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About Quiksilver, Inc:

Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is "the world's leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, footwear, accessories and related products. The Company's apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its boardriding culture and heritage."

Friends, turn and run, and for the love of God, don't put one of their stickers on your car. If you do you're a tool. And if you wear one of their t shirts, you're equally worthless.

Et tu, magnus lacus?

Ut sementem feceris ita metes.

Rick Griffin

Rick Griffin: one of the leading designers of psychedelic posters in the 1960s. He was also a contributor to the underground comix movement whose work appeared regularly in Zap Comix. Griffin was closely identified with the Grateful Dead, having designed some of their best known posters and record jackets. He was also known for his work within the surfing subculture, including his comic strip about a surfer named "Murphy".

Griffin was born near Palos Verdes amidst the surfing culture of southern California. After attending high school, he worked on the staff of Surfer magazine where he created his surfing comic strip. In Los Angeles, Griffin met a group of artists and musicians known as the Jook Savages and participated in the Watts Acid Test held by Ken Kesey.

After seeing the psychedelic rock posters that were being designed by Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelly, Griffin and the Jook Savages decided to move to San Francisco in the fall of 1966, where he designed posters in the living room of his home on Elsie Street in the Bernal Heights district. His first art exhibition was for the Jook Savages, but organizers for the Human Be-In saw his work and asked him to design a poster for their event in January 1967. Chet Helms was also impressed by Griffin's work and asked him to design posters for the Family Dog parties at the Avalon Ballroom, which led Griffin to create concert posters for The Charlatans. Eventually, a poster distribution agency by the name of Berkeley Bonaparte hired Griffin, where he teamed up with the leading poster artists of the 1960s.

In the 1970's he converted to Christianity. He published The Illustrated Book of St. John, a retelling of the Gospel of John with his unique illustrations. He also produced album art for Maranatha! Music, a Christian record label.

In 1991, Griffin was killed in a motorcycle accident in Petaluma, California.

Heart of Darkness

"This, too was once one of the dark places of the earth."
-Joseph Conrad

OK, Heart of Darkness it wasn’t, but a ride on a 70’s Grady-White in might as well been since things have been so dull for me of late. So a little embellishment of my non-story both here and in my mind is inevitable, so bear with me friends.

Guy took me out on his boat (he even let me take the wheel, see!). He has a cool old Grady-White. The voyage was from the Gloucester Marina up the Annisquam to Ipswich Bay and back. The purpose of this was to run his finicky motor, but for me it was the fist time on a boat (not counting Long Island ferries and Kayaks) in over a year. Pathetic when you consider that I had a USCG captains license.

It had been decades since I’d made this run, Annisquam and Wingaersheek were gorgeous. I had no idea there were so many homes along the river. They ranged from the obvious posh Summer estates to very cool little seasonal cottages and bungalows. Go up the river, you won't find Kurtz. But you will find Riverdale, Wingaersheek, and Annisquam at it's prettiest.

Heart if Darkness: Now that I think about it, it's a book I'll have to revisit. Mr. Zamore at Belmont Hill could not emphasize enough Conrad's brilliance. God was I thick. But 25 years later it has sunk in, his efforts weren't in vain.

Vote this November!

I don't care for whom, please just vote.

Hurricane Kyle

It had been raining since Friday, I can’t get too jazzed about surfing in the rain, and I’m definitely not happy about surfing in runoff. One trip to the ER is enough, thanks very much.

Saturday: Discretion is the better part of valour

Saturday was I took a pass with sheets of rain. But loads of locals around here scored if they chose the right spot. I passed, "live to fight another day" being my philosophy.

But on Sunday I promised friends I’d meet them down in Nahant.

Sunday: Nahant 101

Nahant is one of Boston’s oldest Summer colonies, and has a very cool old timey beach. More importantly, the beach is actually a fun break when there’s swell, with log friendly lefts and rights. A nice surprise indeedy.

With the rain still coming down I loaded up the Tyler 777 and headed south around 8:00. It looked so-so here anyway. It’s close, and I slid into a bunch of satisfying rights & lefts some as big as stomach high.

The mellow vibe alone will bring me back. And making the scene at other breaks? Whatever, friends, this is Massachusetts. OK, nothing epic, but new spots are always a rush.

Monday: Viva Maine!

The rain FINALLY cleared, and the swell actually peaked around here. Bad Harbour looked good at about shoulder high. All my favorite folks were there, Rich, John O, Jay, Karen & Jon, Diamond Dave, etc. But I’m so weary of ear infections, and a damn easterly wind was coming up. Phooey!

What to do? The 777 was still in the car. Higgins Beach it was, a gamble that paid off in spades. Arriving at the beach, the conditions were perfect. No wind, overcast skies, low crowds, and head high waves. The beach faces south and is far enough north that it picks up southeast swells (like Kyle) nicely.

What a wave! The 777 was amazing, I started off with a powerful left, and then another. That board catches the wave early, which is a big help at Higgins. The wave of the day had to be a right that took me straight to the rocks that surface on the dropping tide.

So a head high plus rightie comes through, all for me. It was a later take-off, but after cranking my turn I started to accelerate and accelerate and accelerate. I was freaking’ flying. Flying towards to rocks. Not to worry 777 was so loose I made the most stylish of pullouts. Talk about feeling like a Mack! That was one of the biggest buzzes in surfing I’ve ever had, straight up.

A few more gorgeous waves and I was done for the day. Have you ever known that super satisfied feeling? That feeling that you’re ten feet tall. That’s how I was. Just don’t tell your friends who have to work about it for a few days! Don't worry, at least y'all have regular work.

I wanted to scope out a surf shop in Portland, just 2 more exits up 95. Portland is such a pretty town. There’s a good mix of business and culture. Loads of funky little craft shops, yoga studios, bike shops, even a record store (yay!). But the objective was Corduroy Surf Co. and the adjacent Sebago Brewing Company. Corduroy is my kinda place, a surf shop for adults, artsy & designy but not pretentious. He sells clothes that I’d actually wear too. No Volcom, Quickie, etc. It’s the anti Ron Jon’s. Jim, the proprietor is a nice guy, into logs, single fins & fish. Corduroy: great shop that supports local artists with shows and receptions. I’ll be back there too.

Sebago Brewing Company is a fabulous brew pup with possibly the best burger in the world, as well as a full dinner menu with fish, steaks, and lobster.

Tuesday: Back to da Creek
After Monday almost anything would be a let down. All I had time for was a peek at the creek. That stupid easterly flow had come up yet again. But rather than being disappointed, my sense of satisfaction of going to Maine was reinforced. Viva Maine.