2015-09-13 Smoke on the Water - the Wall

2015-09-13 Smoke on the Water.

Dog River for Coffee, Bette’s for Breakfast...  bla, bla, bla.  Same old, same old.  The forecast was for wind in the East, so everyone headed for the Wall around 11:00.  I was a bit later because I was finishing up yesterday’s blog.

The view from Ross's Condo

When I arrived the place was extremely crowded.  I have never seen it so busy.  Most of the guy’s were out on 4.8 ish sails, but the wind was backing off.  Shortly after I arrived a fire must have started west of the Mary Hill.  The amount of smoke was amazing, and of course with the west wind, it started blowing down the river.  The whole area turned into a fog at times.

It turned out that the fire was over 2000 acres in the Horsethief Butte area, and may have burned through a state park.  I think this number may be low because on the way home at 7:00pm I clocked a 15km stretch between the Dalles and Maryhill that was burned or burning.  I could see the flames on the edges of the burned area, and they were using at least one helicopter to pour water on it – although this literally looked like a drop in a bucket (or less).  They apparently closed the highway on the Washington side mid-afternoon, and it is till closed this morning as I write this blog.  Here is a news article.

Smoke from the fire!

Ross came to the wall to visit for a while, then drove across the river to Rufas to kite.  He had a great day, first on his 7m kite, then his 5.5m kite.  He had a bit of an issue mid-day when a fitting came loose on his 7m kite and it deflated in the river.  Fortunately he was near shore, so he only had a short swim.

Kent has his BEST SESSION EVER!

I’m not sure if it was the fire or just the natural conditions, but the wind got flukier and was up and down for an hour or so.  Some of the guy’s made it work, but after an hour or so it died completely. Our guy’s made it back (or almost all the way back), but there were a few people caught on the far side of the river who had to swim all the way back.  There was a little drama when one poor sole on the other side started swimming back, and then had to turn around and swim back to the far side to avoid a barge that was coming.  It ended with no issues.

Harold is out in all conditions - he can handle anything.

We ran into Jim’s friend Antonio.  He was full of stories as usual.   We sat and had lunch and waited, while most of the locals started to leave.  Antonio was heading to Rowena and encouraged us to go. By 3:30 or so, there were only a few people left. 

Antonio, Ross, Brad and Ross

Blaine and Brad decided that they had had enough, so they packed up and decided to head to Rowena.  Of course as they were getting ready to leave the wind started to fill in again.  As they were pulling out, Kent was waving at them and heading back out with his 4.2m sail and a big smile on his face.  Blaine and Brad waved back, ...and pulled out.  I guess that was the sacrifice that was needed.  The wind really kicked in.  It was very smoky – but the wind was strong and the waves were large and smooth.    Gerry, Rene and I were on our 4.8’s, Harold was on his 3.7, Handre on his 3.4, Al 4.8 earlier and 4.2 at the end of the day. Everyone had a great time.  With no one else on the water, the waves were like glass.  Excellent sailing.  Overpowered for me.

Ross came up and sailed with us for a while, enjoying the swells, but suggested next time we sail down by the boat launch where the swell is even larger. 

The wind started to drop off again around 6:00.  It was still  sailable, but I think most of us had had enough.  A few of the guy’s got a bigger board and went out again for a final session.

Kent - couldn't get enough.

We took our time packing up, and then headed to 6^th Street Bistro for supper.  Rene and Kent wanted the Full Rack of Ribs - they figured they had earned it.

The WALL Sailors
Harold, Jim, Handre, Eddy, Al, Gerry, Rene, Kent and Ted

When we finally hooked up with Blaine and Brad we learned that when they got to Rowena, everyone was coming off the water – so they headed to China Gorge for supper... and then back to the condo to watch the TV reality show Three Fat Guy’s in the Woods…. WTF… anyway – we appreciate their sacrifice.  (They tell us that now if they get dumped in the woods they know how to filter water and light a fire!)

Great day – looking forward to sailing again tomorrow.