And look at it now – its like Spring – blue skies, sunshine, double figure temperatures… and since im still here, I have been making the most of it with some long walks along the coast.

All these shots are taken with my iPhone, and far from being high-grade, yet still capture the coast in its glorious autumn light… :)

Im off to Indonesia for a month… more at Christmas…

We actually need some rain, as the farmers will tell you… :(

A highlight for me has been the influx of in-season locally caught Scallops. Yum.

I caught Michael at the Craster Arms a few night ago and got the low-down on how to shell yourself a scallop, or two boxes even.

Running from midday to midnight on the Saturday of the August bank holiday, the line-up included; The Tuckers, The Longsands, The Proper Boys, Martini Sessions, The Remmies and the Amy Housewine Band.

Big thanks also to James Cummings for the sound-tech and PA services, Photographs from nighttime below also by James – JamesCummingsPhotography.com

It was a great day, with sprinklings of sunshine and rain, but the crowd was resolute and the weather did nothing to dampen the spirits.

The crowd was a great mix of families, old and young, with locals and visitors alike sharing the merriment and enjoying the day.

By 7am the next morning the entire garden was clean and clear and no-sign of the huge numbers of people could be seen -  a credit to all the staff and helpers who worked so hard.

We look forward to next year when the festival will get bigger and better !! Bring-on 2011 :D.

The farms are in top gear coping with this years lambing season, every field has little white things jumping around in it.

The village has been quiet for so long, but the changes are visible. The old huts used by the fisherman at the Haven have begun to come down, making way for more development.

The spring bulbs are popping up, things are green and bright. Below, the old Coop, with completed renovations.

Always a momentous day – you know its not winter when the village fish and chip shop opens for the year !

The first boats have been out in the Bay, with some glorious conditions, it is a bit windy, but the wetsuits are out and the kids are in the water. :)

The weeks of snow, ice and cold weather were only a mild distraction from short days and dark nights.

But its now mid-march, and the weather is breaking. The snow drops are pushing through the grass, the caravan sites are re-opening and the village has some people in it once again.

I’ll have some more Spring-like shots later this week to put up, but just quickly, a look back at the winter gone.

Bamburgh Beach bathed in morning sunlight

The weather had been terrible the day before, and I wasn’t expecting to be ‘on’ for the photos. Luckily, it was a glorious morning.

Rider, back-lit against castle

The perfect match

Claire and Mr Kai, have a very close relationship…

Holy Island Castle

Bamburgh beach is unique in that it offers good vantage points for Bamburgh castle, Lindisfarne castle and the Farne Islands.

Trotting in the shallows

With the group assembled, we headed down the beach a while.

Good looking castle...

Water sun and sky coming together.

Same castle... different angle.

You don’t see too many shots of Bamburgh castle from the south. I like it.

Having some fun

The horses love a good stretch on the beach, stopping them was hard. :)

The group resting

Walking-off...

Although not empty, the beach looked as good as any you could imagine.

A different kind of shot.

For a beach ride along to Bamburgh along to the castle get in touch with Slatehall Riding Centre.

Clean swell on monday

The previous post outlined and the predicted swell, and some early snaps indicated that it was going to be good, but really we have much more to talk about than just the waves.

Marching swell

A few highlights from the week just ended.

• Early morning session in huge overhead conditions in the middle of the Bay – including creating a new hole in my knee
• The new and highly questionable smell coming from my car
• Jumping-off Stag Rock to paddle out in huge waves with Steve, James and Murds in a classic old-school session
• Getting a luscious Sunday evening session with light off-shores and gorgeous golden light
• Covering god-knows how many miles and spending £70 on fuel chasing waves around the coast (not exactly sure this is a highlight…)
• Making ‘The Sacrifice’ successfully, twice, and scoring as a direct result… its as guaranteed as paying taxes
• Meeting and surfing with lots of new faces from up and down the coast – great to see more people in the area

Big and onshore

All things considered, we have had a sensational week, lots of swell, mixed weather including plenty of sunshine, new faces, new boards and shapes to eye-up and plenty of spots visited and surfed.

Of course there are downsides, I appear to have developed a nasty chest-hack, and my head is a bit full -hopefully with just a summer-cold and not anything to do with swine-flu ;), and of course there are always the odd gripes over who should be surfing where and what photos get taken.

Beadnell Point reeling

Racing the wall

Big hack...

The happy place

There really are not many surfers up here, and of course this is one of the attractions of living here. But once you’ve lived and surfed in genuinely busy spots such as Croyde, Bude, Newquay – all of Cornwall actually – Australia, New Zealand et-all, you can realise just how good we have it. With that in mind im never going to subscribe to the narrow-minded, selfish and generally childish mentalities of some people. Life is too good and too short to hold these sort of feelings.

The long paddle-out

So with the swell gone and a return to normality lying ahead, im sitting here watching Occy and Tom Curren tear-apart perfect JBay…  I had better hold onto these memories, they will probably have to last until the next decent swell sometime in November….  :).

Peaking...

Big out-east

Seahouses harbour taking the brunt

Screaming right

Big screaming left

Sunday evening slash

Lining-up...

Tucking-in

Sunset shimmer

It does look like there might be some nice waves at Thurso next week mind… maybe a trip is in-order.

See you in the water.

Aloha.

It was a stunning evening last night as I went and collected a few photos at the beach.

Still water

The smallest wave

Heron waiting for dinner

Clear water

More gorgeous water

Anchor sunset