Saying Goodbye to John Sexton, and hello to OCCY.
And the FREE THE NIPPLE Movement comes to
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.

The other day I was saying to no one in particular -because I've said it to a bunch of people. "I should be a Reverend. You know, Reverend Ralph. Is there an on line course where I can get my reverend's badge in the mail?" They all chuckled as did I. But later on I was almost thinking seriously about it.

I'd be like a nice, funny, clever reverend, with a touch of a Marine Corps Drill instructor. I think people would like it. Whaddya think?

I bring this up because once again I found myself conducting and helping a grieving family and close friends at yet another Surfer's paddle. The surfer was John Sexton. He was a 63 year old Rye guy who like a lot of us, loved the ocean and surfing.



Looking out across the low tide sand at Sawyers last Saturday, and the gathering crowd of surfers and family under the tent. I along with everyone else could feel the positive vibe. John had close friends and family. And it was obvious at the paddle, that they were there to honor this man. A husband, father, and close friend to so many.

There was however, one small concern.

The skies were black in Hampton and the deluge of rain came down in buckets. As I drove north to meet everyone at Sawyers, I was so worried that the rain would catch up to all of the participants. But as I got closer to Sawyers, the skies opened up. As if some kind of divine intervention came down and cleared the thunder storms and lightening away from the paddle.

It stayed dry and clear,and gave us an absolute stunning sky.



We all looked up at one point to see what nature was doing.
I had heard after the water service, that there were bolts of lightening behind me when I was speaking. Good thing I never saw that. Martha Lardent was there with her camera. She shot video and stills of the entire paddle. I shot some pics with my little water camera.

Both Martha and my stuff is posted below down in the galleries for this week. Clarke Fenner said to me earlier in the week that John was at Ed O'Connell's paddle. Apparently he commented to Clarke that he wanted a paddle for himself as well. Through the efforts of Clarke and John's family, they were able to put this together. It turned out to be one of the nicest paddles I have ever done. And unfortunately, I have done quite a few. My first being in 1978 when I did the paddle for Joe Somogyi . I've done dozens since then.

For a surfer, there is no better send off, then the surfer's paddle.

Switching gears, the very next night, one of the most famous surfers on the planet was coming to Hampton.



Mark "OCCY" Occhilupo stopped at Cinnamon Rainbows for a greet and meet, Then later at Hampton's Flatbread where with outside seating, a crowd of about 150-200 people all sat and stood in the parking lot as OCCY spoke. After a brief speech, the movie, The OCCUMENTARY was played for the grateful crowd.



Speaking of Grateful OCCY was so happy and stoked and GRATEFUL for the huge positive response he as ever witnessed
at one of his showings. I met him at the shop earlier in the day, and then at Flatbread I got to tell him, that he had the BEST cutback on
the planet. Bar none. The BEST!

My son Mackey was a huge OCCY fan when he was a young grom. So much so, that some of his friends called him Occy! I was surprised to hear that shit. There is a photo sequence of Max asking Occy to sign it to,,,"Occy". The look on Occy's face is priceless. But he did it
any way. Max was laughing the whole time. That whole sequence is
in the Galleries below.

From John Sexton to OCCY, the week was full of emotion

This coming FRIDAY, August 28th, 2015 the 8th ANNUAL HIT THE BEACH event is coming to North Beach. and it looks to be the BIGGEST one ever. With over 70 participants signed up we will have our hands full. If you've never seen this event, you owe it to yourself and your children to witness this. Surfers giving Back to WOUNDED VETERANS. I personally can't wait.



"SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS"