2025-06-11 Day 1 - Moiser and Event Site

 2025-06-11 Day One!

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Moiser - notice there is NO traffic on the Highway!

It would be an understatement to say that we had an interesting start to the trip.  The forecast was a very windy day.  Maybe too windy. 

My day started with a drive to Portland Airport to drop off Louise.  We had four sailing days and one biking/wine tasting days together, so - great trip!  I was sorry to see her go, but she is looking forward to visiting with her dad for his 89th birthday!  She got to Denver on time, but then her flight home was delayed 4 times.  She finally got on the plane at 8:00 or so and didn't get home until after midnight.  Long day.  Good thing she had a new book!

It was an easy drive, and I was back in Hood River by 11:00.  Kent, Harold and Robert had arrived at Ross's before me, and Blaine and Brad arrived a few minutes later.

So...  where to sail!  The forecast looked like it was windy everywhere.  Rufus had looked good when they drove past....  Moiser?  Event Site?...  Brad and Blaine wanted to go to the event Site.  Harold, Ted and Kent wanted to go to Moiser....  We ended up going to the Event site, but the wind looked terrible with a big gap between the lulls and the gusts - 10mph to over 30mph.....   So.... we went to Moiser.

Moiser was Windy!  Really windy....  Kent and Blain went out on their 3.2's.  Blaine had a few reaches and figured it was enough.  Kent made it work.  Harold was windsurfing and took out 3.7 sail.  He said he "did not cover himself with glory"  On his first time out, his rig came apart at the boom and cleat. (Likely an operator rigging error!) He managed to get it together again and slogged in...  He put it back together and went out again and had a pretty good session.

Harold - great session!

I went out on my 88L board and a 3.5.  It was very overpowered but I hung on.  I am still getting used to the small board.  Getting started is a real balancing act until I can get power in the wing and stand up.  Most of the time I make it up on the first try, but sometimes it just doesn't work.  A couple of times I had to try four or five times before I got going - very tiring...   once up, I love the board.  I had some good wave rides and jibes, but it was not a comfortable sail.

Kent - making it look easy!

Brad, Blaine and Robert watched for a while and then went back to the Event Site to see if it was any better there.

Harold, Kent and I went out for a second session.  I noticed that an old patch on my 3.5 Wing was giving up and the bladder was starting to bubble up, so I switched to the 3.0 that Louise and I bought yesterday.  We all had a pretty good session, although I didn't last very long - totaling only 13km.  Kent said he wished that this was the third or fourth day instead of the first day.  He figures if he had worked up to it, he could have handled the big wind a little better.

Rigging Harold and Kent out of one truck is interesting.   Basically they have to do a complete unpack and repack before Harold can put together a complete sailing package.   This unpack may explain the first equipment issues Harold had because it seems like he has to take pieces out of every bag in the the truck and mix them together to come up with a rig that works.   After sailing the repack takes an hour, putting each of the puzzle pieces carefully back in their bags.   Kent helped him repack so Harold may not be able to put the puzzle together tomorrow...

Harold

Brad, Blaine and Robert all said they had a pretty good time at the Event Site on 3.9s.  It was a bit gusty, but lots of wind and smaller waves.   Unfortunately Robert managed to kick his rear stabilizer while trying to waterstart.  His foot was bleeding badly when he came off the water.  He ended up in the Hospital.  He said the there service was very good, and he was in and out within an hour...  but he required 7 stitches, and they told him to stay out of the water for the next four days!  Damn.

Robert visits the Hood River Hospital Emergency Room!

When Kent, Harold and I drove home from Moiser, we noticed that there was almost no traffic in our direction, and no traffic in the other direction!  WTF!  As we got to Hood River, it was apparent that they were diverting all East Bound I-84 traffic (2 lanes at 65mph) across the (one lane, 15mph) Hood River Bridge!  What a gong show.  I84 was a parking lot from the East end of Hood River right through town and for as far as I could see to the West.  Wow.  When we got back to the condo, we found out that there was a fire at Rowena, which caused them to close the highway in both directions and had initiated a big evacuation order around Rowena.  Who knows how long the road will will be closed for....  It is a good thing we hadn't gone to Rufus, or we would have been stuck on the other side of the closure.  The highway stayed closed all evening, and opened somewhere around 2:00AM.  Fast work by the fire and police in the area!

Of course the traffic in town was nuts!

Eventually, we all gathered at the Townhouse for a beer and to de-brief the day.  We walked down to the Crush Cider Café for supper.  It was Salsa night, so the place was busy, but most people were outside and dancing to Salas music.  We found a table inside and had a great meal.  The service was really friendly and excellent.  Our waitress was 6 months younger than Harold and tons of fun.   Kent says we need to go back again.

Robert showing off his new bandage during the de-brief!

Great First Day!  Big Jim and John got caught in the traffic jam and spent the last (additional) two hours of their trip in stop and go traffic.  They finally made it to the Townhouse around 11:00PM.  I am sure they will have some stories about it.  

On a completely different note, I sent our friend Mike P. a birthday wish the other day.  He will be staying in Belize over the summer this year so we won't be seeing him.  He did send me this photo of his Cat, Rusty!

Rusty, bringing home a present!

Harold - smiling after a good day!

Kent!