2010-09-16-No More Wind :<(

Not even Timera wasn't forecasting any wind.  The boys had breakfast at the Hotel, and then headed out to Maryhill because there was was a faint chance of some wind there.  When we arrived, we saw that it was more suited to water skiing that windsurfing.  Oh well, it is further out into the desert, so it was nice and sunny.  We sat on the grass and read.  (Kent did some work).
About 4:00 some of us decided to go back to town and go for a bike ride.
Kent and Ross did the Post Canyon Falls Mountain trail, while the Harolds (A&W) and I rode to Mosier.
I think we all had a good ride.
Mike and Sue were having a party only a few blocks from our house, so we headed over there for a few brew.

Unfortunately the forecast is not very good.  Blaine headed home from Maryhill, Big Air Jim and Brad left Friday Morning at 7:00am, and the rest will likely be leaving Friday as well.

Not the best wind, but a great trip none the less.....

Hope you enjoyed the blog....

Ted

2010-09-15 A Low Wind Day

While we have been a bit disappointed that we haven't had any big days, we have been extraordinarily lucky that we have sailed almost every day - even thought the forecast has been for virtually nothing.

Today was no exception.  A slow start, Dog River Coffee Shop, Bett's for Breakfast, a Visit to Sailworks (to get Big Air Jim's Sail repaired), and then a tour of the other shops.  Big Air Jim and Brad wanted to rig all their new sails, so we headed to the grass area at the marina.

Big Air Jim - Rigging his new Mast and Sails......

The water was Glassy.

Some weird looking plat at the Marina

I thought it would be a good idea to go for a Stand Up Paddle Board ride while we waited for Jim and Brad to finish drooling over their shiny new sails.  I off-loaded my board and hauled it across the parking area and down the road to a river access point.  I was just about to start down the bank to the river when Kent started yelling at me.  Apparently the wind meter at Swell City was recording 17mph.  We had better go.  I hauled my SUP back to the car, re-loaded it and we headed to the Hatchery to see if the wind would build.

As we entered the site, we saw a big sign "Salmon Spawning Today"!  Kent and I drove all the way in to tour the "Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery".  It has always been there, but neither of us had ever ventured the extra few hundred yards to the facility.  We learned a lot about fish.....

Salmon try to go back to their birth location to spawn.  They recognize the chemical characteristics of Spring Creek - A natural creek that runs into the river.  When they detect the creek, they attempt to go upstream.  Rather than a natural spawning grounds, they encounter the Hatchery.  Apparently 80-90% of the Salmon in the river were born in Hatcheries like this one.  The Hatcheries are a mitigation measure to make up for the natural habitat lost when the dam was constructed.

The fish ladder from the River.
You can't see them in the photo, but the
water was filled with meter long salmon.

Salmon trying to get up the fish ladder.

They go through a chemical bath that puts them to sleep - it also makes them inedible. The fish are sorted into males and females and placed on large rotating tables.

The females are slit up the middle and all the eggs emptied into a stainless steel bowl.  

Collecting the Salmon Eggs

The plant manager then squirts seamen from the male fish into the bowl to fertilize the eggs.  A saline solution is added and then the eggs are transfered to the hatching facility.

Fertilizing the eggs...

Preparing the Salmon Eggs after fertilization.

They eggs hatch in about 60 days.  The new fish will be released to the river in the spring.

Kent talking to the Fish Lady
He is laughing because she had just asked him if he wanted to hold a dead fish for the photo - NOT!

The dead fish are turned into fertilizer.  This year, there are so many fish returning, that the Hatchery folks are encouraging fishermen to net the fish just outside their facility.  They also by-pass a large number of fish, and these are sent to the food bank.

There were some whitecaps on the river - so we cut our tour a bit short and headed back to the sailing site.  Still the first ones there, we had our choice of parking spots - not a good sign.  We all headed down to the river to watch the wind.  The sun wasn't shining, so it was difficult to gauge how windy it was.  No one wanted to be the first one to go out (and slog....).  Our friend Tom (who used to work at Realwinds) showed up and decided to rig his 5.0m sail (his biggest sail) to go our for his 115th time this season.  I figured if he was willing to try his 5.0, I could try my 6.6.  I rigged and headed out - everyone was laughing at me.....why didn't I go out on my SUP???

Blaine - doing an upwind Tack - very impressive!

I slogged across the river a couple of times with only one gust strong enough to get planing for a nice Jibe close to shore.  (At least a few of our crew saw it!!)  I headed back to shore and was ready to give up, when the wind seemed to pick up a bit.  I headed out again to find it had picked up.

Brad - Very efficient

It wasn't awesome, but I planed almost all the time for the next hour.  Tom and I were the only ones on the water.  Finally the others headed out (just as the wind came off a bit).  I slogged back and forth a couple of more times, but headed in.

Gerry - Slashing a Jibe...

Most of the other guy's are lighter, so on basically the same gear - can sail in lighter wind than I can.  The fact that most are better sailors also helps...

Kent having fun - again!

While not an epic day - it was a lot better than what we expected at the start of the day.  We quite around 5:00 when a light rain started.

