Musclecar Monday

Baron is a Gloucester guy who really knows how to set up a hot rod. There's always something interesting on his lot. This time it's a '60's gasser style 1955 Chevy Bel Air. Satin black with Windex blue tinted glass and wrinkle side slicks, ready to race. Attitude on top of attitude.

It reminded me of the 1971 masterpice Two Lane Blacktop, starring James Taylor, Dennis Wilson, and Warren Oates. Try watch:

Come and play with us Danny

Forever, and ever, and ever


Remember what Mr. Halloran said, it's just like pictures in a book, it isn't real.

Billy Big Boy – Hurricane Swell Recap

For once – a week’s vacation and a hurricane swell coincide. Hellooo Rhody.

The swell from Hurricane Bill hit the Cape Ann right on time, but it just wasn’t working. Crossed-up lines, closeouts, and ‘trap door’ waves. You know the ones, you’re getting ready for a fun, forgiving ride, and POW, the bottom drops out and down you go if you haven’t pulled back. I’m sure there are some local secret spots that gave up the goods, but not for this lazy longboarder. The trip to Rhode Island was becoming more and more of a reality. No more driving around and around looking for some shoulder. Dammit, it’s my vacation and I’m going to get a front row seat to the action.


Sunday – drive to Rhode Island, the small state with a big heart.
And big waves. The crowds at the Pt. Judith lighthouse were obscene. Having been warned by Special J that the lot was full, I went to a more sheltered spot just around the corner – a regional classic. About 12-15 people were out. I’ve heard of it, one of the longest lefts on the East Coast, (and a damn good right too). Solo, I paddled the Anderson Farberow out into shoulder/head high waves in 73° water. After while, there were just a few people out, including the coolest girl in the world on a Surfboards Hawaii single fin. She was on all the set waves in fine style.

This session was my ideal. Challenging enough, and long long rides, plus a few mellow folks, and air temps in the 80’s. The best thing is making the drop, and almost looking up at the face building in front of me while flying along. That girl added a sparkle to things, but she split before I could get her name. Another time another place.

Monday:


The reef break was big, I just couldn’t hook it up, and I kept missing the shoulders and getting swallowed alive after a survival drop. Later we all headed to site of Sunday’s magic. It was about 80% as big as before, but otherwise the same deal.

We wrapped things up at the lighthouse. The swell was fading, down to a solid shoulder high, but clean and fast. I dropped my board doing the famous Rhode Island rock dance. There no defense against that wet black stuff on the rocks, and down I went. It will buff out. The red board treated me so well. At 9’6” but only 3” of thickness is kind of small for me. No matter, in the bigger stuff I felt comfortable, and I was never under gunned at the logging spots.

So no huge bomb wave to tell you about, (and there were some big bombs to be had), but loads and loads of fun rides and good vibes.

You can see all the pics here.

(belated) Musclecar Monday - 1961 Impala

These are also affectionately called 'Bubble Top' Impalas. Some of Detroit's prettiest. Billy Big Boy surf blowout report coming next

The light around here never ceases to amaze me.

Summer goes so quickly that I’m forgetting the sun goes down around 7:30. The plan was to shoot the sunset over Ipswich bay. With all this heat lately, the last 2 nights the sun was a giant red ball. I’ll be late to my own funeral, so I missed it. No problem, the dusk light was mind bending, and the water was perfect for a heat wave dip. Some Rockport craziness too.

oh boy is this great!

Workable Quiver 2009

Now that I look at it, it’s safe to say I know what I like and I like what I like. Heavier single fins in the 9’6 range.

Left to right: 9'0" Tyler Mini Zeke, 9'6" Junod Sand Dollar, 9'6" Anderson Josh Farberow, 9'6" Tyler 777, 1966 9'6" Hansen 50-50.

Musclecar Mondays

'71, '72, or '73 Ford Mustang Mach I flatback.

Special J has a dope new shred

Stripey G&S Tourmo - it's freakin' hot!

Hansen Shakedown Run

Roger Beal did a super job patching her up and even making a few passes with the polisher. The old Hansen is a bit sunburned, but no, and I mean no delam, no gawd-awful water stains, and the foam is still bright enough.

It’s been hot and flat, too hot for cycling, so a few “fitness paddles” provided a good opportunity to chill, swim, paddle, and learn about the 43 year-old, “Doyle Designed” longboard from Cardiff.

• It’s heavy, but once it gets going, it’s like a Lincoln Continental
• It turns! – Special J proved it in a few 18” waves - and thanks for the pics!
• It looks cool – at that ‘s all that matters, isn’t it?
• It looks like it’s a keeper

I always wanted one of these, and it’s my own little connection to the golden era.

Rockport MA 01966

Gloucester, Gloucester, Gloucester, that's all you here from me. You'd think I lived there, but actually no. Rockport MA - I live here, I bag on it here but shouldn't at all, not after cruising the Art Association and Nightfall, shooting some pics and checking things out on a Tuesday evening. Hey John, how about a hot cup of lighten up? A Rockpuertorican, It's OK

Musclecar Mondays

On my favorite blogs, there's a Surf Friday, Frank (Zappa) Friday, Spaghetti Wednesday. Now, friends we have Musclecar Mania Mondays. But any cool car I see while out and about can qualify. Motorcycles too.

I have a soft spot for groovy old cars, American, European, Japanese, it's all good. Motorbikes too. This '62 Gasser style Falcon was in Gloucester. Set up for racing, built for speed, yet still street legal (I think).

Hit the brakes, grab the point 'n shoot and capture this gem. A primer-black small block wonder on the streets of our fair burg.

’66 Hansen 50-50 ready to go

Clean-ish ’66 Hansen 50-50

One of Hansen's most popular and successful designs. It was designed in part by Mike Doyle & Rusty Miller. You'll see a lot of these in the Northeast. 24" wide allows for early-catch on beach breaks. I talked about this before. I've always wanted one of these freakin' things.

Not quite a trophy winner, it had been around, but certainly clean and ready to rip, thanks RB - I couldn’t wait to get the 50-50 home, and apply a few bars

It's gonna be siiiiick!

Done in Moonlight and just about 70° water

The Farberow rips in small waves too.

Thigh high, but wave after wave.

The moon came up and gave Special J. and I enough light to surf until 9:00. There were just two surfers in rapidly cleaning small wind swell. I’ll take it again! At about 70°, all I wore was trunks & a t shirt, just like the cool kids in SD/OC (edit).

I'll take it, you kidding?

A surprise but not really, the buoys were only reading 1.5', but 10 seconds. Get the log ready. I had the place to myself, I can get used to this.

This did the trick alright.