I can't think of any place I'd rather be lazing around waiting for wind. I'm on a gently swaying porch swing in Key Largo listening to the gentle rustling of palm leaves while staring out over the gulf of Mexico at the lightning flashing over the Florida Everglades. I have 7 days - hopefully a few of them will bless me with wind. Until then, I'll enjoy my time with the family marveling as our daughter Anna absorbs all the experiences the Keys have to offer like the dolphins jumping on either side of the boat tour we went on today or the "big ocean" she always wants to go walk in with the fishes or the little lizards everywhere (her "word" for what a lizard says isn't a word at all...she flicks her tongue like a lizard whenever she sees one).

Another one of the many little slices of heaven on earth that we north Americans have at our fingertips. Now, PLEASE let me ride it!

Lessons are booked, cell phone is on standby and the water is warm and waiting. Pray for winds.....

Sounds great. Enjoy the family time.
Hope the weather is favorable.

sounds good....weve been having just terrific winds, smooth, not gusty at all, for the last 3 weeks with more to come--i'll send some your way.........

Musta worked! Wind today. Sadly, no instructor. Seems despite my research I might have got caught in a but of bad blood? Seems odd, they can't find an instructor.... despite the fact that I booked with them more than a month ago? Maybe all the instructors just wanted to kite and they'll teach tomorrow. I'll be sure to post an honest wrap to this saga. I WILL kite. I WILL lock it in. I just don't know who will do the honors of helping me get it. Found other kite schools. Will see what tomorrow brings.

Funny though - after this, my third formal lesson booking, I'm only at 1 of 3 kite businesses that seem to have it together. If you couple that with how crappy kite service is back home despite living in the nerve center of Flysurfer country....I'm wondering if kiteboarders are all just a bunch of (insert appropriate term here) and I should stick to the buggy? Angus, Corey, Kent, Dino (and all the rest that I haven't had the pleasure of dealing with yet) - they all "get" it I think. They know what service is - doesn't matter if it's a product or a lesson. If I'd given them my CCd number a month ago I'm sure they would have been calling ME to make sure I was ready to go.

(gee.....I must be bitter missing the first good wind down here huh? Better shut up before karma catches on and makes the wind go

[Edited lightly for karma's sake ]

Hope you find you chance down there buddy. I managed to make the wind go away on our first trip to the lake yesterday. Makes me wanna go for a trip but 'd probably kill the wind there too.

Quote:

Originally posted by macboy Musta worked! Wind today. Sadly, no instructor. Seems despite my research I might have got caught in a but of bad blood? Seems odd, they can't find an instructor.... despite the fact that I booked with them more than a month ago? Maybe all the instructors just wanted to kite and they'll teach tomorrow. I'll be sure to post an honest wrap to this saga. I WILL kite. I WILL lock it in. I just don't know who will do the honors of helping me get it. Found other kite schools. Will see what tomorrow brings. Funny though - after this, my third formal lesson booking, I'm only at 1 of 3 kite businesses that seem to have it together. If you couple that with how crappy kite service is back home despite living in the nerve center of Flysurfer country....I'm wondering if kiteboarders are all just a bunch of (insert appropriate term here) and I should stick to the buggy? Angus, Corey, Kent, Dino (and all the rest that I haven't had the pleasure of dealing with yet) - they all "get" it I think. They know what service is - doesn't matter if it's a product or a lesson. If I'd given them my CCd number a month ago I'm sure they would have been calling ME to make sure I was ready to go. (gee.....I must be bitter missing the first good wind down here huh? Better shut up before karma catches on and makes the wind go [Edited lightly for karma's sake ]

i can send more wind, but im fresh out of instructors--where are those red sky guys when you need em?

I hope the instructor thing works out soon - I've been waiting for the "Whoop Whoop I had an awesome time...." posting.

haha, I caught the post before the edit...."always with the negative waves Moriarity"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuStsFW4EmQ


okay positive waves ~~~~ it'll happen

I'm available! Give me a ticket and I can head down to teach you!

Welcome to Florida!!! The winds here are strange huh? I'm a few hours away from you and the winds here are fickle to say the least. I'm as far south as you can get on the west coast. I'd say grab a lesson here but at $300 per 3 hour session, no. Hope the wind stays up in Largo for you!

You meant East coast?
Otherwise I've got the buggy (pun intended) version of Google Earth.

Nope, west coast (of Florida)

Nailed it today with the "other" company in town. Have a booking for the wishful Thursday winds too. I already have what I hoped to go home with - now to add to the experience! (And no Mark.....I mean the SKILLS I'd hoped to go home with - not the directional I was taunting the wife with. ALTHOUGH she did drop a couple large ones on new bras and swimsuits this afternoon so I might have some bargaining power here yet

Quote:

Originally posted by macboy Nailed it today with the "other" company in town. Have a booking for the wishful Thursday winds too. I already have what I hoped to go home with - now to add to the experience! (And no Mark.....I mean the SKILLS I'd hoped to go home with - not the directional I was taunting the wife with. ALTHOUGH she did drop a couple large ones on new bras and swimsuits this afternoon so I might have some bargaining power here yet

bras and bathers, that must have been at least $700 worth, enough for a directional

Quote:

Originally posted by markite I hope the instructor thing works out soon - I've been waiting for the "Whoop Whoop I had an awesome time...." posting. haha, I caught the post before the edit...."always with the negative waves Moriarity" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuStsFW4EmQ okay positive waves ~~~~ it'll happen

Fitting that that was "Kelly's Heroes" hehehe

I felt it important to say something more righteous and positive here. Some truths remain but it's what makes us all unique. Some are quiet, some shy, some introverted but I do try to see the good in all. I was truly bitter but unfairly so in this case because all I know is how the current state of things may have impacted me. Stuff happens and I firmly believe that they (Kite Company "A") really were trying hard to line up an instructor for me and truly felt bad they weren't having much luck. In fact, to quote directly, I was told "I hate to send you to the other guys but if it's the difference between you kiting and not kiting, I'd rather you were able to get out there."

The other guys, well, things are just going good for them and all systems are running smoothly. I was greeted with enthusiasm and stoke and it was clear right from the start that their primary goal was to get me riding. I booked yesterday and flew this morning. Booked myself in for the next wind opportunity (Thurs PM) and will go home feeling like this trip gave me just what I'd hoped it would. And more. Instead of ditching the family to go kite yesterday we got to spend some great family time together at a local beach park and the wind - which I'd initially wished I could have been riding - was welcome relief from the blazing sun as we watched Anna shovel sand back into the "big ocean".

Zen comes in many forms. No harm done down here. People inherently try their best.

the balance is restored

(but damn, I gotta watch two threads now on your trip - both good posts, don't know which direction I'll look)

You are sooo good at finding the balance. Hope your Thurs PM session rewards you for your patience :wee:

Enjoy