But the following video is an ideal gap-filler, and its a great piece of work, showing-off the various assets and natural beauty the area has.

Promise to write soon.. :)

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.

The villages are ready for it – and it will be a bumper Easter with the wedding and Mayday all wrapped-in.

The warm weather and light nights are very welcome, but it still needs to warm up before you can put the winter coat away.

Still its not as cold as it is in Thurso, This time last year we were up there watching the same contest that is happening now, today.

It has been absolutely pumping surf however. Which is typical, since it was rubbish last year.

Some highlights..  remember, this is Scotland…

Crew

VT

The village has slipped into dormancy, happily, after a busy summer. The weather is cold, the days are dark and short. There is snow on the ground as I write this post.

The surf has been pretty average for autumn, a few clean swells but mostly junky cross-shore, small period mediocrity. Ive still been getting in, but more out of desperation than desire.

December was a massive month for surf news, with Hawaii firing with epic huge swells. The ASP tour was won by Mick Fanning after Parko stumbled in the Pipe event which was eventually won by Taj, for the first time, with Kelly coming second. Parko, although pipped at the post for the world title, took the Triple Crown Title for a second year, after Sunset and Haleiwa both produced quality entertainment.

And finally, the Eddie ran. 5 years in the waiting, with 30ft+ swell, it went off, massively, with Greg Long winning in the last heat to steal 1st place form Slater. Epic.
I watched all 8 hours straight on the web, one of the best live streams ive ever seen.

I was doing some tidying-up the other day and found these shots from the end of summer, and so thought I should share them.

Hope you like the flash-back to a warmer, sunnier Beadnell.

So, back to reality. at least the winter solstice has now passed, and its officially getting warmer and lighter everyday.

The New Year will bring new swell.

See you out there. :)

b

But, before it fully arrives, September and October should deliver the sweet gems of bliss we all love. – September traditionally brings superb swell, with warm water and light winds.

Silver Glass - Photo by www.CapturetheAdventure.co.uk

We’ve had very little swell of any size recently, which is to be expected up here on the east coast, the picture above was taken on a freak occasion a week or two ago, the guy taking-off was actually just out paddling about for some exercise  when this slab hit. This was the only wave of the day…. nothing came before or after it…  *sigh*.

So, to get you in the mood for the what-we-hope-is coming September Sessions, we have three bits if video to share with you;

The first was a little edit I chopped together whilst out diving with the seals on the bank holiday weekend with Farne Island Divers. – Not especially surf-related, but hey, no-ones perfect.

Farne Islands Divers – Diving with Seals – August 2009 from swinhoe on Vimeo.

The second is, “Yeah Boy “- shot on location in the Mentawai’s – a wet-dream that arrives via our cohorts at If 6 Was 9 in Noosa, Queensland.

Yeah Boy from if6was9 on Vimeo.

The third is….  well, it something a bit more grounding after the Indo sequence…  – Arctic Surf Film Part 1 – via some very brave boys from California. – Good on ya…

See you in the water..

This good weather and flat sea’s inspired a few toys to come out.

Water Toys at Beadnell Bay from swinhoe on Vimeo.

And here it is… :)

Beadnell Bay Welcome from swinhoe on Vimeo.

Its not quite perfect, and I could have spent a lot more time on it but for a one day shoot and edit.. im pretty pleased. :)