Won't be long now.






I watch the lake level like a hawk:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ok/nwis/uv?site_no=07159550

I go there each day to check on it and walk around on the lakebed.

It will fill back up to over full next spring. Here is the link to the canal when they open it up:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ok/nwis/uv?07240000

Lake gets nearly zero run off. That canal goes to the river at the entrance to another lake. That canal also goes into a tunnel under a pretty major street and has an impressive elevation feat. The tunnel starts at the top of a hill; goes down under a street; and back up a hill to the open canal; but it's slightly lower there. Also; if you trace the river upstream; it leads to another lake. So only water they let out of that lake; makes it down to the next lake; and only to this lake if they open the locks.

Check it out sometime if you get bored: https://goo.gl/maps/ZZU3y1Wn3tv

Todays progress. I should have been more to the left when I took this:

Remember the "island" as seen in the post above? It's no more and this is with a north wind pushing on it.

Not as much change today as I thought their might be with the wind being in the other direction:

It's starting to look rideable. Nice to have an open space that big close by.

What's with all the brick?

The curved wall that goes around that point used to be lined with brick. Water probably got behind it or soaked into the mortar and froze. I can only guess over time; people threw bricks into the water and as the level went down; more rocks and bricks were thrown; and that's how stuff gets way out there. Time travel on google earth and look how big the lakebed can get. The 2010-2015 time frame.

Compare the lakebed size to our usual riding area up in the upper right corner. About 1500' wide:

If any of you are driving through Oklahoma or have some time to drive or fly; you gotta ride this. It ain't sand. It's hard pack red clay! Hard like concrete. It will be gone this spring under 10+ feet of water. We had a 5 year drought from 2010-2015 and I never thought we'd see the lakebed again after the lake filled back up.

So why doesn't the town pick up all the debris of bricks and such...?:puzzled:

It's normally underwater. It was all part of the riprap on the shore.

Couple bonus pictures.


Around the point:


Down south:


The usual views:









Another reason for random rocks out there. Fishermen carry large rocks out there and sit on them and brace or rest poles on them. And of course they leave them all out there. Just like how the metal hounds dig holes; dig up rusty metal; then leave the rusty metal out on the surface next to the hole.

I was riding one time thinking "where'd all this rusty metal come from" then proceeded to ride through a hole that wasn't there the day before.

Also the scavengers. Any type of kite stake is fair game to them; finders keepers I guess. I'm going to hide mine better; keep an eye on them; and write a scary note on them this time.

The next north wind I'm riding it.

Yes I rode it today. Oddly was the first time I ever rode it while it was still wet. And the one and only time too. Just not worth it. Like riding on ice. Can't generate any power due to too much sideslip. The more power; the more slide(down wind!). Put on a few miles; needed to test out the fork for the midis.

Deep wet sand and midi's? No dice. Bigfoots all the way. But the midi's are definitely desired when in softish conditions over barrows. Still undecided on which for grass. I like both.

The main deciding factor was wind today with no real wind forecast any time soon.

In the North East corner of the lake; about a 1 mile run:

Nice little spot. Is that the same place you filmed your original Ozone flow vids a few years ago?

It would look even better with some tracks on it !

The lake bed calls.

Rode 41 miles today. Started off with the 5m Flux since the wind seemed light and I thought it was up for it. 30mph was the only speed it wanted to run. Could have rode it out; but it would have made for a LONG day. Got out the 4m Flux. It too will run 30 mph but was much more pleasant. Properly powered up vs's lit up.

Was taking a shortcut up to some grass up a steep ramp. Not enough speed; wind lulled; snagged a brake line. Kite looped and flew out of my grip. Thankfully I wasnt hooked in. Got up and was like "where did the kite go". Did it go over the rode? No; the handles were up at the top of a dead tree and the kite was pretending to be a flag. Waited for it to lower down and got the kite. A friend stopped by and climbed the tree and gave it a trim with a saw. The tree line looks much better now. Put that kite away and got out the 3.5m Alpha. It too runs 30 mph. Really good day of riding

It's own tomorrow! Gotta try it out before the lake fills back up this spring.

This is from the other day, about 40 miles:






http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?Submit=Go&am...


And the gusts:


http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=35.46710&lo...

Picture of me from today taken by one of the kiteboarders.

Riding on the NE corner the other day.

Down south:



Up north:



Tomorrow; south end of the lake for a NE wind. We ride the NE corner on S winds.

I'm jealous. Our local lakes look a lot like that middle picture except for the addition of a wide assortment of rocks of various sizes.

Oh yeah; it might be good and full now; but let's see what 3 months of heat and no rain do to it:




Going down?

Its full of water right now but here is some good drone footage of it from this spring: