2025-09-08 Mixed Day

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 foiling right away and had a good, but short session - then the wind died.  I had rigged my 5.5m wing but I didn't make it off the beach.  Brad and Blaine also rigged.  They got wet, walking out to shoulder depth and then walking back to shore.

Blaine and Brad got wet!

We sat on the beach watching the water and waiting for the wind to come back.  Jim was sure it would come back within an hour or so....  Then three Fire Boss AT 802F started to do circuits collecting water from the river to fight a fire somewhere.  They got closer and closer and then were landing right in front of Rock Creek - shutting down the sight regardless of the wind so we had to move on!

I got a text from a friend, Kim, who I know from the Baja, saying I should join him at the Hatchery where it was sailable.  I headed over.  The wind was light, but it looked sailable, so I rigged my biggest gear - 8M wing, 100L board and big foil.  I went out and the rig was perfect - for about 10 minutes... then the wind picked up.

Kent was rigging as I came off the water.  I re-rigged to my 5.5 and went out again.  I probably should have been on my 4.5 or even my 3.5, but I held on for another 20km and had a great session sailing around with Kent and Kim.  It is nice to be sailing with another winger for a change (Kim).

I stopped when I was getting too tired and sore to keep going.  Kent was already on shore when I came in talking with Alex about some technical issues to go a bit faster.  He said he was going out for another session and would sail either till dark or when the wind quit and not to wait supper for him.  He said he didn't know how long he sailed, but it was dark when he was packing up. 

Ross and Jim Mudry at Moiser - waiting for wind

Brad, Blaine and Ross left Moiser when the water bombers arrived, and went top the event site.  Brad and Blaine went out on their 6m sails, but were over powered.  Brad had a short session and called it a day, while Blaine re-rigged to his 4.5 and went out again for another session.

Ross went out on a 7m and could barely get going.   Until it hit.  Then he was lucky to get back and gab his 4.   He sailed up to the hatch and then headed back.  He barely made it with only a short swim.  Dale cook was also out at the Event Site.  When it died, he had at least a 200m swim which is very unusual for him, but as usual everyone made it back.

I went to supper with my friend Kim and his partner Sonia.  We first stopped at his house which over looks the river and is within walking distance of the Hatchery (it takes longer to drive than to walk).  We then headed up to Everybody's in White Salmon.  

The rest of the guy's ended up at Everybody's as well!  Great food and service.

What started out as a disappointing day turned into a pretty good one.

Early to bed - everyone is starting to feel the effects of 6 days of sailing in a row!

Kent swimming to shore after a good but short session at Moiser