My friends and I made the trek to the Rockaways for a late summer excursion, just as Hurricane Bill was churning the waters off the coast. The water was closed to swimming, but was beautifully dramatic and violent as surfers enjoyed the 4-5 foot waves. We left the sand and walked down the boardwalk to the famous Rockaway Taco stand and witnessed a small storm surge as the sky grew dark and the atmosphere misty.