch? Hell no. It's the Wall on Veterans Day.
November 11, 2011. Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
(Above) Unidentified longboarder stepping up to the nose.
November 11, 2011. Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) Jake Howard racing the lip at the Wall on Veterans Day.
November 11, 2011. Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
(Above) Chris Shipley at the Wall on Veterans Day.
November 11, 2011. Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
Today- V-Day Swell Morning Sesh November 11th, 2011
Photos By Ed O'Connell
(Above) Ryan cutting loose on Veterans Day. November 11, 2011.
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Unidentified on a nice looking right. Veterans Day. November 11, 2011.
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Ryan off the bottom on Veterans Day. November 11, 2011.
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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Today- Friday November 11th, 2011 The Veterans Day Swell.
Photos By RALPH
(Above) My favorite view and angle. November 11th, 2011. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) This was the wave of the afternoon. November 11th, 2011. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
(Above) Danny L. November 11th, 2011. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) The waves were non stop all afternoon. November 11th, 2011. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) I looked up and caught this guy going away. November 11th, 2011.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) This guy slipped into a nice little hollow section. November 11th, 2011.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
Today- SEQUENCE November 11th, 2011 Veterans Day Swell.
Photos By RALPH
(Above) Danny L on Big Blue into a nice hollow section . Friday November 11, 2011. Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole Sequence.
Today- Scenes from Veterans Day November 11th, 2011.
Photos By RALPH
(Above) I was driving back from a nursing home after all the Veterans Day services visiting an old Korean War Vet friend of mine, when I spotted this tree. Oh my God. It's beautiful. Friday November 11, 2011. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) I had the unique opportunity to meet up with Ray Hackett's brother at the
Marston School on Thursday November 10, 2011. Photo courtesy of RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Check out the waves in the background. Friday November 11, 2011.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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Today- The Phantom Scores again! -October 30, 2011
Photos By The Phantom
(Above) What a score this was! Sunday October 30, 2011.
Photo By The Phantom* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Cool little peak in the middle of nowhere. Sunday October 30, 2011.
Photo By The Phantom* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Hollow and minimal crowds. Sunday October 30, 2011.
Photo By The Phantom* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) This is one long drawn out bottom turn. Sunday October 30, 2011.
Photo By The Phantom* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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Today- Having Fun with the Moon... 2011
Photos via the Internet
(Above) This is kind of neat. It's one of those Internet photos that find their way into
my mailbox. It's just fun harmless stuff.
Photo via the Internet* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) It's all fun and magical for the kid in all of us...
Photo via the Internet* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) This is another series of amazing photos from the BIG Halloween swell a couple of weeks ago... Sunday October 30, 2011.
Photo By Ryan Jackson* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) That BIG Halloween swell a couple of weeks ago was impressive.
Sunday October 30, 2011. Photo By Ryan Jackson
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) It was breaking everywhere. The BIG Halloween swell on Sunday October 30, 2011. Photo By Ryan Jackson* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) K-38 in Baja....oh please give me a break. Who needs this shit? Hot tub watching the surf? Who? I do that's who! Sunday October 30th, 2011.
Photo By Wally * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
(Above) From the recent Veterans Day swell. Friday November 11th 2011.
Photo By Granite Stoke* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) Very cool imaging here...almost cotton candy looking.
From the recent Veterans Day swell. Friday November 11th 2011.
Photo By Granite Stoke* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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THE "CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY" video by JOE CARTER and
GET IN THE VAN is NOW on the SURFER'S JOURNAL Website and
now
the ESPN website too! Wow!
To see it on this site go to the Molly Page.
http://www.surfersjournal.com/journal_entry/molly-motivation
CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW FOR ALL VIDEOS
The sixth installment of ASK CRACKIE. This week's question is from a Shortboarder from New Hampshire. He asks Crackie if he is wrong for backing down from a nice set wave...Oh man does Crackie let him have it. Check it out.
crackie@adlantic.com
Crackie now has his own Facebook Page. You should Friend Him...though there are
no guarantees that he'll be nice to you.
Hope you all learn something from this informative Q&A.
The Autumn Sun Part 1 from Ryan Denning ALPINE-LIVE.
Check out www.alpine-live.com
The Autumn Sun | Part Two from Ryan Denning on Vimeo. Check out www.alpine-live.com and stay tuned for Part Three.
More INSANE Footage from Ryan Denning's vault. Check alpine-live.com for more insane footage.
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(Above) All
Rise: 10th
Street District Court of Surf Justice
is now in session, the
Honorable Judge
RALPH presiding. CASE
#135 BLATANT DROP IN OF THE WEEK-
Shot this last Veterans Day swell. CLICK and SEE this Surf crime and the verdict.
Photo by RALPH
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Click above graphic for The Daily BLOG I wrote from July 26-2010 to July 26-2011
Yes you can STILL DONATE to the Fundraiser.
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(Above) The RETURN of Bernie Baker. Bernie's got the good from the HIC PRO at
Sunset Beach on Oahu last week. Photo by Bernie Baker COMING NEXT WEEK! |
(Above) All the action from the HIC PRO at Sunset Beach on Oahu last week.
Photo by Bernie Baker COMING NEXT WEEK!
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(Above) No one shoots the North Shore like Bernie. The HIC PRO at Sunset Beach on Oahu last week. Photo by Bernie Baker COMING NEXT WEEK!
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(Above) The blue green Hawaiian water at the HIC PRO at Sunset Beach on Oahu last week. Photo by Bernie Baker COMING NEXT WEEK!
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*Click masthead above to read the original
ISM story.
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(Above) Put the cursor over the images above to
see happens when you DROP in on someone. You
become Invisible. Simply put the mouse over the photo to see the
original photo and then marvel at
the results of what happens when the criminal
becomes invisible.*Put the cursor over the photo to see the Real
image.
Photo by RALPH |
Today 2011 "OCCUPY THIS...Thank you Veterans..." |
(Above) In light of last week being Veterans Day. Photo via the Internet |
Click
on Wave to return to top of page
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