59 Minutes of Adventure

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Not much wind in Jupiter sat & sun - hit the cable park with my nephew (fun watching him get launched on the kneeboard)

sat around sunday with my bro watching the Fins lose number 10. feeling a bit depressed and bummed about the wind - dragged him down to Palm Beach just to make sure wasn't missing anything.

wind comes up at 5pm one hour of light-

Had that BIG RIGGINS moment - "bro give me one hour, just one hour"

I can see he is getting annoyed _"(#

#to be continued

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Flight attendant was getting all jiggy on me - 30 planes in que and they shut me down.

Fins fan since 70 BigR (better days)

I digress - so my bro wants to get to our folks for dinner but I convince him - just
ONE Hour - I plead "my homies in OR would give their right testicle for a session in 80 degree water"

so I count it down for him
59 minutes!
toss on my shorts, harness and helmut-jump the sea wall
56 minutes!
pump up, hand him the camera, kite and go
50 minutes!
wind is marginal dead onshore but picks up, bro is shooting some pics - cool
waves are dinky but superfun
do a long tack to the south then head back
time is running out - sun is gone
about to head in but decide to go for one nice run to north

pass the end of the public beach, pass long stretch of no beach but concrete steps, about to head back but see this mega resort with some lights (its dark now)

figure i'll sail by the turistas under the lights and then turn back

i'm ripping by when what do you know the wind hits the 10 story buildings and completely turns off. (didn't figure on that)

now night kiting doesn't seem so appealing - i'm so hosed - lines wrapped on some rocks, rip current around the rocks, kite is on the beach but can hardly see it - looking at an hour hike back with sections of no beach

so in the spirit of compounding the poor decisions with a domino sequence of even poorer ones - I come to the conclusion if I can just find a spot of clear air, sort out the lines, self launch in the dark, body drag over the lines in the swim area, around a submerged jetty, and get out far enough so the buildings don't screw the wind - i'll be golden

plan realized - surfing at night is pretty badass
bro not too happy but what's an hour- hey its not golf

Onad · Mon Nov 19, 07 12:47 pm

Nicely Done G!!

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

Damn John, you are CRAZY! Thumb's Up

Hope you catch some wind before you gotta come back...

Mark · Mon Nov 19, 07 1:14 pm

The GMAN in action!

Photon · Since 08 Apr 2007 7 Posts Portland New Member

What's a G-trip without at least one story like that!

Rock on!

Mark · Mon Nov 19, 07 1:53 pm **unauthorized pics of Gman**

Gman checking out the surf.... Wink

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed