2025 Fall Gorge Trip

Jim Mudry, Kent, Blaine, Ross and Brad Last night, the forecast was for nuclear wind everywhere.  Jim Mudry suggested we head to Rufus early and get in a few hours of sailing before the wind gets too strong and blows us off the water.  When we got up, the forecast hadn't changed that much - wind everywhere. Blaine and Brad actually skipped their daily coffee routine and headed straight for Rufus.  Kent skipped breakfast and did the same.  I had breakfast at the Townhouse, finished yesterdays blog and headed out a few minutes behind them.  Ross, the smart one, took his time, knowing that it wouldn't be any good until after lunch. Wind Everywhere! I let Kim know our plans.  He said it was already blowing at the Hatchery..... As I was passing Moiser, I got a WhatsApp message from Kent.  No Rush - No Wind.... I arrived around 10:00 am.  The wind was very light, but it looked like it was building. Jim Mudry arrived, and then Kim.  Jim rigged a 4.0...

Ross, Kim, Kent, Blaine, Brad and Ted Finishing the day at pHriem's Today started like most of our days with Blaine and Brad going down to Dopio's, and Kent, Ted and Ross having breakfast at the Townhouse.  The wind was already sailable, but no one seemed to be in a hurry.  Jim Mudry called, he was having a morning session at the Hatchery, but agreed to meet us at Moiser in the afternoon. I stopped at Sailworks and borrowed some Contact Cement to re-glue a rubber piece that was coming off the front handle of my 5.5.  Kent was there as well, and we had a great chat with Dale, Dave and Bruce as usual. Kent, Blaine and Brad arrived at Moiser around 11:00ish and rigged their 3.9's and headed out.  I arrived just as they were heading out.  I rigged my 4.5m Wing and brought it down to the beach, but it appeared the wind had lightened up even though the guys still seemed to be doing fine upwind. Jim Mudry arrived and looked at the water and thought he would rig a 4.5 -...

Relaxing at Ferment Brewing after a great session. Kim, Ted, Brad, Blaine and Ross.  Thanks Kent for the photo! The morning started like all our other mornings.  Brad and Blaine went down to Dopio's for breakfast and coffee as usual.  Kent, Ross and I made our own breakfasts at the townhouse.  Blaine had some paperwork to take care of so said he would be late getting out. Kent and I went to the Hatchery at 11:00.  Jim Mudry was just getting off the water and said he had a great session.  Kent rigged a 4.2 and I rigged my 5.5 Wing with 909 Foil.  We went out and had a great session.  After about an hour, we met Ross, Brad, and Blaine who had sailed up from the event site.  We had a lot of fun sailing around each other at the Red Buoy.   It was the 5 Albertans and Greg G at the Red buoy for about 30 minutes and no one else.  Greg was doing 360's around the buoy while we raced back and forth. Kent and I came in for lunch at about ...

Kent, Brad, Blaine and Ted at Bett's for breakfast! When we got up, it was already blowing at Viento, but the forecast was for the wind to shift East to the Corridor and Moiser later in the day. Brad, Blaine, Kent and I went to Bett's for breakfast.  Blaine figured we had to do that at least once during the trip.  My Tea was $3.95US - Wow.. We hummed and hawed about where to sail.  Do we go to Viento where we know it is blowing, although it may shut down soon, or do we wait for the wind to pick up further east? In the end we decided to wait - probably the wrong choice. Blaine and Brad - relaxing and waiting for wind! Around 11:00 we headed to Moiser.  Jim Mudry joined us shortly after we got there.  We sat around and talked, waiting for the wind. (another mistake as it was already sailable).  I flew my quad copter practicing going around the parking lot and around and through gaps in the trees. Finally Kent rigged his 6m sail and went out.  He got foil...

Blaine - a few weeds around the shore! Kent got a message from Jim Mudry early.  The call was for Rufus.  Jim was heading there with his wife, leaving at 10:00.  Brad and Blaine went for coffee and bagels as usual, but moved their van so Kent could get out if he needed to leave early. We all arrived at Rufus around 11:00.  There were people out and it looked windy, but not crazy. Kent, Brad and Blaine all rigged 4.5m Sails.  Jim and Heidi arrived just as they were heading out.  Jim rigged a 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. for the two of them.  Heidi said that way they are all ready to go no matter what happens. Ross sailed his 4.m Kite, and I rigged my 5.5 wing.   It was hands down the best session of the trip.  There were nice, rideable swells, although not huge, and the wind was a bit up and down, but we were all foiling most of the time, and a bit overpowered some of the time. We did most of our sailing either upwind or downwind, as it was very cro...

