5th December 2011

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead 20/11/11 Early morning sea fog during Redhead SLSC Proficiency.

Redhead Beach sea mist 20-11-11

Saturday 26/11/11 The wind started as onshore then swung offshore and cleaned up the surf. Redhead lineup Redhead Beach surf 26-11-2011

Redhead surf 26-11-11

Redhead surfer dogging thru behind the tower. Redhead surfer 1 26-11-11

Redhead surfer 1 26-11-11

Redhead Surfer on one starting to wall up 26-11-11

Redhead surfer 3 26-11-11

Redhead body boarder 26-11-11

Redhead Bodyboarder 26-11-11

Redhead surfer 26-11-2011

Redhead surfer 26-11-11

Monday 5/12/11

A week of rain pushed lots of fresh water out to sea, then a raging southerly whipped it up to make some serious froth. Redhead shark tower. Redhead foam 1 5-12-11

Redhead Beach foam 5-12-11

The foam was pushed into the Redhead Bluff painting it white. Redhead Beach foam 2 5-12-11

RedheadBeach foam- 5-12-11

Blacksmiths Beach same day as above at the other end of the beach, clean as. Blacksmiths 5-12-11

Blacksmiths 5-12-11

Blacksmiths, minutes later than the sunny shot above, a rain cloud parts and sun shines through onto the water. Blacksmiths sun through clouds 5-12-11

Blacksmiths sun-thru-clouds 5-12-11

December 19th 2011- Chicken Story

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

Merry Christmas! I was trying to think of something to do with Christmas and it’s with thanks to Dale and Zoe I have the true tale of Wendy Bendy Bertha.

Poor Wendy (formerly named Bertha) the Chicken, somehow broke her leg. Dale and Zoe took her to the righteous vet at Raymond Terrace who set her leg in a cast. Her name now is Wendy Bendy Bertha.

Poor Wendy had to be suspended in a basket and with lots of loving care was slowly on the mend.

Poor Bertha

Because she was so good, the next trip into the Vet for a checkup Wendy got a little special treatment.WBB went shopping

Wendy picked out a video – her favourite Chicken Run of course.

Wendy picks chicken run

Wendy went in to try on some new shoes.

WBB goes shopping 1

Wendy even picked a handbag to match.

WBB goes shopping 2

Wendy paid from her own credit card.

WBB goes shopping 3

Wendy even got to sit on good Santa’s knee and tell him what she wanted for christmas.

Wendy and Santa

Wendy eventally got back out in the paddock with all her friends especially Scooby the horse, but now Wendy has a very unique Chicken Strut .WBB back in the paddock

WBB & Scooby

10/12/11 The surf was solid and choppy but this Redhead Body boarder finds a gem amongst the trying conditions.

Redhead bodyboarder 10-12-11

Rique Smith at Redhead with a selection of his dad Col Smith’s channel boards.Photo with thanks from David and Brendan.

Rique Smith Col Smith Channels

31st December 2011

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead beach 26/12/11 boxing day morning

Redhead Beach 26-12-11

Redhead beach 26/12/11 close out set.

Redhead Surf 26-12-11

Redhead Beach surfer 26/12/11

Redhead Beach surfer 26-12-11

Redhead Beach 27/12/11

RedheadBeach 27-12-11

Redhead Shark Tower 29/12/11 – Sun on the water. I was thinking of the beautiful song by Kirsty MacColl – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDzYqJs5HMM

Redhead Shark Tower2 9-12-11

Redhead Beach 29/12/11 Lone swimmer.

Redhead Beach 29-12-11

Black Neds Bay wildlife 8/12/11. The neighbours have a big mean pets. Black Neds Bay Crocodile 8-12-11

Black Neds Bay Crocodile 8-12-11

And nice cute pets too. Black Neds Bay Ducks 8/12/11

Black Neds Bay Ducks 8-12-11

All the best wishes for the new year.

