Friday, September 2014-09-12 Al made the news

I don't have any photos, but I did get a short note from Al.  Apparently the sailing Thursday and Friday was excellent with strong East winds at Stevenson.

Al says he was very powered, and that Gerry was making some impressive jumps!

Today's Gorge Wind - these are ranges for the average speed, not a predicted wind range. =)
Your favorite beach	Dawn Patrol	9am- 11:30a	11:30a- 3pm	3pm- dusk
Rooster's Rocks/Nudie Beach	E 30-35	E 35-45	E 35-45	E 26-30
Steven's Locks	E 26-30	E 28-32+	E 28-32+	E 24-28
Hatchery/White Salmon Bridge (minus 5ish for Event Site/Sandbar)	E 5-10	E 5-10	E 9-12	E 10-13
Doug's, etc.	E 5-10	E 5-10	E 9-12	E 10-13
Rufus, etc.	light	light	light	light
Roosevelt, etc.	light	light	light	light
Temira's sail: 35-40: 2.9 / 30-35: 3.2 / 26-30: 3.5 23-26: 4.0 / 20-23: 4.5 less than 20: something bigger!
Tonia's kite: 35-40: 4m / 30-35: 4-6m / 26-30: 5-7m 23-26: 7-9m / 20-23: 8-10 / 15-20: 10-12 / 10-15: 13-15.

Al also asked me to put this link on the Blog.  Apparently the news of Al's "Awesome Windsurfing Talent" is becoming widely known.  So much so that when they heard Al was going to be in Stevenson, they sent out a news crew.  Here is the link.  Al is the sailor carrying his rig to the water with the Blue Helmet and Naish Board.


http://www.kgw.com/media/cinematic/video/14882554/gorge-windsurfers-love-stiff-thursday-breeze/

Ted

Thursday, September 11, 2014 - Snow on the way home

2014-09-11

I slept in, and left Cranbrook at about 8:00am.  (7:00am Pacific time).  My trip home was uneventful, except that as I crossed the Alberta border I entered "Snow Country".  With the beautiful blue sky, the brilliant snow covered landscapes were stunning.  There was at least 6" of snow on the ground as I went through "The Pass".  These photos don't do it justice.

I am happy (not really) that the guys got in a great day of sailing today.  I hope (not really) that tomorrow is good as well!

Cheers

Ted

Thursday, September 11, 2014 - Easterly at Stevenson

2014-09-11

Well this is a substitute blog that Ted may or may not choose to publish after spell check.

 

Yesterday (Wednesday) was very laid back.  The most strenuous activities were (in order of effort), golf, Frisbee golf, ping pong.  Brad, Blaine, Mike, and Jim went to a new golf course which they all loved.  Kent, Gerry, and Rene went to the hatchery to see fish climb a ladder.  After the fish watching we played Frisbee golf with Ross.  It was interesting and only 100 yards from his condo so easy...  Only issue was poison oak - but we all survived.

 

After golf, the boys had  a ping pong tourney.  It was made slightly more complicated by a dart game that played through, but in general it worked.   There were two styles of play.  The old masters, (Gerry, Jim, Kent, Rene) who sat back and waited to hit a ball back.  And the rampant grasshopper on crack method which was displayed by Ross.  He was the most fit person in the room but moves so much and so fast he was baked by the end of one game.

 

Dinner was at Three Rivers.  Food was good but the waitress is a kiter, so she may have spit on our food.

 

Today was a different kettle of fish.  I woke to a thump on my air mattress from Rene at 7:30 and left.  Blaine was waking up Brad at the same time.  We rushed to Stevenson powered by McDonald’s fine dining breakfasts.  There was a tiny bit of smoke on the water when we arrived so Kent and Brad got suckered into riding a 3.8/3.7.  The rest of the team picked 4.0 to 4.2 and made them work.  It was interesting.  the average wind speed must have been 30mph but average is a statistic which was not really working today.  The peak gusts were over 45 and lulls were under 15.  I guess that works out to 30 but…  As usual the site was nice and warm with grass rigging so it was still a nice day..

The day was awesome and we all got back safe but a few of our members had to walk back.  Brad and Eddy did the walk of shame but the only option was swim to Cascade Locks, so overall I think that was a good call. 

Kent

Eddy walking back...

Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - Get Home Itis...

2014-09-10

Today was truly a no wind day.  Really the first of your trip.  For anyone other than a windsurfer or kiter, it was a beautiful day.  Hot, and sunny.  Everyone was a bit slower this morning - no rush.  Coffee at Dog River, Breakfast at either Bette's or the Hood River Cafe and then shopping as usual.

After breakfast, I packed up and headed home.  I could have waited and sailed Thursday morning, but would have had to leave by noon anyway - and I need to get back to "fix" a few things that seem to have gone sideways at work while I have been away.  And I needed to be back by Saturday at the latest for the grand opening of our new Manluk Aquatic and Fitness Centre.  It  has been a great trip for me with eight days of sailing out of eight.

Just as I was about to head out, Big Air Jim, Brad, Blaine and Mike were  heading out for 18 holes of golf.

I understand Kent and Rene went to the Hatchery to do the Salmon tour and then returned for Frisbee Golf and Table Tennis with the rest of the gang!

As I write this I am in Cranbrook - it is 3 degrees and there were heavy snow warnings in Calgary. Maybe I shouldn't have been so hasty to leave.

