2026-06-14 Early Session at Stevenson in Easterly Winds

 

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....  He went mountain biking with some friends somewhere near Mount Hood.  I heard later he had a lot of fun!  He said the views were spectacular!

Rob's friend on the Mountain Bike Trail

Jim M spent some time following Blaine, telling him to suck in his butt, stand straighter, move his back foot a bit more forward, relax his shoulders, straighten his arms, etc, etc, etc...!  Blane is making great progress as well and said Jim's advice really helped!

I came off the water around 10:00 when the wind seemed to be lightening up and there were bigger and bigger holes.  I thought I had waited too long, as I had a long slog on my last run, but I finally caught a gust and foiled right to the boat launch.

Jim M had come to shore at the same time as me, and was heading home to spend time with his wife and family.

Blaine had a great session, and had no trouble getting back to the launch!

Pretty well everyone else sailed until about 11:00.  Ross was the winner for the day.  He said it was just so smooth that it was fun to just keep going.  

Ben was making it upwind and spent time sailing around the red buoy!  He is getting on foil almost all of his reaches - great progress!

Al won the largest sail award.  He was out on his 6.5.  Big Jim was next on his 6.

Kent sailed over 70km!  Wow!  His first session was quite short, however, as he got out, pumped up onto a foil, went to hook in, and realized he didn't have his harness!  Just another senior moment, among many with this group!  Towards the end Kent and Cynthia were chasing each other round and round the bouy trying to go fast and jibe faster.

Kent - got Cynthia to run his harness out to the end of the pier!

We sat in the sun having lunch after everyone was back.  The wind was getting lighter and lighter, but Cam decided to try again.  He took his 6, wing and his "canoe" board, but slogged all the way across the river and all the way back.    Hey, at least he tried - and he has far more energy than most of us.

When I got back to the condo, I had a shower and then laid down - instantly falling asleep for an hour.  When I got up to go downstairs, I saw that Blaine and Brad were having a nap as well, and later, when I went back to the room for something Kent was laying down....  What an energetic bunch!

Half the group went to Double Mountain for supper.  The other half, Kent, Ross, Blaine, Brad, Al, and I, stayed at the Condo and watched the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley cup.  It was a pretty exciting game.  It wasn't the result that Blaine wanted,  but I think most of us were happy that Vegas didn't win it again...   

Ross made a delicious, and healthy, salad and we heated tasty, but not so healthy, Safeway frozen pizza's for supper while we watched the game.

Everyone was in bed by 9:30.  Party animals for sure!


Cam

Brad

John

Blaine

Big Air Jim

Cynthia

Ben

Bridge of the Gods!


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