Harold A - tired after a lot of sailing!!

 Back to the house for Pizza and Beer.  Another really late night, with everyone in bed before 10pm...

Blaine

Tom making a 5.0 work - on his 115th sail of the year!!

2010-09-14 iWindsurf says No Wind, but Temira says Go Sailing......

Ross and Andreas decided to head for the Cost for either some Stand Up Paddle Surfing or some Kiting. They had a bit of a late start, but claim they had some great surfing.  (Of course no photos or other evidence to support their claims, so who knows what it was actually like....)

Big Air Jim was complaining about a sore neck... Brad thought a little lubrication would help.

iWindsurf, the primary "fee for service" weather forecasting website in the Gorge, recommended that we go biking.  Temira, who puts a free forecast on her website every day, predicted wind all afternoon.  Fortunately Temira was right!!

We stopped at Big Winds to check out some fins, and borrow a Kode 112 as a demo, then headed straight to the Hatchery. 

Kent explains why he needed to purchase his new fin.

Kent and I were out on the water by 10:30.  I was on the Kode 112 with my 6.6, and Kent was on his Kode 84 and a 5.6.  The rest of the gang were a bit slower to get out.

The wind picked up a bit, and most of us rigged down.  The wind was pretty solid all day.  Everyone had fun, but the day was not without incident........

After a short break for lunch, I got all ready to go, and then headed out without my Harness.  Oh no!  I had to hang on long enough to get upwind enough to get back to the beach.  I need another rest by the time I got back.  I might have gotten away without telling anyone, but Gerry was on the beach laughing....

Paranoid Big Air Jim is convinced of a conspiracy theory against him.  His version is that several sailors planned to fall in the water so that he would drop in to help.  Once he was floating in the water and helpless, Blaine, frustrated from not being able to catch him all day, took a run at him and was finally able to not only catch up, but also run over him shredding Big Air Jim's 6.6 Hucker sail - and only doing minor damage to himself (a cut on his leg) in the process.  Big Air Jim had to rig down to his 5.6 sail.  The result was that Big Air, now only one a 5.6, was slower and couldn't pass anyone for the rest of the day.......

Big Air Jim is not impressed.

Blaine's story is a bit different.....something about Jim floundering in the water - blowing another of his Jibes, in exactly the wrong spot, as Blaine slashes another perfect reverse duck, sail 360 vulcan thingy maneuver.  Jim was just in the way - you can't interupt perfection just for the sake some looser laying thrashing about in the water......

Harold's Carve Board suffered it's first major ding, when Harold tripped on a rock while getting out of the water and dropped his board on a rock, puncturing the bottom skin.  A quick repair and he was ready to go again.

We were happy to meet our friend, author and publisher Mike on the water today.  He seems to always be at the hatchery whenever it's windy (I guess that's why we haven't seen him all week.)  We enjoyed a few brews after sailing with him.  Mike runs an on-line publishing company specializing in customizing books by inserting your name and your friends names as the main characters..  BooksByYou

Blaine is on the phone asking Winnie not to book any
more vacations or buy any more jewelry until he gets back....

<>

Harold W - learning how to use his wife's camera - taking a pic of the group!

By the end of the Day - Big Air Jim was smiling again......
maybe he has figured out how to get even....would he do that???

Once again it was dark by the time we finished de-rigging.  China Gorge was the call for supper - then bed by 10.  (another late night...)

2010-09-13 - Biking and Golfing

I was surprised today by my friend Bob, who dropped by on his way back from a holiday on the coast.  He Jim and I enjoyed breakfast at the Hood River Hotel on the patio.

No wind was forecast - Temira said - "...a great day for wakeboarding...."

After a slow start to the day, most of the guy's decided that it was a golfing day.  Blaine, Brad, Harold A, Andreas, and Big Air Jim, all went to the Hood River Golf and Country Club for 18 holes and apparently some "Pop's" as well.  I saw the score card...  Harold was the most consistent with an 8 on every hole.  Brad was low at 92, and apparently Andreas quit after 15 holes.  They got back around 9:00 and were surprised that the rest of us had gone out for supper without them.

Kent and Ross, went for a "Technical" mountain bike ride.  I went with them as far as the marine dealership, but disappointed them when I told them I didn't want to go for the big climb to the start of the mountain bike trail.  Kent is still afraid of the "Shoulder Blade Hill", but Ross found a route around it so that Kent didn't have to face his fears.....

Harold W, Gerry and I were sitting on the balcony having a cold bear when the wind started to pick up a bit around 6:30pm.  Ross headed out to Kite beach to try some kiting - and had a very good hour session.  We kept looking at the "Hatchery Web Cam" which showed totally flat water with no wind or sailors.  Apparently it did blow enough for some sailing at the event site for about an hour - but we missed it.

Kent, Gerry, Harold W and I finished the day with Chinese Food (the joke is 9 pounds for 9 dollars).

Our new "digs" are pretty classy.  Air conditions, and almost enough bedrooms so everyone has their own.  We rented the center two units.  Thanks to Andreas for all the work finding the place and coordinating everything.  Combined there are 6 bathrooms.  The only down side is that its quite a hike to downtown - but most of us need the exercise anyway.....

