Shirley's Bay - Sandy Superstorm

We got the scraps from Superstorm 'Sandy'.  It wasn't epic, but it was a rare north easterly and that meant Shirley's Bay.  With the day off work, I headed down in the morning and rigged up my 4.6.  A few kiters & sailors were out.  Sailors on site: Lisa, Marc, Marcus, Jonathan, Steve,....  Tried out my new patagonia wetsuit (with built in hood) - my first impressions:  super warm but hard to put on.  In fact I think I hurt my shoulder putting it on (if that's even possible).  I noticed right away when I fell in the water that I felt dry - not even close to being cold -soooo comfy!   Had a fun little session, but the waves weren't really lining up for fun stuff.  Took off around noon, but apparently the wind continued during the day.

Sunday morning ride on SMH trails

A cold, drizzly day, not really eager to move off the couch, but I got a call from Lisa and we hit the trails. It's hard to dress for this kind of weather because of the heat/sweat generated during the ride...probably end up getting a cold! I'm hoping for these Almonte riders to show me their new trail in town before the season's out. Got a warning from a fellow rider that the city is giving out tickets for slanted parking on 2nd line. I think the locals are complaining.

SBX - day trip

I hit the road around 7am, and hauled the trailer (still filled with hatteras gear) all the way to Lake O.  Things started looking good by the time I reached west lake...sun was out too.  Parked at the Mac's farm launch and sailed 4.6 / 93L all day - I was often over powered and probably should have rigged the 4.2.  Mounted the gopro and got some video.  Ottawa crowd: Dave, Steve, Bob, Simon?, Danny, Guy, Steeve, ..mtl guys Guy Trudeau..., Kingston... Fish, Toronto - John Vu...others...

clew view

lots of wave ridin!

afternoon ride - SMH

Andrew was in town so I picked him up in the jeep and we hit the trails.  He was dogging it half way through, but I think he was glad to get a ride in.  Met a few fat wheel (surly) bikers - envious.  Weather was nice, bike needs a tune-up sooo bad.

shwveaty undt stinkin

shrooms

crazy shroom patch

OBX - Saturday

Lisa and I headed over to west wind and got our last sailing session of the trip.  The lot of us sailed together and emptied the tank.  My hands were getting pretty sore, so the session was tame side for me.   I think everyone was spent. We packed up all our gear, said our goodbyes (Doug,Miro were staying one more night), and we hit the road.  Made it to Hazelton PA, by midnight and got a room.

Cameron (ok, only pic I took that day)

OBX - Friday

The forecast promised wind for the evening and into Saturday.  I got a chance to go across to the ocean side and catch some waves on the SUP.  It was pretty awesome - I was out with about half a dozen guys and there were tons of rides.  At one point I was down in the water with two guys (Ken and ?) bearing down on me - I ducked under but somebody nailed my rail and took a chunk out (ding-stick to the rescue).  So much fun though!
Miro,Lisa and I went up to the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Rodanthe -just then, the wind picked up.  We booted back home and got out on the water.  Miro and Lisa kited downwind until dark from the kite beach, and Doug, Cam and myself sailed from west wind.  After a hot tub session we retrieved the van from the kite beach and hit Ketch 55.  Service was slow due to a missing chef, but food was awesome.

Cam & Doug

Lisa - sunset session

OBX - Thursday

This day started out windy, and we had our small sails rigged the night before.  My 4.6 banzai / 85 L quatro/ 93 fsw JP was what I ended up sailing the most.  Jim had arranged a gift cert. at Wind NC for $120 from cash that he owed me for some of my gear he sold. I used it to get a clew-view mount for the gopro and got to try it out.  Lisa tried the 4.5 and my old 69l wave board  - she ended up way down wind.  We swapped gear and I ferried it back with a bunch of schlogging tacks.  Lisa and Miro later did a down-winder from a beach further north up the sound - Lisa on 9m kite / 130cm board, Miro on 10.5.  Miro and I were concerned that she might have some trouble getting back, but she got comfortable and sailed back to west wind.

Lisa on 4.5 / me on 4.6 fully lit!

OBX - Wednesday

Light wind day..we went over to the ocean side and played with Miro's 6m trainer kite.  I started to get the hang of it, trying to simulate waterstarting and getting dragged a little.  In the afternoon all of us except Doug went down to the lighthouse to try to surf.  The surf was pretty big and the locals were dominating the best waves.  I grabbed the red soft top board and paddled out with the crowd but only managed to catch one wave.  For reference, I was having trouble getting the board up to speed when I did try to catch the odd wave -  I think I could have used a smaller board and may have had more success if I was bold enough to work my way up the lineup.

playing with the trainer kite on the beach

surfing at Buxton Lighthouse

OBX - Tuesday

A little more wind this day.  Lisa rented some North Sails  (4.5/4.7) (ice).  She was thinking of buying one of them but sailed the 4.7 that day.  I was on the 5.7 and tried the 85 &  93.  Lisa gave the 93 a try too as well as the 85.

OBX - Monday

The launch at the house 'Sound's Fun' was not too appealing.  Luckily, Miro, Doug and his son Cam had rented 'West Wind' up near island creek.  The wind was up so we dropped by to say hi - Doug invited us to leave all our gear / trailer there and use it as a home base.  Sweet!  I think I rigged up some big gear and sailed 6.8 / 102 - Lisa on my 5.7 and her 85 L board.  Miro was kiting on a 14.5 kite.  Later Lisa kited on her 12 cabrinha (she surfed, sailed & kited within a 24 hour period).

Lisa hitting the sound

OBX - sunday

Kicked off a unexpected fall vacation with new friend Lisa Labonté.  We arrived on the outerbanks after spending the night in Richmond VA with her sister.  No wind, but the sun was out and the waves were nice and gentle down at the lighthouse.  I convinced Lisa to paddle out with me on the long boards and we caught a few waves.  She managed to stand up fairly quickly and even got worked through the rinse cycle.  We later got the keys to the cottage, got groceries and settled in - my parents showed up later in the evening.