On the Fifth Day of Hatteras

This is the day with a terrible forecast- cool, rainy, no wind, sad. It's the best day yet! Mostly sunny, windy, happy. Everyone is learning stuff. That's the best feeling. Jane gets up and riding for the first time after a year of bodydragging and kite flying. Yuly gets his first back rolls. I make progress with what I'm working on- back rolls with a board grab to a crash. Such a great day! Tired muscles. Frisco Turnout, Kitesurfed, NE, 10-20, Flx 138/Rally14, with Frank, Paul, Denn, Yuly, Alex, Jane, others. Picture- Dark Slide Denny

On the Fourth Day of Hatteras

No wind. We cook. We eat. We cook. We eat. Talk a little. Cook. Eat. We better get wind soon. Resting and eating all day is exhausting work.

On the Third Day of Hatteras

Our crew is kiting at Frisco Point. I decide to downwind it from Kite Point, 6 miles, even though the wind is fickle and light, always the foolish optimist. I barley have enough wind to get off the beach. I make it all the way except the last 100 feet. The wind just shuts off. I can see Frank leaving the beach with his gear as I land my kite. Wait for me! I rush and make it to the parking lot as the crew is loading up, just in time to get a ride back. I shoulda told them in advance that I was doing this. I can't believe how lucky I am with timing. 6 miles of kiting and if I had started a few minutes later I would have been stranded. A smart person would learn something from this. Hatt, Kitesurfed, NE, 7-17, Solo downwinder.

On the Second Day of Hatteras

5 boards for kiting, 2 for SUP, 1 board for surfing, and a bike, in a pear tree.   Frisco Turnout, Kitesurfed, NE, 10-20, 14M Rally/Flx 138 & surfboard, with Frank, Denn, Paul, Others.

On the First Day of Hatteras-

I don't make it to Hatteras. We have a convoy of 3 vehicles, filled with kites and kiters, heading south to The Outer Banks. I don't make it. I break ranks in Maryland. Head straight to the water. Assateague National Park! I kite in super light winds, a beautiful spot, then bike, dinner on the beach, camp in the truck. So nice!!! Ahhh, I'm on vacation. Assateague Island, Kitesurfed, E, 5-12, 17M Fat Lady/Surfboard, Solo Boardwalk to Twilight

Promise Not to Tell?

Plum Island/ Newburyport Harbor- I find a hidden slick. Nice surprise. I can kite an arms length away from the marsh bank. Who knew this was here? Must be a secret. Don't tell anyone. Beautiful setting sun session on my 10M kite. Slick works in- WNW wind, mid tide, Might work on other tides, not sure. Any hazards? You bet. Lots of em. And the water is murky on the outgoing tide so you can't see squat. 1 mile distance from launch to slick. Speaking of outgoing tide- Don't let yourself get in a position where you could be sucked out of the harbor in the event of a broken line. Not a beginner friendly spot. Remember- This is a secret spot. So don't kite here. And if you do, don't mess with the dock pilings. They were here first. They'll eat you and your board in a heartbeat. Plum Island, Kitesurfed, WNW, 15-25, 10M Rally/ Flx 138, Solo.

Making the Cut

The new cut. Twice! And the old cut. Brad and I start at Monomoy Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, kite upwind in the bay, go out through the new cut, kite downwind oceanside to the old cut, walk across South Beach, kite back to the visitor center. Then we do it again riding surfboards. What a day! These cuts have received many accolades, (by me), for being among the most secluded and beautiful locations in the entire Cape Cod. It's like a different world out here. It's a world of great natural beauty and sharks. Today we only saw the beauty. That's why I'm here writing this now. I appreciate the beauty more than the sharks. Sorry sharks. Go eat somebody else's surfboard. Kitesurfed, SSE, 18-30, 10 Rally/ Mako 150, and strapless surfboard, with Brad.