2008-09-07 Sunday - Bob's Beach

Sunday was an iffy day...
The call was for Easterly wind, very sailable out east. We started off with Coffee at Dog River as usual. After an hour or so, Kent announced that it was blowing 18 at stevenson. We all left in a mad dash. When we arrived at Stevenson, we were met by Blain, who had arrived from the coast. Apparently Saturday had been to foggy to sail, so Blain decided to join us here.

The water looked sailable. I rigged my 6.6, but when kent went out on the same size sail, and same size board, and was just barely able to pump onto a plane, I decided to wait a bit. Blaine, Jim S, Brad, and Harold all went out and had various sucess, planing some of the time. Mike, Jim C. and I waited, but unfortunatly the wind continued to drop off.

I took the time to review proposals for a project we are working on at the City.



Mike is impressed with Subway in the US...
Even got a smile from the waitress.

Jim is riging his 6.5 and going out on his Titen board.

Blaine is having much more fun with us at Bobs Beach, than with those other guy's at the coast.

Kent is ready for action.

Back in hood river, some of the guy's went on a bike ride, and some watched the Bears Game. The forcast for tomorrow is similar to today. Tuesday looks better.

Jim - showing off his Sailing Style

Photo by Greg

June 15, 2008 - The Way Home - air Museum

One more post....

On the way home I stopped at the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum.

It is a wonderful facility staffed by volunteers.

Many interesting aircraft and displays....

Avro Lancaster

Nose on...
Gun Turret - too small even for Harold to fit in!!
View inside the fuselage - looking toward the cockpit. Not many comforts....
Looking out the top gun turret, down the fuselage towards the rear.
Side view of the Lancaster

Nose Art. Each of the diving ladies represent one successful mission... Memorial to the lost bomber crews.....

Interesting end to a great trip!!!

Too bad you missed it guys!!!!!

Ted

June 14, 2008 - Saturday - Get Home Itis

When I woke up, Kent and Greg had already left for home. The river was capping, but the temperature was quite cool. The rest of us followed the usual routine - Dog River Coffee Shop, followed by Breakfast at Bett's. Cam and Moritz are staying until Sunday. After much discussion the rest of the gang ignored the wind in the corridor and headed East with the thought that if it was blowing in Roosevelt (contrary to the weather forecast), they would stop for a few hours and sail. I said goodbye, and then went to visit my "Nitinat" friends Jon, Michelle, Tim and Val. Jon and Michelle were going to a strawberry fest with their kids. I had just missed Tim and Val - who were going to the Event Site to Sail.

I met up with them there, and had a great sail for about an hour on my 4.8m Hucker and Seatrend Comp Wave Board. Great seeing them again. The sailing was good, but I remember now why we don't sail the Event site very often. Lots of beginners, and the waves are all chopped up on the outside. Some good rollers to have fun with, but probably more difficult to sail than the Hatchery or Swell City...

4.8 Hucker at the Event Site. Quinn and Val
Tim, sailing a 78l board and 5.0.

I packed up and left by about 1:00.
The river was glass when I passed Roosevelt, so I don't imagine the rest of the gang got a last days sailing........Ha Ha Ha!!! Sorry Guy's - You missed the last one!

What a great trip!!

Friday June 13 - Swell City

Friday was more of a typical Gorge day. After Coffee and Breakfast, we decided that Swell City would be the call. We arrived at noon, just as the wind died. We sat around for a couple of hours talking to the locals before the wind started to pick up. We had a great 2-3 hour session. Sails ranged from Harold on his 3.7, to me on my 4.8. The wind was up and down like usual, and the current was very fast. I tried out Kent's fish, and ended up down river and had to use the "Elevator" (eddy current) right by shore which brings you right back.

Moritz and Cam probably had the best day. Moritz stayed on the inside with his Go Board. He was regularly doing water starts, and was even hooking in a bit. Cam (especially late in the day when the wind died a bit and steadied), had a super day!

The waves were very big, but irregular, particularly going out. Coming in, they were lots of fun, and over head high.

