2026 Spring Gorge Trip

  Ben... showing how it's done! The forecast was for 30mph - on the verge of too much... The Event Site was the call with people starting to head there around 10:00.  When I arrived at 11:00 everyone was rigging.  It looked gusty with light wind in front of the Event Site and much more wind upwind! Al went to the Hatchery, which was probably a much better call.  He had three sessions on his 3.8 sail!  The middle session was the best, his last session was very gusty and shifty. I set up and took photos for the first couple of hours, although it was difficult because of the gusty conditions as people were generally staying on the far side.  I started at Luhr Jensen's, and then moved to the point at the Event Site. Big Air Jim - making it look easy! I had a tough day on the water.... you think you are getting pretty good, and then you have a day when just nothing really works.  While I was overpowered some of the time, that was not an issue.  The iss...

  Robert was first out and had the best sail of the day! The forecast was for calm in the morning, then slowly building to sailable sometime late in the afternoon or early evening. Big Jim and John left early and went to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville to see the Spruce Goose.  Jim said they have added a "Space" museum since we were there years ago.  They both had a lot of fun, and even paid an extra fee for a tour of the Spruce Goose cockpit!  You can see photos on their website here . I took my quads to Jackson Park - which is the park/amphitheater on the road up to the Mexican restaurant.  It is a beautiful park with huge mature trees and lush, well manicured grass.  You could smell the trees as you walk into the park. The trees are nicely spaced, and many are split at the base, making interesting gaps to try to fly through. The park was empty and I kept a watch for people - making sure I wasn't getting anywhere near anyone.  ...

  I got up at 6:00, made myself breakfast, posted the blog and left shortly after 7:00.  I got to Stevenson around 7:30.  There was only one other car in the parking lot, but Jim Mudry pulled in beside me shortly after I arrived.  We were both on the water shortly after 8:00.  Jim was on a 4.5 and took my 5.5 and 909/375 Foil and Swift board. The wind was strong at times, but not terribly over powered, and there were some light wind stretches where I was very glad I had the 5.5.  For the most part it was easy sailing with small waves.  I tried a bunch of tacks and made more than half.  I didn't foil out of any, but did a few with only one bounce. Jim was having fun trying his foiling 360's, tacks and other tricks! It took a while for everyone else to get on the water.  They were an hour earlier than yesterday, but still half an hour to an hour after Jim and I.  Everyone got out and everyone had a great time.  Everyone except Robert....

  Waiting for more wind! The forecast for today was East wind, and Temira's advice was go early.  Most of us arrived at Stevenson round 9:00 Robert and I were the first out, both on 4.5 wings.  I was on my Swift with the 909/375 Foil. As usual in Stevenson, it took a while to get going, but once I got out past the point there was lots of wind.  I could probably have been on a 3.5 for most of my session, but there were some lulls so I was quite happy on the 4.5.  I had fun chasing Robert around and using him as a jibe marker when he fell.  He is progressing very quickly.   I'm not sure why, but most of the others took their time coming out.  Cam and Cynthia were next out and joined us upwind by the red buoy. John was one of the ones who got out early and had a great session! I sailed for about 20km and then the wind started to lighten up...  as usual for me, I did one reach to many, and ended up slogging all the way home.  Robert had...