21st January 2012

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead regular and a real nice bloke, Glen “Lenny” Folkard was attacked and bitten by a shark surfing at Redhead Wednesday afternoon 18/1/2011. With him keeping a cool head and the gutsy efforts of the guys in the water, he was brought in quickly. The Lifeguards and luckily some paramedics were there to help slow the blood loss and with the Ambulance’s speedy attention he is recovering in hospital from some large gashes.

The guys who helped should get unlimited waves from now on. Many thanks to Nathan, Steve, Tony and Danny and any others who were there and helped.

From all the Redhead guys, we wish Lenny all the best in his recovery and hope he can put it behind him. Did it rattle us? Yes … eveyone’s talking about it and going back out in the water very warily. This is the first shark attack since the 1930’s at Redhead, so the odd’s were big considering how many people have gone into the water in over 80 years. But we know they are out there. Fifty sharks were sighted that day between Blacksmiths and Newcastle from the air.

Steve Butterworth and Col Smith with Jim Pollard Channel Boards at Redhead 1978. This photo appeared in Sea Notes Magazine in 1978 .Steve & Col Sea Notes Mag 1978

Steve and Col Sea Notes Mag 1978

Surfhouse Surf Shop top of town Newcastle. A great place to browse for surf related gifts and a range of local surf photography to hang on your wall. Surfhouse Surfshop Newcastle. Alas no longer there now…

Surfhouse Surfshop Newcastle

Redhead Little Beach 27/9/2011

Redhead Littel Beach 27-09-11

Colourful Sunset Redhead 10/1/2012

Redhead Sunset 10-01-12

Newcastle Harbour and Nobbys Headland 12/11/2011

Newcastle Harbour & Nobbys

Herron looking for a feed at Belmont South 14/1/2011

Herron Belmont South 14-01-12

Swans in Belmont South Bay 14/1/12

Swans Belmont Bay 14-01-12

7th March 2012

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

Dad and Grom Silhoutte Surfcheck Blacksmiths Beach 4/3/2012. The early morning sunlight was blazing off the chop created a blinding glare. Alas the onshore wind was up already.

Blacksmiths surf check 04-03-12

Redhead Double ski 4/3/2012 Mike and Ray take a straight line in.

Redhead dbl ski 04-03-12

Bird on watch at Redhead Shark tower on a damp and gloomy morning 5/3/2012.

Redhead Shark tower 05-03-12

Redhead Beach chopped out, but still a nice view 22/1/2012.

Redhead Beach 22-1-12

School of mullet in the shallows of Lake Macquarie 5/12/2012.

Fish in lake Mac 5-02-12

Belmont Yacht races 5/2/12. These two boats pass at full throttle with not much to spare.

Belmont Yacht Race 3-05-02-12

Blacksmith’s Beach Litterer – the Crow 5/3/2011. The early bird gets scraps out of the bins for breakfast. Maybe we can train then to put it back in.

Blacksmiths Crow 05-03-12

Redhead sand dunes showing a bit of colour after some rain 5/3/2012.

Redhead Beach 05-03-12

Redhead beach big rip 11/2/2012. There has been a strong rip out the front of the 1st Creek for a while now that keeps you paddling the whole time to keep on your lineup.

Redhead Beach Rip 11-02-12

Redhead surfer Col Smith Scrapbook

Posted on October 18, 2012 by geoffcrow

Various photos of Redhead’s Col Smith from his surfing career.

Col Smith was Australian Champion and placed in 3 Hawaiian Contests in 1976.

Col helped pioneer Channel Bottom Surfboards, first surfing Jim Pollard’s boards with the rolled edge “corrugated” style, then with Martin Littlewood Delta Designs making the hard edged Clinker channels, Col went on to making his own boards and also worked with other board builders, mostly shaping 6 channels with “Bee” tails.

