SUP - Almonte

Quick paddle during Liam's TKD.  Nice & warm, water levels on the low side, beach still closed...saw a pair of kayakers, 2 people in a canoe, a few GBH's, kingfishers...

SUP - Almonte

Very calm waters, paddled up the river while Liam and Roxanne were at Taikwondo.  Ran into a couple of paddlers (canoe) who were curious about my board.  They turned out to be longtime windsurfers visiting from Cobden (half way to Petawawa?)  They sail on Muskrat lake -  a narrow but long lake (11km).

Almonte beach is closed due to bacteria levels, but it's not really an issue for paddling

obx - friday - last day

slow day...no sessions to be had!  took the long board down to the pier but I was too late and tide was in...dad had lot's of fun with Gus and even got him up on the paddle board

Gus fetches 'ducks'

Gus on deck

obx - thursday

no sailing today, but I picked up a used 4.6 bonzai goya sail...should have bought it sooner
Had a wicked session on the paddle board ocean side and caught a few waves.  The break was hitting a sandbar just off the beach and worked best with low tide.

obx - wednesday

light wind day - kids dropped off for safari day..Jim and I were going to have an SUP session on the ocean but some northerly wind started to build and Lori and Jim decided to sail.  Rigged up the 6.8 and headed out..shortly after a few runs, Jim shouted that his 'camo popped off'...???  I sailed up to him and he clarified that his 'camera popped off'.  He had his contour camera on the deck and it was now lost in the water.  The rest of the time I sailed I scanned the water for it but no luck.  Later the wind died down and we went out on the paddle boards and looked for the needle in the haystack.  No luck.  Supper that night at Jims - tuna steaks and shrimp.

Jim's camera floating out there somewhere

obx - tuesday

Jim's AC died overnight and the realty let them move into a house a few doors down - which was very lucky.  We helped them move their stuff over.  My dad decided to give sailing another shot and more success this time.  I followed him on the paddle board in a light southwest wind.  He preferred the port tack and got pretty far downwind.  I sailed the rig back home for him, but I think he had a workout paddling upwind.

obx - Monday

light wind day..gave my dad a lesson and he did pretty good!
Scored an after supper session on the 6.8 then rigged down to the 5.7 and sailed almost until dark.  Jim was napping but his father in law woke him up to let him know I was on the water - so Jim got out too.

Hermit crab!

let's see him come out

he's rolling himself away!

that's a paddlin'

obx - sunday & more vulcans!

another windy day - started out on the 5.2 & jp 102.  Mike showed up and came out for a sail.  After lunch we headed down to the lighthouse for some surfing.  It's probably the best place to surf around here, but it can get crowded.  Fought with a tent / umbrella thing that Roxanne bought - it was awful and I felt like throwing it in the garbage!  Jim was already there and Mike showed up later.  Got some fun rides, Liam collected shells.  Wind came back up and we did an evening session (5.2 / quatro 85).  Managed to nail 2 more vulcans!  Body is getting pretty tired.  Yoga seems to help.

ice cream truck!

freestyle practice:

obx - saturday

A lot of people packiing up today - actually feels bad to see some neighbours leave.  Messed around on the 5.2 in light wind and tried some geckos and switch stance stuff.  Mike stopped by (sailed over from his house).  Hit the beach later with the paddle board using the kaddy.  When I got to the beach I turned around and noticed there was no board on it!  It fell off at the top of the dunes and I didn't notice because I thought it was just easy because I was now going down hill.  Forgot the surf leash, but used a tie down strap - ugh.  Waves weren't as nice and didn't get too many rides.  The wind came up and made it a little more work.  Mike and his crew showed up - I tried out his soft top surfboard - it was pretty easy to ride.  The wind came up stronger after supper (I think we had cod that night).  Sailed almost until sundown - tried some spin loop exercises.  Perfect temperature, sunlight and wind - (5.2 & jp 102).

Lori heads out

obx - friday

slow day...sore..did a 6am swim with Lori at the pool..had a major nap in the afternoon and spent lots of time in and out of the pool with Liam...later Jim got me out on my 5.2 /102 for a sweet sunset session...no tricks, just speed runs off into the horizon.   Must admit that after supper is my favorite time to sail - the sun is not as evil and the air and water temp is perfect.

sunset session!

obx - thursday

wind came up in the afternoon - started out on the 6.8 / 102 and then quickly switched to the 5.2 /85.  Sailed with Jim and Lori and worked on some vulcans.  Really, really hot on the water.  After sailing, a cool down in the shower was necessary (it was that hot).  After supper Jim and I went on a date and saw 'Ted'...not an oscar winning flick but it wasn't going to watch itself.

thunder!

obx - independence day (and my first vulcan)

Great sailing day.  5.2 and the quatro for most of it.  Lori lost a fin near a fishing buoy - we looked for  a bit but no luck.  Played with Liam in the pool then took a nap.  Missed a session in the afternoon with Jim & Lori, but got out after supper (steak and catfish by dad) and resumed my vulcan practice and actually sailed out of one!  Eventually I was the only one left on the sound and sun was almost down - really the best kind of sailing - warm, windy, setting sun...  We hit the beach for the 4th of July fireworks.  Dad stayed behind with Gus to keep him calm during the pyrotechnics.

fireworks off the Avon Pier - and the moon rising

obx - tuesday

Jim was up at 5am sailing the remnants of the southerlies that blew all night.  I was too tired to sail and the wind died off anyhow.  Lori & I went for an 8am swim at the jr olympic pool at the office-there was a guy cleaning the pool - he said we could swim, but we got kicked out by the aquafit class. Did an SUP session on the sound, met up with Lori and Noah and then we paddled over to Mike's house (windsurfer's high).  Later Jim and I sup'd on the sound (shuttled our gear over with a quiver kaddy) and had an awesome session.  Caught lots of waves.  The kids showed up later on the beach and we got another session in.

Jim with the board kaddy

obx - much sailing on the sound

southwesterlies all this week...  monday was a solid sailing day, but I waited too long to write about it and my memory is getting foggy.  I think I sailed the 6.8 for a while, then the 5.7, 5.2 - started trying some vulcans.  Played in the pool, then more sailing.   Headed over to the ocean for some surfing - got some decent rides.  Later a storm settled in with lot's of thunder, lightning, rain...the sunset managed to break through at the end of the evening

obx - Canada Day

sailing on the first day!   southwest 15-20 , got my 6.8 out in the morning and the wind was perfect.  Lori was out on a 6.2, Jim on a 7.  The wind increased and I grabbed the 5.7.  Got almost too windy for the 5.7.  Played in the pool with Liam for a while then sailed some more.  Also tried the 85L with the 5.7 - not ideal, i'd like to get a new 5.0....

poolside