Windsurfing the Columbia River Gorge and Bridging the Cultural Gorge

We went to the Columbia River Gorge. I sailed in it. That confers a certain amount of status since it is the premiere nukin' wind spot of the planet. Of course I sailed in an uncommonly light wind, using my longish floaty board that I can tack. I never got very far into harnesses, foot straps and carving jibes even when I was at the peak of my game about 20 years ago.


Me


Son James near the event center. I taught him everything I knew; then he took it from there. He has videos of the same outing taken from his water proof video camera that straps to his head.


More James, this time at Mary Hill park about 40 miles east of the event center


When we began packing up our gear after our last evening at Mary Hill park we passed a native American family grilling their dinner. I made some cheery remarks like, "Mmmmmm, smells really good. This elicited some chuckles. Just a little later as we started loading our stuff a little girl from the family came over and invited us to join them and share their Bar B Q. I thanked her effusively and declined politely, explaining that we had to get back to Hood River. I didn't have much time to think. I figured we didn't have much to contribute and I didn't know how much they had to spare. Also dear wife had been excited all day about a restaurant in Hood River where she wanted to eat supper.

After we all got under way we each confessed that we wished we had accepted. I felt like an oaf for declining. If you only listen to the news you would think there is nothing but squabbling between native Americans and European Americans over who gets the salmon, what can't be built in native cemetaries, whether to dam a river, etc. In this un-newsworthy moment total strangers extended themselves and invited us to break bread with them because we appeared hungry. Truly for us Americans, notwithstanding diverse origins, there is much more that unites us than divides us. ...like food and family!

Fun on the beach at home in Olympia, WA

My son James is visiting us from Florida this week. Wednesday we gathered at our beach access on Eld Inlet of Puget Sound. Here are some pictures that we'll remember fondly because we plan to sell this nice family home and move to the Carolinas.

Wednesday was warm with no wind so we did Stand Up Paddling or SUPing as it is called. Here's James contemplating his first SUP.


Apparently we were very puzzling to the harbor seals because they usually popped up to investigate as you will see in the following pictures.


Here's my friend Rob doing his first SUP.


Wife Catherine has great balance and never even got her hair wet. I can't say the same for myself.


James and Catherine.


James and friend

The next day (Thursday) was very windy. No SUPing for us but James had a real "woo hoo" afternoon windsurfing. See our videos on his blog: SUP Windsurfing

Here's a glimpse of his fun on the water.

Great Day at Mt. Rainier

We went to Paradise visitors center at Mt. Rainier National Park yesterday. We took a hike to Panorama point. The flowers and mountain glaciers were spectacular.
The people are my sister Mary, her husband Tom, my wife Catherine, and me. Animal is a marmot. Click any picture to enlarge it.