2017-06-13 - It begins ......

Here we go again.  After months of vigorous training, we are ready...

The view of the river 15 minutes East of Roosevelt

Andreas set the bar earlier in the year by sending in detail, a description of the rigors involved....

Gorge training program.

1. Wake up at 6 and check the weather.
2. Drive to Whyte Ave and walk from 109st to 99st stopping for coffee somewhere around Calgary trail (to check the weather again)
3. Walk back on the other side of whyte this time stopping for a big enough breakfast for 3.
4. Stop at a couple of shops...hum and hah over a few sparkly items but decide you will be back tomorrow so put off any big purchases for another day.
5. Drive to the nearest safeway for ice, beer, water and a big salad
6. Drive an hour out to wabamun.
7. Rig your 7.5 and slog around until you get slammed 5 times
8. Rig your 5.6 and sail until it gets ripped out of your hands 5 times
9. Eat your salad while watching your fellow trainees swim to shore cause the wind died.
10. Go back out on your 5.6 cause it looks like it picked up
11. Swim to shore cause it didn’t
12. Drink as many beers as you can while still being able to drive (probably only 2 since its 2017 and not 1987)
13. Drive the hour back to the city
14. Park at home and walk to whyte ave.
15. Drink and eat as much as you can between 7:30-9
16. Walk home
17. Fall asleep during the first 5min of a movie
18. Sleepwalk to bed at 9:30
19. Repeat
20. Note: for non wind days bike to wabamun instead

I left Edmonton at 8:am on Monday.  I stopped in Nobleford to drop off, and pick up a couple of new (to me) kites and had a nice visit with Kirk and Barb.  (Thanks Barb for the great lunch!).  Sorry Louise - I think I forgot to mention the second kite...  From there, I drove through to Kennewick.  I was going to go all the way to Hood river, but I got delayed a few times with having to pull over for WORK related phone calls - can you believe it!!!  I thought I was retired.  Well almost.....

It took me three tries to find a motel with a vacancy, but the third try was lucky - although expensive - at the Quality Inn.

I slept in on Tuesday, and then it was an easy drive to Roosevelt Sate Park.  It was obvious it was windy right from the start - and when I started to get close, the river was white with spray.  I arrived at the park just before 10:00.  It was obvious what to rig - my smallest gear - my 4.2 and Code.

The park was full and the site busy, but there weren't really that many people out on the river.  A lot were coming off the water saying their 3.2's were just too big....

I had an exciting sail for my second session of the year.  Big wind, Big Swell.  WOW!  I didn't last long before I started to cramp a bit.

I left the site at around 2:00 and drove to Hood River.

Apparently, Ross came through a little later and had a good kiting session in the afternoon on his 5.0m Kite.  (The wind had backed off a bit by the afternoon - at least that is my story and I am sticking to it.....)

I ate supper at the Mexican Restaurant by the Wallmart (Not as good as the one on the hill - but still good).  After I had eaten, I got a call from Ross.  He was in town, so I met him at Sixth street and had a beer with him while he ate.

Back at the condo, I helped Ross Make the beds and then worked on the blog.  Early to bed - still exhausted from the morning session.

Al arrived around 11:00.  that makes three.....

Great to be here!

Ted's Gear - 4.2 Hucker and Code