Greg, Blaine and Harold at Dog River for a morning Coffee
Brad, snapping a few shots at Swell
Moritz Planing!!!

Hood river Bridge - Mount Hood in the Background.

It's been a great trip! We sailed every day!!

We are all worn out, tired and sore!!! What a great feeling!

Don't know if we will sail tomorrow or just head home.

See you all next time...

Ted

June 12, 2008 - Thursday - Hatchery

We arrived at the Hatchery after breakfast at Bett's. The river looked calm compared to yesterday. Should be an easy sail........

This place always has a way of humbling a person.

Probably partly because we were all sore and tired from the great session yesterday. The wind was blowing 3.3 to 5.6. Hang on in the gusts, and float around in the lulls. Huge swells on the inside, sometimes with wind and sometimes not.....

Harold and Kent, won the day with the most time on the water. All the rest of us sailed as much as we could, but it was exhausting sailing.

Mortiz took the day off, and went for a bike ride. Bad sunburn on his dome...

Cam worked hard, but ended up down stream of Kodiak point a couple of times. One Rescue by the guy's, and one self rescue over the rocks.

I sailed on my 4.8 and Seatrend Comp wave 90litre. That was probably the best choice - I was able to handle the gusts, and the floaty board kept me above the water in the lulls.

It was a hard day. I shot some video and took some photos, but unfortunately most of the guy's were on the beach watching/resting so it was mostly the Harold and Kent show, with a bit of Blaine and Mike....

It was overall a great (challenging) day. We probably learned more than any other day of the trip.

Strange spring. It snowed 2 feet on Mount hood the other morning.

(Photo by Brad)

The boys watching the action from the beach.
Kent riding a wave. Kent - enjoying the swell...

Kent - Airborne
Harold Slashing
Kent again... Come on Kent, Lean more forward and straighten your arms!!!
Harold - Energizer Bunny - Kept going and going and going....

Moritz - Bike ride

Sunburned...

Dr. Cam, enjoying a cool one, after a hard day on the water...
Kent - over handle bars....
Kent Showing Off..

Ted coming in, and Kent going out. (Photo by Brad)
Ted Jibe - Need to lean more forward...but hey - I made it around!!!
(Photo by Brad)
Mike fully powered on his 4.0. (Photo by Brad)

June 11, 2008 - WOW!!! Roosevelt

Wow! The forecast was Good for anywhere between Doug's and Arlington. We made the call for Roosevelt. Great Call. It turned out that Doug's went Nuclear, over 50mph, blowing even the locals off the water except for the real pro's.....

I sailed my 4.8 and 78 litre Acid all day - at times way overpowered. The other guy's were on 3.7's or 4.0's. Everyone had a great day, with the possible exception of Moritz. While he started to nail his port (outbound) waterstarts, he is still having trouble with Starboard (towards the beach). This resulted in an issue with getting back, and eventually a drift down wind. We mounted a rescue and caught up with him a few KM down wind. We tied a rope to his board and Brad dragged him to shore. He was very happy to get his feet on the shore.... Jim S. drove down with the Van to pick him up.

Swells were great, I did one of the best jumps of my life, and Kent saw it!! Very good day for everyone. We sailed until 6:30pm. It was still blowing when we left, but none of us had anything left.....

Kent and Blaine rigged a special fin for Jim Soneff

4.2 was the call!!!
Mid afternoon, I tried out may Helmet Cam.

Mixed (poor) results. I didn't have the resolution set right.

May try again tomorrow....

Jim had a great day. His Jibes started to work!!! His Knee hurts now, but he figures he will be ready for tomorrow.
Cam had a great day!
Somebody stole Ted's Camera and took this photo....

Jim S. Loading the van after a Great Day!

I sailed until I had nothing left (Around 6:30pm). The wind on the river hadn't even started to back off.

Sunset photo looking back on the river about 1/2 way home. Still capping!!

When I drove by Doug's at about 8:30, there were still huge swells. Glad I wasn't there, I would have had to try it, and would not have had fun....

It's supposed to be windy again tomorrow!!