Last stop-Hood River, OR

Hood River about 30 feet down the ravine from our campsite

Happy Cloud

Morning wrestle mania

On our fifth day of traveling we arrived at Hood River, Oregon, a small town of about 6500 people where you can see two snow-capped mountain peaks. Look one way and you see Mt. Hood. Turn around 180 degrees and you see Mt. Adams. The temperature inland is typically in the 70s in the summer and 40-50s at night, perfect weather for doggies to relax in the trailer during the day or go for walks. The humidity is low and the town tends to have a thin layer of dust everywhere. Hood River is known as an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, where kite boarding and windsurfing dominate the scene.  The river, though icy cold, has a sandbar that is perfect for beginners learning to kite or windsurf. There are also plenty of well-maintained mountain bike and hiking trails, as well as lots of vineyards and fruit orchards.

Tucker Park, where we camped rests along the Hood River

Very sleepy face, getting up to walk the dogs

Staff has been able to kite surf everyday while I have enjoyed wandering the city on foot, trail running, and mountain biking, and of course, blogging at my favorite Internet cafe, Doppio, where the coffee and food are outstanding.

Hydrofoil kiteboard- I had to take a picture of it because it seems so strange.  A kiter using this appears to be floating above the water on his or her board. (*Now in 2022, Stafford has been hydro-foiling for a few years.)

Staff straightening out his lines.  I asked if he was being a bit overly orderly when doing this, and he said, "If I don't straighten them, I die."  Got it. May you never forget to straighten your lines, Love.

Staff wrapping up a kiting session

Kiting safety rule - always talk to the locals to find out what you need to know about conditions

There is a mountain bike trail a short drive from our campground.  We tried it out on Thursday morning. After climbing upward on the single track for about 40 minutes, we decided enough was enough and turned to go back down. Flying down the same twisty single track through the forest was exhilarating. An expert cyclist told me that the best way to ride downhill is to lean why far back with my butt off the back of the seat, crouched almost behind it with arms bent to absorb shock. Become one with the bike, she said. Yes, I am a racer. Though most real racers probably don't have their brake engaged the entire time, and maybe they're not praying either.

Hood River has a fundraiser for cancer this weekend. Teams signed up to kite surf all day long, kind of like the 12 hour mountain bike rides, in which you rotate riding with your teammates during the 12 hour race.  Staff counted about 73 kiters on the river. There were lots of games, arts and crafts, kids, and performances.  Staff doesn't have a team, so he will kite in a separate area called, "The Spit."  I am blogging and then taking a walk along the river. Doggies are relaxing in the trailer.  We generally walk them a few times during the day and then bring them into town with us at night when it's cooler.

Surfer artwork

Everyone lining up to catch the best waves

Everyone has to turn around the buoy and head back for another loop-and repeat the circle until they are exhausted and decide it's time to swap places with their teammate on the beach.

The beach is filled with kites, nothing like Wisconsin shorelines where kiting is more unusual.  But then again, we don't have constant wind like they do along the Columbia River.

One thing I've noticed is that women make up 30-40% of all kite surfers here. In Wisconsin, I think I've heard of less than 10 women in the entire state who kitesurf, but out west it's a different story.  Very inspiring to see all the girl-power out there!

Kiting fundraiser in Hood River

Women kite surfers, yay!!