Wednesday, December 10, 2008

END OF THE LONG WONDERFUL ROAD:August 15th to December 9th

It is hard to express what the last 116 days on the highways of Canada and America have meant to me.I have been loved,befriended,refriended,Citadel storied,helped,directed,instucted,ooh'd & ah'd over,car-talked,surf-storied,housed,fed,fattened,exercised,tanned,chilled,thrilled,amazed,driven fast,driven slow,cruised,raced,out-of-touched,stayed in contact,CD'd,radio'd,duck dove,late take-off'd,wipedout,paddled,rode a few,felt stoked! The East Coast of North America(The Edge of America ala Folly Beach,SC) is a very friendly place to travel;as I'm sure the rest of the world is if given the opportunity and approached with an open mind and respectful attitude.In 116 days I did not have one bad encounter.Obviously,driving a bright red 1950 Plymouth woodie with surfboards atop,and pulling a "cute" trailer enhances your immediate acceptance.However, it is the people along the way who made this an incredibly memorable experience.The scenery was diverse and beautiful,but could not touch the diversity and beauty of all the people who reached out and touched my life in such a consistently positive fashion.I will never,ever forgot what you did and have done for me.I am refreshed,reborn and ready to move forward with the next chapter of living.My tank is full of humble gratitude.THANK YOU EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE who helped make the past 116 days such a rich,human experience.Yours with the Waves,Ralph

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

HO! HO! HO! Dolan crew.I hope this finds my favorite Nova Scotians fat,happy and prosperous.As I hope you all know,the "Trip of a Lifetime" ended 12/10/2008.Please read my last entry in the blog for you guys set the tone for the whole trip.What an unforgetable reception you provided upon my arrival.A stranger arrives on your doorstep(none stranger than me),and you open your arms to a colonist from the heathen state of Georgia.I could have been an inbred axe murderer looking to do a "Dahmer" on you one at a time.But!!! You took your chances.You let me sleep in your beds.You let me eat your food;drink your liquor;swill your Coke Zero,lust after your women;touch your woodies,and unbelievibly surf your secret spots.Did you go mad?As a paranoid capitalist raised on the rule "more is not enough",I realized that I had died and gone to heaven.I just never thought that you got to heaven driving a 1950 Plymouth woodie painted flaming desire red north of our border into Canada.I am so spiritually niave! I heard the Dalai Lama say just the other day that Karma is achieved through cruising a 350ZZ4 north to south off the Interstate highways.I never knew the dude was a gearhead;but hey! he's the Dalai Lama.He can drive whatever he wants.On a more serious note,my hemmroids are no longer inflamed.That in it self makes this trip miraculous.Healed by driving into Canada.No wonder you guys love your healthcare system.Is it always so efficient?Another thing that happened is I am now addicted to fish oil.I am free basing the stuff.I moved beyond injecting fairly quickly;it was hard getting those capsules through the needle and into my arm.Kevin,since you got me hooked,could you smuggle a few kilos over the border the next time you come stateside.I will meet you in the usual alley in Boston.Don't worry I got the immigration people and Boston cops paid off.Call me with instructions on how you keep fish oil lit while free basing.The only side effect,so far,is I cannot walk by a fish tank or aquarium,or the fish display at the local super market without diving in or rolling in the display.That's a small price to pay for the incredible pleasure it brings me.Kevin,I am so grateful to you! Another miracle created by my celestial journey north to Nova and south to Scotia was my new ablity to forecast beautiful surf.It is infalable.As soon as I leave a place,the waves go off.The locals worship the departure of the "Red Woodie".They gather by the hundreds and cheer and wave when I leave town.I feel so loved and blessed to know the joy I bring by departing.My life is so full of flatness and high pressure systems that my cup overflowith.I am estatically blissful to have been allowed into your little piece of Heaven.I have converted to Canadaism,and will forever wander the Earth wearing nothing but a Maple Leaf.Hope you see me soon!Yours with the Waves,Ralph

Posted via email from Surfer Ralph North to South

It's tough being a surfer @ Ponte Vedra,FL: Henry & Lauri Hammer



See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Surfer Ralph North to South

Monday, December 8, 2008

JACKSONVILLE BEACH,FLORIDA My 1st home after college 1971-72


LAST STATE ON TRIP




BROKEN FEMUR POOL BOY




FEMUR BOY'S SQUEEZE




SIMON BELCHER & KIRBY JONES




CALI







SURFED & LIVED HERE 1971-72




SKUNKED AGAIN ON WAVES




JAX BCH SKYLINE LOOKING NORTH




PIER DETAIL #1




PIER DETAIL #2




PIER DETAIL #3




PIER DETAIL # 4




INVOLUNTARY VOLUNTEER




PIER DETAIL #5



See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Friday, December 5, 2008

FOLLY BEACH:MY SURFING ROOTS FROM 1966


HOOT & BECKY GIBSON




GIBSON FOLLY HOME(GFH)




GFH # 2




9TH STREET WALK OVER




WEST ASHLEY AVE, FOLLY




McKevlin's Surf Shop Crew est 1965




Tim McKevlin(L) & Crew




FOLLY BEACH PIER




Rode 1st CHS wave here 10/66




Northside of Folly Pier



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ANOTHER CITADEL FRIEND & SPOUSE COMES TO MY AID(ROD & BJ ENGARD'S HOME ON MYRTLE ISLAND,SC)


SCREEN DOOR VIEW (back)




BACK PORCH




BACK CRAB DOCK




DOCK WALKWAY




DOCK RAILING




HEAVEN'S GATE




MAY RIVER SIDE OF HOUSE




FRONT FLOWERS




BACK LEMONS




BACK PORCH




SIDE 3 CAR GARAGE




BEAUTIFUL WALKWAY




WOODIE LIVIN' LARGE




GARAGE




GUESTHOUSE ON PROPERTY




FRONT DRIVE LEAVING




FRONT DRIVE ARRIVING




GARAGE DOOR DETAILS




MORE FLOWERS




FRONT ENTRANCE




FRONT KITCHEN ENTRANCE



Posted via email from Surfer Ralph North to South