Col Smith with Jim Pollard channel boards for Bells Beach 1976

Col Smith 1976 with Jim Pollard channel Boards for Bells Beach

Col Smith at one of his favourite local breaks 1977

Col Smith at one of his favourite breaks 1977

Col Smith portrait from newspaper 1976

Col Smith newspaper Portrait

Col Smith shaping Channel boards at Redhead

Col Smith Shaping channel bottoms 1977 at Redhead

Col Smith in Tracks Magazine surfing Pipeline in 1976

Col Smith in Tracks at Pipeline

Surfer Col Smith and Shaper Jim Pollard celebrate Col’s Hawaii Surf contest wins in 1976

Col Smith and Jim Pollard celebrate Cols Hawaiian success

Col Smith surfing Margaret River WA on an asymmetric channel board around 1986

Col Smith at Margaret River

Col Smith at Pipline 1976 Tracker Poster

Col Smith Tracker Poster Pipeline Hawaii 1976

Col Smith Asymetric Channel 1986 Margaret River

Col Smith Asymmetrical Margaret River

Col and Kim Smith with Martin Littlewood at Margaret River with Asymetric channel boards.

Col Smith at Margaret River with Martin Littlewood 1986

Col Smith in Tracks Magazine 1987 surfing big Banzai Pipeline

ColSmithTracksObit1987

11th August 2012

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geoffcrow

We were trying to find a spot to go for a paddle out of the raging wind. 10/8/2012 Ronnie Rudder on his SUP at Swansea’s Black Ned’s Bay.

10-08-12 Ron Rudder on SUP

Redhead early saturday morning 27/07/2012 the swell was a bit wonky but there were only a few surfers out.

27-07-12 Redhead Beach

Belmont Wetlands off the Fernleigh Track 23/07/2011. We saw a huge easy 3 metres long red belly black snake a hundred metres further on by the side of the track.

23-07-12 Belmont Wetlands

Redhead Beach half in Shade and Sun. It was freezing in the shade but as the
sun came up over the cliff it was sunny and warm down the beach.

27-07-12 Redhead Beach shadow-and-sun

Friendly Pelican in Black Ned’s Bay 29/07/2012

29-07-12 Black Neds Pelican

A surf check at Blacksmiths 20/7/12 – no waves but the sun shining on the water was nice.

20-07-12 Blacksmiths sunlight

Black Ned’s Bay – a scenic little spot.

10-08-12-Black Neds Bay

22nd February 2012

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead Beach 22/1/2012

Redhead Beach 4-2-12

Redhead Body Boarder 4/2/2012

Redhead Body Boarder 4-2-12

Redhead Beach 22/1/2012. The Pig Face leaves are turning red.

Redhead Beach1 22-1-12

Redhead first Creek wind on the water 22/1/2012

Redhead 1st Creek1 22-1-12

Redhead Shark Tower 21/1/2012

Redhead Shark Tower 21-1-12

Redhead First Creek 22/2/2012

Redhead 1st Creek2 22-1-12

The following Photos are by Jo and Geoff from their New Zealand South Island hiking
trip last week. Some beautiful landscapes, a very beautful place.

21st October 2011

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geoffcrow

Dudley Beach 25/6/11

Dudley Beach 25-6-11

Newcastle Big cold winter swell 13/7/11

Newcastle Beach 13-7-11

Newcastle Harbour Tug 14/6/11

Newcastle Tug Boat 14-6-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 4/6/11

Blacksmiths surfer 4-4-6-11

Redhead surfer 1 4/6/11

Redhead surfer 9-4-6-11

Redhead Surfer 2 4/6/11

Redhead surfer 2 13-4-6-11

Newcastle Beach Big surf close up 14/7/11

Newcastle Beach surf 14-7-11-7

Redhead Bluff up close 10/6/11

Redhead Bluff 10-6-11

Redhead Beach early morning right hander 14/10/11

Redhead Beach right 14-10-11

Saturday morning 22/10/11 around 7:30 am. The surf was very ordinary at 2 foot with a light onshore starting up, but it was the best place to be to
watch the local dolphins throw a party. Dozens of dolphins gathered
just outside the break in what appeared to be an introduction of the
new young calves to the extended dolphin clan. The young ones were
accompanied by adults as they cruised around and around, meanwhile
the young adults cavorted further out getting some serious air. They
threw some awsome stale fish moves but without grabbing a rail. They
stayed for almost an hour in the same area while the few surfers out
watched in awe a few metres away.