Air on the water..

[Guy_b_g]

Thought I would post a video sent to me by my step dad in Hood River Oregon, (I'll be moving there next spring, learning how to ride one of these, and going back to college on the GI bill)..

Hood River is internationally known for it's windsurfing conditions, and has built a thriving trade based on the windsurfing community, and local microbreweries (good beer!!!).

Keith (my step dad) is an enthusiast, he built his house overlooking the Gorge across the river from Hood River so he could retire there and sail to his heart's content.

We are also looking into starting a shuttle service (during the sailing season) for downwind surfers since most of them currently have to leave their equipment at the landing point and hitch back to the launch point to get their cars. There is currently no such service available.

This video is one of many done by Trudy, a windsurfing friend of his...

Enjoy!

http://www.vimeo.com/5983216

[CatatonicBug]

Wow! That's one choppy river! Wouldn't the wind-surfers be able to tack back across the river to get to their launching point though? I dunno, I've never enjoyed the water, so I don't know how easy that would be...

[Yahman]

Cat, Those waves are normal, you should see it when the wind really gets going. The wind funnels though the gorge like air going through a carb and it can get quite strong. It has been known to blow trucks and trailers over on the highway there.

Guy, Didn't you say once that you used to live in Oregon? If so then you know what fun the roads around there can be.

Larry

[Guy_b_g]

Yeah, I'm originally from Oregon, was born in Pendleton, and raised in Elgin Oregon. My family all live there.

I've driven through the Gorge countless times, and the wind there is amazing. A lot of the chop develops when there is a wind blowing to the East, because it pushes against the Western flow of the Columbia River. When the wind blows to the West it's not nearly as choppy.

A lot of the windsurfers like to surf downwind, plus sometimes the best launch points aren't at the best places for parking. Also sometimes the wind dies down and the current takes you downstream from your launch point. If you are sailing on a high wind day you use a small board and sail, and if the wind dies down your board won't float well enough to get back upstream. They do tack quite well though. Some windsurfers like to go miles upstream by car and sail to Hood River in high speed runs, then need to get back to their cars too. Others are tourists and don't know the area. Keith (my step dad) has based his idea for a shuttle service on his own experiences sailboarding, and thinks we could make a go of it as a seasonal business.

Amazing when those guys throw their sails horizontal and get serious air time.

[Guy_b_g]

It's also an amazing place to live...I took a few shots while I was there 2 weeks ago.





and in the front yard of my folks house....





and a pic of the Lady Washington, down at Hood River for Harvest Fest, taken from a spot about a block from my folks house.



I really miss Oregon!

[Yahman]

I... Oregon she be a beautiful place indeed!

Sorry, I've been watching too many pirate movies lately and with that photo of the ship, well...

Welcome back Guy.

Larry

[Guy_b_g]

Aaaarrr..thank ye mate!

[tw1980]

We'll be glad to have you back Guy.Hope to see you at our rally next year.

Terry

[Guy_b_g]

Thanks Terry, I'll be looking forward to it!

[Wildkat]

Great pics Guy!

Sooooooo... which one of the turkeys will be on the table in a few weeks?

[Bigfoot]

Plenty of venison there as well. Yum.

[kirmit77]

Sweet pics. too bad real turkeys arent as big as the steroided ones you get at the store! dissapointed me my first time gettin one

[Guy_b_g]

The turkeys in that pic are from a group of 4 bachelors...I've actually seen as many as 18 in the front yard at a time. Keith says a lot of the neighbors are tired of the poop they leave everywhere, and that thinning the flock wouldn't be frowned upon...but I dunno...

Sure wouldn't be any kind of challenge to bag either a young buck or a turkey there....you can get within a few yards of either, they're so tame.

I haven't hunted for years, not against it at all mind you...something just went out of it for me and I sold all of my guns (except a 9mm for home defense), and in 2001 I got a good SLR professional digital camera, some lenses and a good dye sublimation printer with the proceeds. I'm happier shooting pics than bullets these days.

Still fly fish tho...

[Yahman]

and in 2001 I got a good SLR professional digital camera, some lenses and a good dye sublimation printer with the proceeds. I'm happier shooting pics than bullets these days.

Still fly fish tho...

You're going to have a great time back in Oregon, what with all of the nice roads and photo ops along the way. Plenty of streams to fly fish too.

Larry

[Guy_b_g]

I can hardly wait, Larry..you probably have no idea what it's like to be away from home for 25 years...

I've been to some beautiful places all over the world, lived in some...none matched the Northwest (to me).