2012-09-08 Triathlon

Sailing, Swimming, Tennis, Biking and Sailing again!

Everyone was up early to get to Stevenson by 9:00.  Gerry and Eddy were at the site when we got there.  They had had a good drive down from Slave Lake.  Now, we are only missing Allan and Ross.  The wind was light, so it took a while for people to get on the water.  Big sails and big boards.  Kent and Harold W probably had some of the best sails, but also the longest swims.

The story goes that Kent and Harold A were way upwind when the wind began to get a little light.  Kent said to Harold "It looks like the wind is dying, we had better get to shore".  Harold took Kent's advice and headed directly to shore - sailing all the way back.

Kent sailed into a lull and dropped into the water.  That was it.  No more wind of any kind.  Not even enough wind to keep the sail up.  He was on the far side of the river and about a mile upwind.  The only option was to swim all the way back.  And he wasn't the only one.

Gerry found himself in the path of a Barge - for a few nervous moments.  Not much you can do when you are down in the water with no wind....  Kent had an anxious moment when the Paddle Wheeler appeared to aim for him.  Kent said he could see the bow straight on - he knew it was straight on because he couldn't see the paddle wheel on the back of the ship.  At the last moment it steered to one side, and missed him by about 20 feet.  All the people on deck waved as it steamed passed.

Rene was one of the first swimmers to shore!

Gerry was next...

Big Air Jim was worried about Kent - but not too worried....

Kent, Rene, Gerry, and Harold W, were all caught when the wind died.  Big Air Jim, who had just finished rigging, got out to the water, but the wind died before he could get out - so he was lucky he didn't have to swim.

While eating his lunch...  in Jim's mind....
he was leading the rescue efforts.

Kent said it may have been the longest swim he has ever had to do on a windsurfer.  Even longer than when his mast broke in the middle of Wabamum lake!

By the time the sailors had all gotten back to shore, the wind had switched to a westerly.  We all sat around for a few hours waiting for the wind to build, but finally packed up and left.

Look how dry the grass is....
In the spring it was lush & green.

Big Air Jim and Handre went to play some tennis.  Handre was pleased that he came in second in the finals.   Harold, Harold, Kent, Blaine and Rene went mountain biking.  I understand that most of the trails have been screwed up by logging operations, so there was a lot of backtracking where the trails were blocked.

Late in the day, Big Air Jim,  and Handre went sailing at the Hatchery.  From what they said, it was the best sailing of the trip......

Supper at China Gorge - and early to bed.

Allan showed up very late - about 9:00pm - after we were all in bed...

Ted