2025-06-19 I can't believe it's the last day

The last Breakfast.
Clockwise, Ted, Big Air Jim, Travis, Harold, John, Big Jim, Blaine, Brad, Kent, Cynthia and Cam

Wow!  Does time fly!  To celebrate our last breakfast, we all went down to Bette's for a traditional Gorge breakfast.  Too much food, but very good.

The forecast was for wind everywhere, so we agreed that we would go to the Event Site so we could all sail together.  We all took our time.  I went to Sailworks to day goodbye to Bruce and Dale!

I got to the sailing site, and then realized I had forgotten my wetsuit at Ross's Townhouse.  I was reaching for my phone to call Kent to ask him if he could bring it, when my phone rang.  It was Kent asking if I wanted my wetsuit!  Lucky!   He and Harold had been shopping for a new wetsuit for Harold.  Harold's old one was falling apart and was almost as wrinkly as Harold!  I wasn't there to witness it, but I guess the moth's flew out of Harold's wallet when he pulled it out. I'm sure it hurt to pull out the $550 for the new suit - but once he had it, he realized what a good deal it was!

The wind looked pretty light so everyone rigged big.  I was last to get to the water.  it was like old home week.  First I ran into Jersey and his wife who we know from Pro Windsurf!  Then Mike and Chris from Windemere.  They are here for a couple of days and then Mike flies home and one of his daughters flies down and she and Chris will go to a waterski competition.  Then I ran into Phil Soltysaik.  He and his wife had a baby boy a few weeks ago.  Very good to see him too!  And then I ran into Kit who is a friend of Cam's....

I finally got on the water just as everyone was coming off.  The wind had picked up substantially, and I was on my 5.5.  Darn.  I basically went out and back and came in for lunch.  It was already 1:30.

Harold had a terrific sail.  He enjoyed the swells and cross chop.  He said it was probably his best day.  He really likes his new wetsuit.  He was actually warm for a change.

Kent and Blaine went up to the Hatchery and played in the waves.  Cam and Travis had a long session, doing a lot of wave riding and didn't come back until after I had finished my lunch.  Ross was up at the Hatchery on his 4m kite and got caught in a gust so strong it basically pulled him straight down wind on the foil and he couldn't turn.   Kent was a bit surprised watching Ross fly by since normally he never sails in a straight line down wind and not normally that fast!   I think the pucker factor would have been high!

John and Big Jim were blasting back and forth and foiling pretty well all the time.

Big Jim!

Big Air Jim said he was pretty frustrated.  He has not paid for parking yet this trip, but today he was all set to go sailing and went back to his van and found an office in the process of giving him a ticket.  The officer was accommodating but said he would have to purchase a pass.  Of course you have to do that on-line.  Well it took Jim and hour to set it all up and have his credit card accepted.  He was upset that it took an hour out of his sailing time!  I asked him why he hadn't set it up earlier in the week like the rest of us...  

After finally getting his parking paid for, Jim had a pretty good day - like everyone else!

We all started our second session around 2:30.  I sailed until about 4:00 and had a great time on my 4.5 wing.  When I came in, Jim Mudry was there.  He kept saying he should rig and go out, but he just kept chatting with everyone.

I decided to call it a day and go back to the Townhouse to pack.  Blaine, Brad, Kent, Cynthia and a few others decided to go for a third session.

Kit - enjoying a pre-burger ice cream!

It was 7:00 before everyone was off the water and packed up.  Jim Mudry had suggested Big Jim's, apparently the best Burger place in town.  It was very good, but a lot of food.  The ice cream looked great too, but Jim and his son joined us.  He has just graduated from university, and is planning to go into nursing.

When we got home, there was a packing frenzy.   Early to bed - it will be a long drive for most of us tomorrow.  Alarm is set for 05:45....

Big Air Jim - giving Wing Foiling Jibing lessons to John at breakfast!