Went back to Southwick yesterday, winds were just not there for buggying, so I flew the NPW static for a while. Then decided to walk the beach southward to what is known as 'the cut', where Sandy Creek empties into L. Ontario through Lakeview Pond, about 2-2.5 miles. The beach was probably 80-100yds wide, mostly because the winds were down. No tides here, the beach is totally wind dependent, so when winds are blasting, the beach is very narrow. Not a problem if you can get any power keeping your kite high, but if it drops, it could end up in the trees. Anyway, a view looking north from the cut.

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Oh, I forgot to add, while I flew the NPW static, I was being watched the whole time by a Border Patrol officer (about 1.5 hrs.) Guess he thought I might be smuggling in aliens under the guise of kiting.:roll: I wanted to offer to teach him how to fly, if he could waste our tax dollars watching, he might as well get some air and enjoy the sunshine!

B-Loo whens it gona start snowin?

Man, you know I am doing the snow dance. Night-time temps are hovering at the 28-30 deg.mark, but warming into the high 40's during the day. Only a matter of time...

Heading out to Southwick this afternoon, will try to get some pics, praying for wind!

if no pics of so/wk, i would like to see video of you doing the snow dance...

Got a little (2" at my house) measurable snow last night, forecast is for more thruout the week. will post up-dates as I can. Car went fubar this past weekend. Need to figure something out. Jan is looking to meet up this weekend, he has some new sites to check out. Best winds are looking to be on Friday, let's hope the hill gets pounded this week!

here here!

Pray for big snow on the plateau!

Same couple inches here in Albany, but more this week makes for potential outing this weekend.

Woo Hoo! It looks like it's gonna be on this coming weekend! Light snow on and off since Sat. nite, steady snow predicted starting tomorrow, wind E on Thurs. G-45:shocked2:,W Fri. G-35! Sat. they calm down to 20 out of the west, But hoping Friday's blow out of the West dumps big pow on the hill in the form of lake effect! Will keep updating through the week.

well, I was going to get a ride up on the hill this am to get some pics of the snow, but looked outside and decided to just take a couple here!
1.

That one was my car! This is what piled up on my garage!
2.

I know, why isn't the car in the garage? Where would I keep my buggy, tools, and other toys(yeah, and assorted stuff I can't seem to throw out!)

Hey vwbrian, did you ever make it up here to up-state NY? Sorry, I kind of took over your thread!

just saw the forecast for tug hill, 4 FEET of lake effect by tomorrow.....sheesh!

Wish I could make it out there this weekend....

wish you could too bb, today should be epic! Headed for Honeyville! Sweeeeeet!

I went to Southwick Beach State Park yesterday am to see conditions of the beach for buggying, and found clear beach in both directions from the park. The DEC and Parks people were at the first 'boardwalS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K- South of the park area, repairing weather damaged boards, some giving me the as they went past my setup spot. I also got to talk with one of the local neighbors North of the park, who advised me to also head north if possible, there's 4 more miles of beach in that direction. I expressed my concern for trespassing, and he said most folks he knew would think the buggy was so cool, and if they didnt like it, I'd be off their property before they could get outside to say anything anyway. It's a thought, with a west wind that would make at least 7 miles from one end to the other! Anyway, wind was S at first, only about 3-5mph, but steady, so I was flying the 7M NPW static. When I started getting some scuds, and the wind started cranking around to WSW, I hopped in the buggy, working the kite in about 8mph wind, I headed S and was able to make 10 mph, when I turned to the N I was able to 'park and ride' at an easy 15mph on the bike speedometer! I had to work the afternoon shift, but I'm definitely going back with a picnic lunch tomorrow. Wind is predicted to be W at 8mph! wheee!

Well, I returned to the park on Saturday, and flew/buggied from 9:30 am to 2:30pm with a few breaks to rest, have lunch etc. Started out flying the 7M NPW static, the wind was at best 5mph from the SSW. When the wind picked up enough to scud, it also clocked around to mostly W, so I got some great riding time in up and down the beach. The beach is still in kind of rough shape, washboard-like from the ice-runoff, so making 12 mph in those conditions was quite fast enough, I was getting bounced around a bunch! Now that the 'ice-breakwater' has melted, a good blow from the west will smooth it out, but will likely result in more debris being washed up onshore.:sniff: Gonna bring bags with me next time, and police the area during my rest stops. I got to talk with a fantastic couple that was beach walking, Flora and Harris, 86, and 'older than that' who were quite amazed by the whole kite/buggy concept, and at first didn't want to believe that the 8mph wind was actually moving me up and down the beach, they had to get some pictures to show their 'kids' who are my age, of course.

Bob are you planning to head down to Wildwood in May? We are thinking about it. It would be cool to see familiar faces.

