On our travels today took us passed a lake called Three Valley Lake. This lake I have driven passed many times over the years driving from Calgary to Vancouver or vise versa. Almost every time it is windy. I have had the desire to windsurf there, and either the time of day or year or gear hasn't made it possible. So today was the day!! It was windy warm and we had time. It is a narrow lake and as I found out, the wind is stronger on the north side. The lake at this point runs east west. I launched from the board launch on the south side right beside the highway. It was gusty and as I got on the water the wind had backed off a bit. I had rigged my 6.0 and the 760 foil. The gusts were strong so when I got one, I was up right away. Now there isn't much runway on this lake and as you sail upwind to the East side there is a Hotel so you can't get too close to that shore. As well it gets light on the south side. I did get up wind and had fun being out on this gusty mountain lake. It ended up being a short session as the wind began to back off. So only one up and down, but totally worth it. So nice to get out even for a short 26 min session. And to finally have sail this place. It was really fun on a foil and had I done it on a windsurfer it would have been less so. Just for the short distance of the runs, that is would I love about foiling!!! You just keep going. Lets see what Saskatchewan has to offer this fall!
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Today was another good day Winging 5.0 and 580 again. It is warm again today and I went in just shorts!!! I can't remember the last time I was on the water with just short!!I had a blast today and it was super windy on the east shore and the wind had more west in it. Normally it is north and comes down the lake, but with the west make it gustier and less wind on the west shore of the lake. I ended up going more up wind as the wind was better there and as you came down to the boat launch it was lighter and gusty. Up wind it was great!! and some small chop to play on. I got on the water at around 3pm and was out for an hour. It is now 5pm and the wind is still strong. I also realized that the wind is stronger at the boat launch than at the campground and I am guessing that it was foilable already by around 1 or 2pm. So if you were interested could have some long days on the water here. On the edge of the lake the water is a turquoise colour, so beautiful. This is a really stunning place to play on the water and with the heat today a bit less but still around 30C. Just the place to stay and enjoy summer!! I have a sense I might be back to this place in the future :). There are always more places to explore and I am glad to have found another amazing place. It makes me acknowledge how amazing this earth really is!
Check out the Location From a talk to someone on the beach we got some information about Buttle lake. I had never heard of the place but he said it had thermal wind. It is on the way to Gold River from Campbell River. So we went to check it out. Now it is mid August and camping is busy!!! We were told to go to Ralph River campground. So we did, and entered the campground to a sign that said FULL. We talked to a very nice guy at the Reservation board on how it all worked. He seemed to think there were spots and we should take one and wait for the staff to show up. So we did, it was hot in the shade 33C. When the staff showed up they said it was full and that all the other campground on the way in were full as well. There might be something 30 min away maybe! Then as we were getting our things to leave she waved us over and said. If there was no one in site 76 it was ours as it was the only one you can't reserve. All other site were reservation only. It was open, we paid $20 for a night and put up our tent. Had a short nap and I noticed the wind in the trees were getting stronger. We had checked out the lake before putting up the tent and there was some wind but the access from the campgrounds isn't great and a short walk. We had been told about a boat launch just north about 5 min drive. I had to check it out. Sure enough it was good access to the water and Windy!!! I went out on my 5.0 and 580 foil. I was super over powered and could have been on the 4.0. No big deal I sail overpowered a lot so I am used to it. The beautiful thing about this lake as well as the view is the really warm water. I went out in shorts and a 1.5mm long sleeved top. I could have gone out in just shorts. It was just before 5pm when I hit the water and I have a great 1 hour session. The small foil is so fast and fun to do speed runs up and down wind as well as snappy small turns on the chop. Such an enjoyable day on the water. It was still windy when I came in though the lulls were starting to show up. By 6:30pm the wind had backed off a lot though it still would have been foilable with big gear. What a sweet spot!! Hot wind, warm water, and no one else on the lake. We are here for 2 nights so see what tomorrow brings.
Check out the Location Had my first ever day at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo. It was cranking and I went out on my 4.0m Ocean rodeo Aluula wing and F4 GP580 foil and my 24" by 4'8" Roberts wing Pro board. It was a really great session with some nice swell riding right off the point. The great thing about the place is that the launch on low tide is sandy so no booties for me. Nice parking lot with a bathroom(not a nice one but works). It was blowing WNW which at times close to shore seemed a bit off shore, not an issue just something I was aware of. There were lots of people out mainly windsurfing which you don't see much these days and a few Wingers. Super fun hot day 31C.
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