2022-06-21 Bike Ride, Foiling and Bad Timing

Glenn, Cam, Ted, Kent, Handré, Blaine, Brad, Andreas, Cynthia and Alena
Hood River Peloton!

Kent was up early to get to Sailworks to see if they could repair his wing.  When they extracted the third bolt, the only one that didn't completely shear off, and the only one holding on the foil, they found that it was almost sheared off!  How lucky.  If it had sheared, Kent's brand new $800US front wing would have been on the bottom of the river.  Bruce spent an hour or so filling the dent in his wing while Dale and Jim extracted the sheared bolts and re-tapped the fuselage.  It now looks like new.

Mostly sheared bolt!  Lucky it held together!

Today was a hot and calm day.  The river was like glass most of the day.

We went down to Doppio's for breakfast. (I think some of the guy's went to the Old Hotel).

Bernd and I stopped at ProMotion so I could pick up my wetsuit with the new elbow patches they on it.

It took a while to get organized, but eventually we were all ready for a bike ride to Rowena Lookout.  The group included Brad, Blaine, Andreas, Handré, Kent, Ted, Cynthia, Cam, Cam's brother Glenn and his daughter Elena.  We really enjoyed the ride, through spectacular countryside!  The views from Rowena Lookout are amazing.  We thought about dropping down the other side and climbing back up but decided to head home instead.

Handré, Kent, Glenn and Cam at the Old Highway Lookout

Full disclosure, I was riding my E-Bike, but I tried to leave it turned off except when the hills got steep enough that I couldn't spin properly in low gear.  I did get a good workout....

Ted - worked up a sweat!

On the way back, we met Bernd, Ross and Big Jim, who were on a hike on the Old Highway.  It was a 10km hike which they really enjoyed.

Hikers!  Andreas, Big Jim and Bernd

Our group stopped at Mosier on the way back.  Kent, Blaine, Brad, and Handré continued home, but the rest of us took advantage of Taco Tuesday's at the local store and stayed for lunch.  The Taco's were $1 off because it was Taco Tuesday, so $1.50 each.  I had the Two Chicken and one Beef Taco along with a coke for $7.00.  Great value and great meal!

On the way home, I stopped at the Mosier launch site to see what it looked like.  The water in the river is so high that there is no beach left.  You can still walk under the train trestle, and the parking lot is dry, but when you get to the river you just have to launch as there is no room to rig or store your gear.

Mosier Launch - no rigging area because the river is so high!

The ride back was easy, and I admit I left my power on for most of it, which helped.

I stopped at Big Winds to look at some wings on the way home, and then I rode down to the Event Site, where I met Gerry.  He was enjoying the sun, and talking to a group of young guy's from Maui who were here on big starboard racing foil boards. They were rigging so they would be ready for the wind to pick up.  

I watched some kids (probably in their twenties) who had a winch rigged up on the beach by the sandbar, and were taking runs on a surfboard from the tip of the sandbar into the river mouth.  It looked like a lot of fun, but I didn't ask for a turn.....

Winch surfing at the Event Site!   Looks like fun.

I rode up to the hook to look at the improvements that have been made, and as I did, I could see the wind picking up and coming down the river. Some of the locals were all rigged and in their wetsuits waiting for it to build a bit more.

DAMN.  Three days ago, I had committed to attend a Town Council meeting (by zoom), as a part of a consulting project I have been working on.  Who could guess that the time of my meeting (6:30pm to 8:30pm) would coincide exactly with the time that the wind would come up.

Big Air Jim and Big Jim!  Ready to launch!

While I was participating in my meeting, everyone else had a great foiling session at the Event Site.

Bernd said he had one of his best sessions of the trip.  Kent was doing well, but couldn't keep up to Cynthia.  From the sounds of it, everyone had a great session.

The guy's left the Condo as I was setting up for the meeting, and arrived home, just as I was finishing up.  Damn, Damn!

Andreas and Ross cooked an amazing supper of steak sandwiches.  Ross said the greens on the Steak with greens on garlic bread.  Ross said the greens were "spicy arugula, with a lemon vinaigrette, and capers, lovingly tossed". Needless to say, it was excellent - and only $20 each including more wine than we needed!

Amazing meal - and great presentation!

We had a really late night, again with most of us staying up until almost midnight!  Lots of fun.  It looks like it will be windy again on Wednesday - here is hoping.  We are now at 8 days in a row (7 for me because of my meeting - Damn......)