Right now, the plan for me is to leave here on the morning of the 13'th, arriving in WW that afternoon, and staying 'til the morning(maybe noon) of the 17'th, back to work 3:00 pm on the 18th:barf:gotta pay the bills. Probably camp at which ever campground is the fav. Is it May yet??? Really, the beach here at Southwick (only 50 miles away for me!) rivals that of Wildwood with the right winds, but will likely be off limits once the camping season opens, unless there is onshore wind between daylight and whenever the lifeguards start their shift. I'll have to talk to park officials. It would be awsome to have a mini-bash right here, where you could walk outside your tent, set up and be flying!

I went back to Southwick beach, yesterday. Winds were from the S at first, then clocked around NW, so I didn't get much riding in, I flew 'Rasta's Fury' mostly static. I did manage a few short runs southward when the wind clocked around, but the wind was so light that I would quickly catch up to the kite, and the 'gybes' to get back home only gained about a buggy length or two at each turn, so made it a fight all the way back. I did pick up trash for about an hour while I was there, from the park S to the first Boardwalk, and there was a lot less than I saw last week, must have washed back out during the week. I still managed to collect about 5 lbs of mostly little bits of plastic, straws, drink bottle caps, cigar 'tips', and tampon tubes! A picture from the beach looking SW to Nine Mile Point. oops, got to resize first.

Well, I had a sweet buggy session today at Duflo's airport! Wind started out SE (best for this location, imho)at 10-12, clocking around to SW at 15+. I started out with the 4.8M NPW, and was going up and down the runway at about 19-20! When the wind shifted, I switched over to the 3.5M Imp, which I recently switched from 3-line/bar to 4-line/handles, which made for a vast improvement in handling. SW makes for a fast reach in one direction, but you have to work it coming back, so I was making 20+ going up the runway, but only 7-9 coming back. I had to back off after 20 though, I was getting lots of wobble in the front(could have been from my knees knocking together, prolly ought to get measured for my pink skirt!) Get too far down the runway, though and you get all kind of effects from the Hangars/outbuildings, sometimes ending up walking a ways to get wind back.:embarrased: Lots of people honked going by, no one stopped. 3 or 4 hours in the bug, man am I sore now! I'm thinking Southwick beach on Easter Sunday...

Saturday is starting to look pretty good for Southwick Beach, wind predicted W at 15 or so. Mostly Cloudy, 45 degrees or so. Gonna try to be there by 10:30 with a picnic lunch!

Saturday shaping up even better, wind W @ 23,g26! 45-50deg. ptly cldy. 2 or 3.5M day!

What a day, wind coming in hard off the water, pushing it up close to the trees, I set up the 2M Beamer, which is on the standard 20M (I think) lines. I had to put the kite too close to the trees for my comfort, so I took out the 2.4M NPW which came with short lines (10M ?) Better, more room to manouver. I look to the north, towards the beach parking, and see kites in the air! 2 of them, both foils in the 2-3M range by the looks, so I jumped in the buggy to go see who. As I drew closer, I see two home-built buggy's, and as I got close enough to see a face, I see it's snowspider and his son flying the kites.(Ballistic's, I think) ss conceded that the wheels on his homebrews were a little small, but I was following him and hit at least 17mph, and he was pulling away! Anyway, it was great having other kiters at the beach here! I took pictures, and intended to post them here, but my photo editor won'topen them for some reason(hasn't happened before)so I can't resize them.

edit: I made a set on flickr, heres the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobalooie57/sets/72157623702507...

here's a pic of snowspider in his home built buggy.

and one of him about to get into my buggy, look at that chop in the water!

Whew, some time for this ol' thread! Last time at Southwick (see last post) I met up with snowspider. Well, I met up with him again yesterday with some epic conditions at the beach. Wind was right off the water at 20 mph to start, and picked up from there, I put up the 2.4M NPW on short lines, and was soon zooming up and down the beach. I stopped to take a rest, and looked towards the parking area and saw snowspider's homebuilt buggy on top of his mini van. Turns out he was camping with the boys for the weekend. He was soon set up and flying his 5M Apex, and riding his buggy up and down the beach too, not too many pedestrians to worry about, the strong wind / heavy chop keeping most away from the water, but a couple guys from Oswego showed up and tore up the lake with their 9M LEI's! A great day of kiting on Lake Ontario! I'd have some pics or video, but the !@#%^ dog ate my camera!

Bob I got home today and there on the table is a box from Borntofli. Hello 2.6 and 3.9 PL Vipers , clean and crispy .... Thank you Borntofli. I wish I had then for Southwck , n/s beach , w winds , 20mph slightly gusty , talk about a day late. I 'm going to get a couple sets of short lines for the apex's just for beach riding , that place is beautful!

Sat. looking promising at Southwick. M-Cloudy, mid 50's, wind WNW at 20-25! :wee: