Sunday - Day on the water at home.

A Perfect Day!

I couldn't resist putting up one last blog update!

The drive home was uneventful for me, and from what I hear, everyone else got home safely without problems as well.

Sunday morning, I woke up to a beautiful calm day.  Louise was away visiting her folks, so I had the place to myself.

I road my road bike (not my e-bike) into town and back and had one of my best times, completing the loop in just over an hour.

Ted - standing in the boat with his Seawind Float Plane

Then I took out my Seawind RC Float Plane on the lake.  I fly it from our boat so that I can go and get it if something happens.  I was practising my landings and take-offs when I heard my daughter, Laura, just behind me. She had taken out one of our SUP's and paddled over to where I was flying. What a nice surprise!

Laura on the SUP - photo taken from my RC Plane

After a few more flights, we went back to the house for lunch.  After lunch, Louise arrived home, so we took the boat out again for some Slalom Skiing (Laura and I), Wake Surfing (Laura, Louise and I), and some Foiling behind the boat (Laura and I).

Ted

Laura

Laura and I both did some long runs on the foil - I think we are getting the knack of it.  Laura is particularly happy, because she is now better at foiling than her brother, although Spencer only had a few quick tries in very cold weather last fall.  (She admits that it might not take him long to catch up.)  Next, we will have to start foiling in the wake and see if we can get to the point where we drop the rope.  We all had a lot of fun!  There is no better place than the boat on a warm day with family!

Laura Foiling

Ted on the foil

What a perfect afternoon with warm temperatures and calm water!  What a wonderful end to the trip!

I hope some of you guys can make it out to our place to try wake foiling with me sometime this summer!

If not, I am looking forward to seeing you again in September!

Not all my foiling sessions ended smoothly.... but no injuries to anyone!

Ted - sitting on the boat flying his Seatrend RC plane.

Taken from the seaplane just as it was landing.
Laura had paddled up behind me without me noticing.

Friday - Andreas's Last day of Windsurfing Ever .... well maybe not!

The Last Day

Our group was down to seven at breakfast: Kent, Andreas, Rene, Harold, Brad, Blaine and I. The forecast was for another windy day.  After coffee at Dog River, breakfast at Bette's, and another meeting at the Sailworks Loft, it was agreed that we would all go to Rock Creek at Mosier.  None of us had sailed there before, but the guys at Sailworks said it would work best in the shifting wind.

We all set off for Mosier.  Harold, Rene, Brad and Blaine were all loaded up and were planning to head home after sailing. 

Andreas decided that he was done with windsurfing so he dropped his sails off at Sailworks and asked them to put them on consignment.  He then went to Windance to drop off his board and hardware, but they said they were full and couldn't take them.

Somehow, in the five or six minutes that it takes to get to Mosier from Hood River, Brad and Blaine changed their mind and headed for Roosevelt.  Harold and Rene, after stopping at Rock Creek decided that they too would head to Roosevelt - even though the forecast wasn't as good for the "far east".

Rene and Harold - bailing on Rock Creek
You missed it, boys!!!

I heard later that they all got out on the water on small sails and boards.  Harold on 3.2, Brad on 3.8, Blaine on 4.7 then 4.2 and Rene on his 4.8.  I'm glad they got some sailing.

Blaine had a good day on his 4.2

Brad - Packing up!

I have to admit that Rock Creek didn't look spectacular from the shore, but what a pleasant surprise.  The launch was extremely friendly with a sand bottom; there was an area from off the point till about 200 feet out where you could stand to rest.  The wind line came right to the point too - so no swimming or slogging to get to it, and there was really good swell - maybe not as big as at Roosevelt, but much smoother.  This is definitely a place we will go back to.  It may be friendlier and easier than Roosevelt.  It is also a great place for taking pictures and video!

Kent went out on his 3.8 and yellow "Fish" board.  The wind was steady but strong.  He started doing laydowns in the swell and boosting big air. 

Kent - going upstairs!

Andreas came by to have a look, but it was too windy to kite.  After a few minutes, he went back to Sailworks and withdrew his 4.2 sail, mast and boom from consignment, stopped at the condo and picked his board again and raced back to Rock Creek.  I guess he is not done windsurfing after all!

I spent a few hours taking photos and video and had a lot of fun.  With the wind blowing right to the point, I could get right up close to the action, and the lighting was great because the sun was behind me!  I planned to go out for the second session, but after 2:00 or so, the wind started to drop and then become gusty.  Andreas said that I-Windsurf reported that the Hatchery was blowing 15 gusting 60!  Wow!  I missed the session on the water, but had a great time taking the photos and video!  Too bad they are all of Kent and Andreas!  A lesson for the other guy's - follow the camera!

Andreas - almost a table top!

Andreas went back out on his Kite - mostly so I could take some photos of him.  It was very gusty, and although he made it look easy, he said it was very challenging kiting.  He said he would think he was really powered for a jump and then there would just be nothing in the kite.  It still looked pretty impressive to us!

Andreas - Hangin Out!

After packing up, we relocated to the Event Site.  Kent went out foiling with Bruce Peterson in the gusty conditions. Andreas and I drove back to the Condo and then road the E-Bikes down with a few beers, which we drank on the beach while watching the foiling action!

Kent's Rig!

We were a small group at 6th Street Bistro with only three of us.  We ordered the Full Rack of Ribs with a bottle of wine to celebrate a great day!  The owner Chris came by to chat, he said that "back in the day", he used to be the Realwinds rep at the Hatchery!  After our visit, he wished us well, told us he was looking forward to seeing us again in September, and then he told the waitress that he would be covering the cost of our wine!  What a nice touch!  Chris runs a great place - one of our favourite places to eat.  It really has something for everybody.

Andreas, Kent, and Ted
Three Full Racks of Ribs - Delicious!

Back at the condo, we watched the video from the day's sailing and had a "little" bit more wine!

Kent may go foiling with Jim, Dale and Bruce in the morning before heading to Kelowna.  I am packed and planning to leave early in the morning.  I believe Andreas plans to do the same - although maybe not as early.

What a great trip!

Kent - disappeared behind the swell!

Kent - you need to get your sail lower!

Lower!

That's better!

Andreas - enjoying windsurfing again!

Andreas!

Andreas

 

Andreas

Thursday - Chasing the Wind - Almost off the River!

The forecast looked great!  Big wind, meaning small sails, almost everywhere on the river - but particularly out east.

After Dog River Coffee, Bette's for breakfast, and our daily stop at the Sailworks Loft to chat and get advice from Dale, Jim and Phil we decided we would stop at the wall to look and then decide whether to stay there or go to Roosevelt.

We stopped at Safeway on the way out to buy something for lunch and then headed down the highway.

Rene, Harold and Handre got to the wall first.  The wind was a bit from the north and the current was very strong, so they made the call and headed to Roosevelt.  I got to the wall a bit late, so drove in and no one was there.  On my way out, I met Andreas.  He said the forecast had changed!  There were some clouds out east that weren't burning off as expected so the wind would be light at Roosevelt.  Andreas tried hard to reverse the flow of the lemmings, but once they are moving it is almost impossible to reverse, or even change the direction of the flow!  I almost stayed with Andreas but decided I had to go with the group regardless. 

Blaine had a good session on his 5/7

Andreas did stay at the Wall but didn't have the best session.  He was on a small board (and he has gained a bit of weight since the last time he sailed), so he sometimes struggled to get it planing.  With the 8kt + current, if you slogged or fell in the water at all, you were heading downriver at a pace double a normal walking speed.  Andreas had two sessions but ended up walking both times.  He finally gave up and then went over to Rufas where he kited on his 8m Kite.  The current was still an issue, but he is a very good kiter and had a great session.  Maybe now he has a little taste of what I have been struggling with all these years as a heavier guy on equipment made for the little guy's.

Brad on his 5.2 and big board.

At Roosevelt, Kent was whining that he should pack up and go back to the wall, but instead, he rigged his 4.8 and went out on his foil board.  I followed suit with my foil rig and 4.8 sail.  It was very interesting and challenging foiling in the bigger rolling waves.  I am getting used to my new (large) front foil.  It seems a little more stable, makes it easier to lift the board out of the water, but it is about 4km slower (based on my GPS track) than my original foil.

Kent, foiling with the Pelicans!

The wind did pick up a bit.  Harold had a great day on his 5.3 sail.  Rene went out on his 6.6 and big board and had a good day.  Blaine was on his 5.7 and Roberts, and Brad was on his 5.2.
Everyone had a good session even if it wasn't what they were expecting.

Brad!

After a long foiling session early, and then lunch, Kent tried to make his 4.8 sail work on his 80l Kode.  He did manage to get it planing, but just barely.  He came back to shore and went back out on the same sail with his foil board.  He had another long session.  He said he was "worked".  Jibing in the swell is a whole new experience.  We saw him do some beautiful jibes, and also saw some spectacular "Yard Sale" crashes.

It was a beautiful day, so we all enjoyed a beer on the grass while de-rigging.  The De-rigging process was slow because we all had several sail sizes and boards rigged on the beach.

Peter and Chis from Calgary
watching one of the last sailors on the water.

On the way back down the river, there was a tremendous headwind.  I actually slowed down, because I was afraid of the Board on my roof.  With a ground speed of 120kph, the airspeed might have been reaching 200km in the gusts.  I kept it around 100kph.  We had definitely been too far East for the big wind.  It was probably our only questionable call of the week, I am not sure any of us would have had fun at the Wall.  In hindsight, Doug's or Rowena was probably best.  Spilled Milk.....

Rene and Harold
Photobombed by Brad!

We arrived at China Gorge around 8:00.  Once again, we all had the Seniors Menue, except for Andreas, who was too young!  Our group is smaller now.  Ross had left yesterday afternoon, Cam and Cynthia left early in the morning and Handre left after sailing this afternoon.  We are now down to seven.  Rene says it is a little easier to herd the smaller group! 

Another Great day - sad to think that the trip is coming to an end.

Kent - going up!

Kent - going down!

Wednesday - Foiling at Stevenson.

Another Interesting Forecast - Storms and Lightning all afternoon!

Our day started out with most of us gathering at Dog River Coffee.  Just after 8:00 we got a call from Kent.  He looked at Temira's forecast and decided to go straight to Stevenson, skipping breakfast.

We had a quick look at the beach cam at Stevenson, and then, as the good "Lemmings" that we are, we quickly packed up, stopped at MacDonalds for breakfast and headed east.

Kent was finishing his rigging as I got there.  The wind was East and maybe a bit stronger than forecast, but when you subtract the 2kt current, it was still light.  He said he would go out and give me a thumbs up if it was OK.

Kent - the foiling Wind Dummy

Kent throwing his sandals to shore after walking over the rocks.

Kent got up right away!

He also told me the locals had said to go out and come in on the West side of the point because it is deeper and there is a projection of rocks on the upstream side.  He carried his rig down and walked out to deep water.  There was enough wind for him to waterstart!  He did a run and gave me the thumbs up as he completed a jibe by the point.

I rigged my 5.6 and went out.  It was the first time using my new SUP wing.  It is a larger front wing for the foil, which provides more lift.  It may be a little slower, but it is more stable and provides more lift.  On my first reach, I wasn't paying attention to the current and ended up downwind.  I fell when I turned and tried to water start a few times, but there wasn't enough wind.  I suddenly realized that I was quite a bit down current and moving west quickly.  I uphauled and then concentrated on going upwind.  Whether it was my new foil or just that I was really trying to go upwind, but the foil seemed to work very well.  My best foiling upwind yet.

The other guy's started to arrive.  Rene went out on his foil and 6.0 Flyer.  He said he got the board flying and had a great day! 

Rene - getting going on his foil!

Blaine passed me one time on his 6.6 Hucker and Roberts board, but he paid for it later when the wind died and he had to slog to shore and then walk back.  He still counts it as a win!

Blaine - slogging back to shore after a good session!

Rene made it work on a 6.0m and 94L board, totally powered for an hour or so.

Handre - heading out!

Brad rocked on his new foil!  He said he got some really good runs in - with the board flying and keeping it level.

Harold was on his 6.1 sail.  He said it was really good until it wasn't!  The wind started to drop after an hour or so.

Handre had a good day!

Rene - getting his foil work!

Brad had a great day on his foil!

Kent continued to make it work until about noon.

We went to The Crossing for lunch.  Their paninis and lemon aid are excellent.

After lunch, we slowly packed up, and then headed to the Hatchery to "Wait for Wind".  There was an off chance that the wind would switch west before the thunderstorms move in.  The thunderstorms did hold off, but the wind didn't switch.  We sat reading and watching the boats pulling tubers, wakeboarders, and wakesurfers in the 34c temperatures.  Al decided he would go for a swim, but didn't last long in the cold water.  At least he was able to cool off!

Rene's rig!  6M Flyer and JP board.

Handre - watching the boats and wakeboarders!

We all gathered at pFriems for supper.  The food and company were excellent.  It would be our last supper as our full group because the attrition is about to begin.  Al left after supper to pick up his wife Ingrid at the Airport.  They will be through Bend area over the next few days.  Cam and Cynthia will be leaving at 4am tomorrow, and Rene plans to leave after sailing tomorrow.

It is sad to see the trip start to come to a close.  The wind looks great for the next couple of days, so those of us who are left should get some good sailing.

Here a are a couple of photos that Blaine sent me last night from Golfing the other day.

Blaine - can he hit it between the trees?