This blog isn't about windsurfing, really. In four days, I drove across the country to my new home in San Francisco, CA. It was exhausting both physically and emotionally but it was worth it. Along the way, I saw some incredible things, ate some delicious food and slept in a couple of sketchy hotels. Overall, I couldn't be happier with the way it happened. I've been extremely busy since I got here getting settled and working, so I haven't had time to windsurf.
The drive was a war of attrition on my car. In Kansas, the wind ripped the door out of my hand at a rest stop, and bent my car door. I lost a hubcap in Colorado. Many, many bugs died on the graveyard of my windshield.America is pretty nice though. And really big. Here's a picture taken in Kansas. Seeing windmill farms really fires me up. I think someone should dig a trench somewhere in Kansas and try to break the sailing speed record. I was getting blown around the road worse than I ever have before.
Today I stopped by two windsurfing areas to check out the conditions and see what people were riding. It was windier than usual. I even saw some guys rigging 3.7m sails at Candlestick. The guys are Chrissy Field were holding on to bigger sails, but they did say it was really windy on the outside. Most of the people there seem to carry waterproof emergency radios. I guess the risk of getting swept out to sea is pretty great with all the confusing currents there. I'll have to look into that.
6 comments:
Congrats on your arrival and glad you made it in one piece. I look forward to getting a new perspective on the bay area windsurfing scene from someone who has just moved there. By the way, if you're looking for some good instruction on the water, look up Jason Voss. He's got a loyal clientele and does lessons at Candlestick and Rio Vista. He used to be an ABK instuctor way back...which is where I met him.
Awesome, dude! You made your escape into the promised land. Now don't forget part II of the "work hard, play hard" equation.
You've been there for, what, like 3 days? So... are you spocking yet?
Sail already!
re safety gear I understand that many Bay sailors carry cell phones in waterproof cases. Apparently the coverage on the water is pretty good. You'll just want to enter the coast guard into your speed dialing menu!
Jason Voss is fantastic (I second Mac on this)...he was Andy Brandt's second in command for quite awhile.
here's his website.
Tell him Michael from New York sent you (mention Mac too!)
I'm on a business trip in ATL now... I had planned it a couple of months ago and couldn't get out of it.
I have a board lined up to buy tomorrow, so I won't be gear-less for much longer.
I will update when I get back on the water!
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