Watching the mayhem on the beach and on the water! You think you are getting to be a pretty good sailor/kiter/winger - then the river steps in to teach you a lesson. Today was a windy and gusty day.  We got to the event site just as Dale finished his session.   He said it was windy but good if you could get up to Swell City.  I was first out - 4.5m Wing, but I knew right away I was over powered.  It was also the first time I had used that wing and my harness line was too short, so my arms were wearing out fast.  I did about 2km and then headed back to the beach. Kent went out on his 3.2, headed upwind, and was gone for the day.  He said it was his best day this trip.  Great swell, but the 3.2 was all that he could handle! Ross went out on his 3m Kite and also headed upwind!  He complained a lot about how gusty it was and how awful it was, yet he had to admit he had a pretty good session, especially when he got up to the Hatchery. Brad and Bla...

Viento - the wind dropped a bit so we all came to the beach! When we got up it was raining!  The forecast was for Light and Variable in the afternoon.  Damn. Kent, Brad and I rode our bikes down to the waterfront around noon to check out the Windsurf Tradeshow and the action on the water.  Of course we weren't allowed in the show, but I did run into Tyson Poor who I know from Pro-Windsurf.  He is doing well and REALLY enjoying being a father! I checked the Slingshot booth to see if Bobby was there, but they said he must be in the office today.  Missed him. We checked out the action on the water.  A big wakesurf boat was driving past with four or five wingers and pump foilers following and surfing in both the first and second wake.  Cool.  Also - it was windy enough that people were foiling!  WHAT!  There wasn't supposed to be any wind today! We raced back to the townhouse, but then had to decide where to go...  Moiser?  Hatcher...

Blaine - Cheers! We had a bit of a slow morning.  Brad and Blane arrived around 11:00.  After they unpacked, we headed over to Sailworks to talk with Bruce and Dale.  They have a new fellow working there - Dave - who seems friendly as well.   There were a few "minor" purchases.  I purchased a new shorter fuselage for my foil and left one for them to sell.  Apparently it will make it easier to pump and turn, but will take a bit to get used to.  Kent was looking at a new Titanium Foil fuselage.  It is heavy but very stiff...    With only 5 of us, it is easier to make decisions, but it still took a while to decide on Moiser.  The event site is close this week for the big annual Windsurf Equipment show, so everything in the corridor is a gong show. We got to Moiser around 1:30.  There were only a couple of people out, but it looked windy enough.  Kent went out on his 5.2 and told Ross, Brad and Blaine he would do a reach ...

Kent - Running on Empty! Kent and I left Ritzville around 7:30 thinking that the forecast was nothing so why rush.  All was good until I took a wrong turn in Pasco and toured  the town before returning to the highway.  I had been listening to the climax of the fourth book in the "Thursday Murder Club" and thought Google was telling me to keep right when it was actually telling me to veer right...  I  usually pause my book when I have some turns coming up, but the book was pretty exciting....  Anyway, Kent waited for me at Roosevelt.    It was eerie when he pulled in and the place was entirely empty.   The river was way up, all the way to the stairs, and it looked like not many people had been using the launch.   The water was very calm, but it looked like there may be the occasional white cap on the far side.  Kent got excited. Empty Parking Lot - no one there.... We headed off again with Kent saying let’s stop and Maryhil...

Finding Waldo - too many white vans! Both Kent and I had planned to leave home around 8:00.  I couldn't sleep so got up early and was on the road by 7:30, so was a little ahead.  Then Kent got caught up in some construction traffic on 22X because he followed googles advice and cut off on 540.  I went a little further south to Nanton - just because I like that drive even though it is a little longer.  That was a stroke of luck because I just missed the construction which ended at the Nanton Road/22x Intersection.  I called Kent to tell him, but he was already on 540 - so too late... We were in smoke until we got into the mountains.  We hooked up at the Tim's in Crows Nest Pass and had lunch and then carried on.  We had a bit of confusion when Kent saw a white van at the gas station and assumed it was me so waited, while I was actually already turning on to the highway.  He said it was like "finding Waldo" looking for me because there were so many w...

I'm Getting Excited! I'm mostly packed and have the hotel booked for tomorrow night.  Most importantly, I have the blog set up and ready to go - so I thought I should test it.... Testing, Testing Testing... I had a good day today with a 200km Motorbike ride with Spencer, and then a blood donation!  I plan to hook up with Kent on the way down.  We are both leaving around 8:00, so should meet up in Red Deer or Airdrie.  We will be staying in Ritzville tomorrow tonight and then getting to Hood River around noon on Wednesday. Looking forward to seeing Brad, Blaine, Kent, Ross, and Robert.  It will be a small group, but should still  be a lot of fun! Will update again tomorrow if Kent (the birthday boy) and I aren't having too much fun in Ritzville!