Labour Day Monday - Sailing and Wine at Mosier!

Ted - after his best sail of the year!

The thing about the gorge is that plans change unexpectedly.  Last night Louise and I picked up special eggs & special bacon (to Ross's specifications - well, almost).   We had all talked about making a special breakfast and then all of us going to Mosier to kite and sail.

Louise and I got up at 9:00.  The wind was already strong.  We could see whitecaps and sailors on the river from Ross's house.  Andreas and Sue were still asleep and Ross was gone.  He had mentioned the night before that he might be going to the bakery in the morning, so we waited around and I worked on yesterday's blog.

When Sue came downstairs, she said that Ross had texted Andreas and that he had left to go kiting.
He said later, that when he got up it was 5m kiting at the bridge so he decided to go.  He was the first one there and had a great session.  Note to self - when it is windy - just go!

4.8m Hucker on Starboard Code

Louise and I packed our things, stopped for a quick bite at McDonald's and then drove to Mosier - Rock Creek.  I rigged a 4.8m sail on my Code board and had a great sail.  Most of the time I could have been on a 4.2, but there were times, particularly when I was near the shore that I was glad I had the 4.8.  My jybes need a lot of work.  Most of the times I have been sailing this year, I have either been on a big foil board or my 135.  Jibing over-powered on my small board is a different skill set, which apparently I have forgotten.

I had two great sessions.  Louise took photos and video of me during my first session and then picked rocks and driftwood for her crafting during my second session.

I came off the water as the wind started to die at around 2:30.  I met Andreas and Ross as I was walking back to the car.  They had a look, but decided to go back to the bridge for an afternoon kite session.  Good call as it continued to blow in the corridor all afternoon.

After I de-rigged, Louise and I drove up to our favourite winery for another tasting.  We actually drove in to the one up the road - it looked nice, but didn't have the view of the river, so we went back to the same one we had visited on Saturday.  We sat on their deck overlooking their vineyard and the river, sipping wine and eating some snacks that we had brought with us.  It was a beautiful afternoon.

Louise and Ted at the Granier Winery
The grapes in the background get a lot of wind, so have thick skins -
so more color and taste to their red wine.

We bought a couple of bottles of wine and then drove back to town.  As we left the winery they mentioned that they were only open on weekends.  Lucky that we had happened upon them twice and that they were open.

We parked by the waterfront park and walked up and down the waterfront. We ran into Bart at the Sandbar Grill (which was closed because they "ran out of everything" over the weekend).  Then we walked back and sat on a picnic table at the Event Site and watched Phil Soltysiak and Bruce Peterson.  Phil was practicing his freestyle moves, and Bruce was going out on his foil with a new Roberts Foilboard.

We got back to the condo at about 6:30, showered and then went up for Mexican with Ross, Andreas and Sue.  We had a nice evening - which was capped off with ice cream and peaches back at the condo.