summertime

The Wedge, Newport Beach

Day-dreaming of southern hemis and hurricanes. I hope some of them are big enough to get in up here this summer...

drive

Photo by Colvin - Summer 1997, Topanga Canyon

One my favorite feelings in surfing is the drive down the line on a sizeable wave, flying past or over a section. The board above drove well, and I miss it (cracked in two after about ten years of abuse). It was an off-the-shelf custom that somebody changed their mind on, an 8'6" Stewart thruster pintail with a concave nose, wings, and double channels. I've thought about having a copy shaped because it was just so damn FUN and versatile, and I never see boards quite like it. I occasionally took it out on head high to DOH waves and it almost performed like a shortboard when given some speed. It handled beach break barrels, floaters, gouging cutbacks, even cross-stepping nose rides - it would make a fine one-and-only desert island board.

kosmic kookiness

Pype's Palace neighborhood pipe & tobacco shop, on Lombard Ave. in North Portland

A Mom & Pop operation since 1976, these folks are a friendly bunch. Plus, their flying joint mascot in his spaceship the "Do-Be 1" freakin' rules! I am proud to have them as my neighbors. I have requested that they carry t-shirts and stickers with the mascot and spaceship...

P.S. I swear that the only thing I've bought in their store is Djarum cigarettes. Really.

baja norte

Photo by Gazelle 2004

The raw sewage, the garbage and broken glass, the broken down cars, the incomplete construction projects, the mangy stray animals, the poverty, the dust, the corruption, the gated gringovilles. Baja Norte is not for everyone. Personally, after being robbed, jailed, sickened, and generally disgusted with the stretch of coast between the border and Ensenada, I think I'm done.

winter wonderland

Photo copyright 2006 Gazelle

On the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere, I offer a contrasting image of cold beauty from last winter. Taken from the Timberline Lodge on the south slope of Mt. Hood, Oregon.

swami's

Big Wednesday, January 2005

fenced

Photos copyright 2001 Gazelle

The village of Toro, Galicia, Spain

collapse

Sometimes it's not just the waves you need to watch out for...

Cliff collapse, just north of Jalama Beach Park campground, Santa Barbara County

may the force be with you

As an adult I've gained what I think is a healthy disdain for most advertising. But as a kid, things were different. In the late 70's and early 80's, as I poured through Skateboarder, Surfer, and Surfing, I was in awe of the "cool factor" that some companies exuded in their ad campaigns. Kryptonics was always one of my faves, as was Alva and Santa Cruz. As I think back on it, the skate ads were a lot more creative and interesting than the surf stuff, even if some of the surf logos were pretty damn cool (ie: McCoy, MR, Herbie Fletcher). It's all bullshit, but it can be pretty powerful stuff to a young mind...

theme tune

peace park

Photo copyright 1990 Gazelle

Park maintenance crew, Hiroshima Peace Park, Japan

This park encompasses ground zero for the atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima in 1945. Ground zero itself is over a former city hall building, preserved and commonly known as the "a-bomb dome" because of the twisted supports remaining of the structure's dome.

Hiroshima is a remarkable city for many reasons, not least among them the consciousness of its citizens. They seem to have a clear understanding of the importance of what happened to their city, and take seriously the mission of preventing anything like it from ever happening again. If you're a peace-lover, make a pilgrimage to Hiroshima. After touring through the museum in the park and seeing graphic displays of the horror these people experienced, you'll be amazed at the capacity of humans to forgive and move forward in a positive direction.

theme tune, inspired by patch and chum, who regularly offer up musical accompaniment to their posts.

salt of the earth pt. 2

Photo copyright 2001 Gazelle

She's the matriarch of the family, and at Carnival time her family is in charge of gathering the ants into big bags. She troops out into the countryside with her daughters, sons, grandchildren, and random volunteers to visit the ant hills she monitors all year. Then, at a specified time on a particular day of Carnival, the large and angry ants are brought into the plaza and thrown into the crowd, biting as they land on the unlucky spectators and participants. It's an absurd tradition, but a very old one - a combination of hilarious prank and serious punishment. No one should take it personally, though - if you drop by her place she'll pour you a cup of coffee or vino and you can sing songs with the family.

Galicia, Spain

piazza molto grande

Photo copyright 2000 Gazelle

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy

ghost town

Photo copyright 1997 Gazelle

Bodie State Park, California