Did anyone go out to Alvord lakebed in south eastern Oregon this last weekend?

Hopefully fun was had and no one got hurt.

Any pictures to make me jealous and increase the chance that I go next year would be appreciated.

Quote: Originally posted by eric67m

Did anyone go out to Alvord lakebed in south eastern Oregon this last weekend? Hopefully fun was had and no one got hurt. Any pictures to make me jealous and increase the chance that I go next year would be appreciated.

I'm seriously tracking with Eric; I'm on the bubble too! :karate:

ABE 2018 was epic.
Let's see if I can recall the highlights:

Thursday, Four of us in RVs (Jimmy, Gerald, Rick, and Pat) arrived to find the water on the lake bed so we
circled the wagons at Alvord Hot Spring to eat, drink, soak and watch the playa dry.

The playa dried out enough on Friday for Gerald to get some seat time,but the rest of us stayed
seated in the hot spring and watched.

On Saturday we moved to our traditional camping spot on the playa and all got out in some smooth light winds.
The playa surface was excellent. Just enough moisture to keep down some dust.
Mike K. showed up with his Standart and chased us around.

Sunday offered smooth winds winds so we played all afternoon on the playa and finished the day with
a 2 turkey dinner to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving.
I'll try to get some of my GoPro video posted.
After all, if there is no video, it never happened.

During the night, Sean B showed up to give us critical mass.

Monday offered smooth moderate+ winds and we had some excellent riding.
Lots of long group runs into the 40s. Jimmy claims he hit his personal best in the 50s and I believe it! Smokin' fast!
Mike let me take his Standart landsailer out for a "first one is free" dose of addiction. So sweet and smooth!

Tuesday morning greeted us with winds 20-30 mph with some stronger gusts.
Only our 2 landsailers ventured out in the morning before I headed home leaving the others on the playa.
Now I KNOW I need a 2m sail for my Blokart.
Mike K. logged 122 miles on Tuesday with speeds over 60 mph!

Stayed tuned for some videos and pics.

Very cool to hear, Rick. It sounds like a bunch of fun and good times with friends. Did Collin make it down? Did you bring both your buggy and your blokart?

I need to work on adapting my buggy rack beater subaru that I am now driving and I also need to extend my fork over the winter. I'll definitely be at SOBB and hopefully will make it to Alvord next year.

And you are correct, without video or didn't happen.

ABE 2018 was a Goldilocks Event.
You know, Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear conditions.
Winds light, Winds strong, Winds just right.
Not a lot of photos but I shot some video on the light day
that I will figure out how to post.
Until then, here is a pic of the playa on Thursday afternoon arrival.
The water completely dried out within 24 hours.
Amazing to watch.

For those who haven't been there, the surface is
smooth, fast and huge. Over 80 square miles!
You can ride on a single run so far that you go
over the curve of the earth and can't see buggy camp.
Yep, it's true, I ran the numbers.

No, I didn't make it.
I am forming up a foundation... which is fun too
So glad all had a great time!
# nextyear
colin

Well I was able to grab a few stills from the videos
on our light day.
Here's buggy camp, Gerald, Jimmy and Patrick.
This was not a photogenic nor photo taking group, just out for fun!

Buggy Camp


Gerald


Jimmy


Patrick

Hey Rick.

I am curoius about you wanting a 2m?
Are you saying the 3.5 LS2 was overpowering you?
What would you call the top wind you think it has?

I was kind of expecting it to cover my 2.5 and 1.5?

Is this perhaps a case where winds were so strong that I would not go out even with my little 1.5 Sting? I can fly that in 35+ winds but choose not to " survival kite " anymore.

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner

I am curoius about you wanting a 2m?

I believe the 2M was for his blokart for high winds.

BladeRunner - yeah I was referring to my need for a 2m storm sail for my
Blokart when the gust factor is beyond my skill level for kites.
Mike K. was doing over 60 mph on his Standart yacht with a storm sail.

After I left on Tuesday, Jimmy and Gerald, both very experienced kiters,
got out for a little bit on sub 3m FB kites. Both say they have never gone faster. Scary but fast!

Maybe some day I'll have enough skill to try a small depower kite
in similar conditions. Till then, I'm happy to retreat to a landsailer
since sailing is my roots and I feel comfortable hauling A with a sail.

Quote: Originally posted by Wind_dog

For those who haven't been there, the surface is smooth, fast and huge. Over 80 square miles! You can ride on a single run so far that you go over the curve of the earth and can't see buggy camp. Yep, it's true, I ran the numbers.

Sounds amazing. Its on my bucket list. Great pictures. Look forward to the video.