Tues 7/1 7.4, Roberts 125, Sumo 105

[DimitriMilovich]

So I take my daughter to the airport at 6:30 for her big trip to Europe and the first 4+ weeks away from home. All's well until we say goodbye and then the clouds come out over her lovely smile and its sooo sad she's leaving. I'm encouraging and falsely cheery as she heads to the ticket counter, then sprint back to my car just in time to plead with the traffic/terror cop not to fill out the ticket his pen is poised to write as he straightens up from examining my license plate. (Thank god for G-ville dust and dirt!). He relents and I head to work, relieved at the narrow escape and very sad and proud of a little kid that grew up so quickly.

At 8:00, half a brain still hoping that G-ville would go off, I saw that Black Crook Peak, my budding G-ville early warning system, is starting to ramp up so headed out.

At G-ville I could see the lightly textured water and in the distance Da Buddah Ken was parked in his place of repose (by the way, he didn't miss a jibe yesterday). Oddly, as I drove up, I could see him packing stuff away. I MISSED IT? WAIT, what about the 7-8 lull? It's gonna go off, right? Tell me, dude!

Turned out that Ken was making the ultimate sacrifice and pulling out just as someone else (me!) arrived. Muttering something about a 9:30 meeting they coulda let him know about sooner, he left a nugget hanging in the air as he drove away. "South Mountain at 20 already, grasshopper". I had the 8.7 in my hands as I contemplated this little pearl of wisdom and tossed it back in for the 7.4.

90 minutes of 7.4, all planers, some wound up, then the occasional tailwalking started and I headed back in for a sail trim and my 105 Sumo. Another 30 minutes of zipping around on my Sumo and it was time to get to work. Still blowing 6.5 when I left. Love this unexpected shortboarding on no-wind days when my sailing buds are in the Gorge -some consolation at least. $12 in gas, ~$5.00/hour, about $.25/jibe. Not bad.

Thanks, Ken! Owe ya one (or more).

By the way, once Ken left, it was just me and some fisher folks. You teabaggers may want to consider G-ville again since you seem to make lighter winds work . Much, (emphasis on much) steadier than DC.

[Josh Shirley]

Dimitri, you had better watch what you are saying. You are a newbie to the g ville crew so we will let that one slide.

Actually last year and in the years before we would get a group of kiters that show up for the session but didn't like the launch. Especially right now with the water really high, the rail road fence makes for some dangerous launching. These were Kenny's words. I think the other reason was that if they got pulled down wind they had to deal with a 60 foot drop off versus a beach.

We could make room for maybe one kiter. Just maybe. This weekend will be crazy out there with the holiday. Maybe a fisherman every five feet. The last fish in the lake will be hiding behind a rock with 300 hooks floating around him.

[jason morton]

Ya gville has been elusive to us kiters but I thought the same about DC until this summer. The only thing about Gville is the lack of a downwind buffer zone. Very rocky and unpleasant to drift down into. DEFINATELY NOT A PLACE FOR BEGINNERS AND VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!! Josh, Ken, Tom and other folks would hate to have their little piece of paradise overrun by teabaggers!! Pretty close proximity for myself! Launch not too bad! No work tomorrow morning!?! South wind forecast? Hmmmm!! Josh- Can I have a launch? Ha

[Josh Shirley]

Sure Jason, we will hook you up with a board and sail. I joke around about kiters but I still think too many windsurfers are missing out on discent wind. Sure the lake is small but we could easily fit 50+ on the lake, but not one more.
It is blowing there right now, just not enough for me. I am a stoked for tomorrow. I need some real wind. Especially heading into July.

By the way your lady in the convertible called about lessons. I think you sold you stuff to the right person.

[jason morton]

KITEBOARDING NOT ALLOWED AT GRANTSVILLE!!!!!