There is a wonderful old climbing tree in the front yard.  
I haven't seen any of our crew trying it yet.......  but.....

 

2010-09-12- Dougs

The forecast was for a bit of wind later in the day.  The boys decided to go to the Hood River Fly-In at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automotive Museum.  It was a beautiful day, but no wind.

I rode with Blain and Brad.  Apparently Gerry and Jim missed the signs and had to phone for directions.  I guess they should have bigger signs for next year.....or not.....

Blain

We walked around looking at the Airplanes, both outside and inside the museum.  There were some beautiful old Aircraft.  To see all my photos, click here....

This is a Glider when a retractable engine in the nose cone.
Click here to learn about the S10-VT Motorglider

Big Air Jim standing beside a WACO - coincidence???

Suddenly, Brad noticed that the wind had picked up at the Hatchery!

We quickly bailed on the Fly-In and raced to the river.  Unfortunately, as we got there, people were coming off the water.  We had missed it.....  Out came the lawn chairs and books.  It looked like a no sailing day!

Then we got a call from Ross and Andreas - it was blowing at Dougs Beach.  Off we went.

Kiters Ross and Andreas after a great "overpowered" day!

The wind picked up as we got there.  We had a great session from 4:00 to about 6:30.  Still big rigs, but it was the best yet.  Everyone fully powered.  I was on my 6.6 again and was able to get on my 94 Kode.  Most of the other guy's were on 5.6 sails.  Harold W was taking video on the river.

Kent's Stylish laydown Jibe followed immediately by a forward loop!!!

Harold A - coming in after a great sail!

Brad loading the "Big Rig"

Everyone was tired after a hard day of sailing, so it took quite a while to load. (A wee bit of beer was consumed..)  |It was almost dark by the time we were done.  We drove up to White Salmon to the "Everybody's Brewing Pup" for supper.  Finally back to the house around nine for some of Big Air Jim's "Sailer Jerry's Spiced Rum".

Gerry - watching the loading process.....

Driving home in the dark - Crescent Moon above Mount Hood.

2010-09-11 - Hatchery

The day started fairly slowly - first, Big Air Jim and I went to the Dog River Coffee shop to work on my blog.  Then we all went to Bett's for breakfast.  Andreas headed to Portland early to pick up Ross who was flying in from Vancouver. 

Harold - about to jibe around Kent

The forecast was for light wind in the corridor, so we headed to the Hatchery around noon.  It was windier than Friday, but we were all on our big gear.  I was on a 6.6, but was able to use my 94 Kode.  Most of the guy's were on 5.6 sails, except Harold who was on 5.3.  Harold W started with a 6.5 but then rigged down to a 5.6.  Ross and Andreas choose to kite.

Ross executing a "Back Splash"

We had lots of fun and sailed until around 4:00.  Big Air Jim and Kent tried to squeak out the last little bit of wind.  Kent was lucky and caught a gust, but Big Air Jim had to swim back....Even swimming back, he claims he was still the fastest one on the water......

Big Air Jim with Ross and Harold in the Background...

Kent loves his Bagels...

Harold W

The boys - watching the action ....

Brad - ready to go out again!!!

Blaine had a good day!

Kent can't stop talking about his new KODE!!!

Harold out sailed by a Sailboat... possibly Bart.....

Steaks and Wine, courtesy of Andreas and Ross back at the house. Another wonderful meal. I don't think anyone here will go hungry.  Looking forward to Sunday - although the forecast isn't great......

2010-10-10 - Friday Sailing!

Friday morning, just as we were walking out to the Econo Lodge parking lot to get in the car leave leave, Big Air Jim and Brad driving down the road.  We stood on the curb waving and shouting - but I guess after 800km, he was fixated on the road ahead.  They drove past, but then to our suprise, turned at next the intersection and stopped at the Starbucks across the street. We hurried over and joined the lineup with Brad.  After only a few minutes, he seemed to come alert, and spoted us beside him.  What a surprise.  It tourned out Blaine was with them, but had stopped at the MacDonalds just down the road. What a coincidence!! Even the A+W twins were there. Great to see everone, and what a surprise.  We all made a quick stop at Safeway and then headed for the river!

The Boys at Kenniwick.  (I'm there too - you just can't see me behind the camera...)

We arrived at Roosevelt around 10am. The wind was light, but everyone got out. I was on my 6.6, but most of the others were on 5.6 (Harold 5.3). The wind was a bit up and down, but I think everyone had fun. We would have liked more wind, but it was a good way to warm up. We sat around waiting for the wind to pick up at 4:00, but it didn’t happen so we packed up and headed for Hood River.

Waiting for wind - One Pound of Pretzels

We stopped at Rowena where the wind looked better, but it was already 6:00pm so most headed back to the house. Kent and I stayed for a quick sail. It was definitely the best sailing of the day, but still it only lasted an hour. Definitely worth the stop. When we got back to the house, Andreas had cooked supper – excellent!!! We ended the evening with Big Air Jim explaining the stock market using candle sticks.

See a preview here.....