Fun day at The Beach. Wind was 25+, lulls to 10, gusts to 40. I rigged 4.7 on medium and tried to smooth things out with the 108 L. Too choppy for it. Too much surface area and came back for the 95 L. Wore my 3.2 suit. In the late afternoon the tips of my fingers started to go numb and I started to shiver. That was my warning to get off the water and I took it. Got a full day of sailing in. And had fun sail with Ady and Rich. Great to see Chris out and about giving his son a dry land windsurf lesson. Didn't see any Turkey vultures. I think they were at Purgatory.


Bloomington



Champaign



Decatur




18 of the day's 49 photos.

See All Of The Day's Photos Here


Welcome to The Beach. The launch is actually east of the beach.



The "Free board" in the hands of the next generation.



Don't call it a comeback
I've been here for years
I'm rocking my peers
Puttin' suckers in fear
Makin' the tears rain down like a monsoon
Listen to the bass go boom
Explosions, overpowerin'
Over the competition I'm towerin'

Chris



Ady (5.2 sail)



Ady (5.2 sail) Rippin' jibes. Side-bites kickin' in.



The green waves were approaching head high.



You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Swim Beach zone.



Ady (5.2 sail). Me (4.7 sail). Ady taking me down to Swell City, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. Ady slashing buckets of water on the way.



Ady (5.2 sail). Me (4.7 sail). Step vs. Strap to Strap.



Rich (6.0 sail). Me (4.7sail). There was actual wind current at the launch as it enters the shallow water.



Rich (6.0 sail) peeling away.



Me (4.7 sail). Trying to get Ady in the shot.



Me (4.7 sail). Watch for debris!!!



Me (4.7 sail). "This is Sparta!" - 300 (2006)



Me (4.7 sail). "...but they will not take our freedom!" - Braveheart (1995)



Me (4.7 sail). Hard to put together a ramp with wind on it this day. The wind would knock me(forced to bear off) on both reaches



At the Boondocks you can eat and watch the action on the water.



Some boogie-boarder came down from Woodridge and was surfing the secret sandbar.



'till next time.




See All Of The Day's Photos Here

MOLON LABE /come take /

Thanks for the good laugh Reid! Can’t wait to get back out there, I’m thankful the next generation talked me down from going out, I was on the edge. As they say, if you can’t do it , teach, going to live that for short time. Barker broke his ankle skateboarding, jgot healed, stood on the board and first try did kick flip, my inspiration!

Launch update: The Road. Got some pics of The Road on Friday (4/26). When I went to show Wendell last week on the way to the campground I noticed somebody cut down some of the bushes. Makes it even nicer. Thought I'd show some pics.


Purgatory Cove is my favorite for the conditions the main pool provides. The Road is my favorite launch at Clinton. Pics say it all.



I'm posting this pic because I know how you guys love that smokey back-lit 70s look. Oh just me?

Reid Fillman wrote:
Very moody, just like a David Hamilton pic!

Reid, you are with a different helmet in your avatar picture, with camera mount if I’m not mistaken. What happened to it?

Ady wrote:

A ) He painted it black.
B ) It got shattered in a mast jousting contest gone bad.
C ) It's on display at the Midwest Windsurf Museum.

Reid Fillman wrote:
C. What did I win