I am already looking forward to our next trip in the spring of 2015!

I told the guy's that if they send me emails or photos of their activities I will post them to keep the blog going to the end of the trip (Likely Friday or Saturday for most of the guy's.)

Ted

2014-09-09-The Hatchery

2014-09-09

Temira’s forecast was quite dispointing today.  We were expecting high winds!  We were all sitting around at (Surprise)  Dog River Coffee when her forecast came through.  It would be a maximum of 18-21.  We may be able to get sailing on our big stuff – but it is definitely not what we were expecting and hoping for….

Blaine enjoyed Bette's for Breakfast!

Discussions started about the possibility of some golfing.  We took our time at Dog River, and then half the group headed to Bette’s for breakfast, while the other half went to the Hood River Hotel.   This was followed by the usual shopping experience.

Blaine, Kent, Gerry and Rene

The wind in Hood river was starting to pick up, and there were white caps on the river, so we decided to head over to the Hatchery to see what was happening.  Most of us fully expected to spend the day on the beach reading a book waiting to see if there was any chance of wind.

Kent - chasing a wave!

As we got closer to the hatchery on the Washington side, the river was white caps from side to side and there were kiters and sailors all over.  We (and Temira) had miss-judged the wind.

Kent was first out on the water on his 4.8.  I believe he was on the water at around 10:30am.  The last of us off the water was Eddie – at about 5:30pm.  It was not perfect sailing, but it was a lot better than our expectations based on the forecast.  Most were on 4.8m or 5.2m sails.  Rene and I were on our 5.6m Huckers.  Ross was on his 4.2 at first, then went for a kiting session, and then went back out on his 4.2 late in the day.  I think Kent and Eddy took the endurance award for the day with most time on the water.

Eddy was the last off the water!

Brad - powered

We had a little drama...  first Kent did a self-rescue when his fin bolt came off.  He reversed the fin and was able to get back to the beach without it falling off!  (Lucky)

Then I (Ted) had a near miss as my mast base universal broke.  Fortunately there is a safety backup as it is also held together with two straps – so I made it back to the beach without a problem.  (I may actually have sailed several reaches with it – I wondered why things weren't working that well…)  Again - very lucky - a rig separating from a board mid river is a very "Interesting" experience and you usually have to decide whether you want to keep your rig or your board...

My universal - not looking good!

Everyone got out for several sessions, and had a great day!  I think everyone was exhausted by the end of the day – I know I was….

Gerry

Ross - Windsuring - Kiting - Windsuring

Blaine

Blaine - Sail Flip - no hands.

Mike - taking a break!

Kent - ripping a Jibe!

Big Air Jim - relaxed!

Brad - sailing between the kiters!

Kent - oops!

Kent - interesting position - can't end well....

It didn't!

Big Air Jim - taking off!

Big Air Jim

Kent - almost flying!

Our friend Johnny - we see him everywhere we go!

Mike had a great day as did we all!

Monday, September 8, 2014 The Wall was the call!

The Wall - Sailing Site

Dog river coffee and then Bette's - same old, same old.....

Everyone was anxious to sail after the light day yesterday.  The forecast was for relatively strong winds looking best around Marry Hill and the Wall.

The Wall

It only took one person to get up from the table after breakfast and the frenzie was on... all the Lemmings followed - the race was on.  the Wall was the call!

I stopped at Doug's Beach on the way out - it was sailable but not great.  I text'd Kent - he was all ready at the wall and said it was 4.8-ish and that Big Air Jim was also just pulling up.

Kent - wind DUMMY

Kent was the first on the water, rigging a 4.2.  After struggling to get a waterstart he proceeded to swim half way out in the river and then practiced his submarine board slogging style on the way back.

Not to be outdone, and knowing that Kent is "all-knowing" when it comes to wind and water, Rene headed out as well, but without any better luck.

Brad

It looked like it would be one of those days when you just have to wait for it to fill in.  Bruce Peterson had said that it may be late.  We sat around enjoying each others company (for the most part) and watching various others attempt to sail.  There were gusts, but mostly holes.....

The wind came up around noon - and we all had a pretty good sail for about an hour - then it dropped off again.

Gerry

Al is still waiting for his keys -
but there is room in the Big Air Jim Van for his stuff so at least he is not missing any sailing.

Kent

Big Air Jim - to smart to put on his rubber - yet..

Eddy

Ted - waiting for the wind!

After another couple of hours sitting in the sun and watching the water (very pleasant considering that it snowed last night at home...), Brad and Blaine took off their wetsuits.  that was all it took.  The wind filled in across the river and we got in another hour or so of solid sailing.  Most of the guy's were on 4.8s or 5.2.  I was on my 5.6 and Nash board.  Great sail.

Eddy says Awesome day!

Ted ready to Jibe!

Brad got tired of hearing about Mikes "BEST SESSION EVER" so he stuck grapes in his ears!

Gerry and Rene

It was so hot we all had to move into the shade.
Fortunately the Big Air Jim Van provides not only shade but also an efficient wind shadow!

Blaine wasn't impressed when Mike put all the old empty beer cans in his empty board bag....

Brad took this photo of me taking pictures of the beach.
The Marryhill bridge and Mount Hood are in the background!

It was 7:00pm by the time we finished sailing and packed up.  We all headed back into hood river and went to the pFriem Family Brewers for a Beer and Dinner.

All in all - another great day - and 7 sailing days out of 7 for me!