Lyle was Wild!

windobsessed · Since 07 Aug 2008 120 Posts Vancouver Stoked

I arrived at Lyle some time after noon Saturday, it was blowing hard!
Brian (Chooch) was coming up the path and said it was really
gusty and he was thinking of going to Stevenson, it sounded steadier.

Doug's was showing 30s with lows in the 20's and gusts near 40 and it pretty much
looked the same here. Normally I would think about pulling the
old windsurfer out on a day like this but I wanted to try this since
I'm looking to try Rooster Rock on a kite this Fall and I know it can get
pretty nasty there.

When I got to the beach there where only a couple people out. 5's and 7's.
I was rigging my 7 (weigh about 205), figured that should be right or at
least in the middle of that range. Then as I was just ready to go out this guy
flagged me to catch his kite. He looked very anxious, it was a REV 5m,
it was acting a little weird. When I caught the kite I was shocked to see that
the whole kite was inverted, it was completely upside down with the bridal
strapped across the leading edge and somehow it was still flying and this guy
was able to bring it down into my hands, WOW.

I started wondering whether I should go out. He helped launch my kite
and it felt manageable so I went out. Wow, it was wild! A lot of work but I
was able to work my way up wind and make most of my turns and run out the
gusts. So it was time well spent, I think I made some good progress in handling
more extreme conditions Smile

BTW:

There has been much talk about trouble crossing the train tracks and maybe going under the bridge to access the sand spit. Here are some pictures I took a few weeks ago.

Here is the path from the east end of the parking lot:

Then going under the highway:

There is a path that leads under the railroad bridge:

But it is kind of a deadend and am not sure how you could get under there?

Once you get to the other side there is a drop off that is kind of tricky also
in the spring this would all be under water:

While I was checking this out I saw all kinds of local kids and fishermen walking
along the track. I think a lot of the problem is with them not just the occasional
kiteboarder crossing the tracks?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Thanks so much for the photos of the other path, I think if people used this we'd probably be in a better mode overall.

The Train stopped twice today for people standing on the tracks. Shocked

Yes, the train actually had to stop. Shocked

The first time it was a Japanese family taking pictures.

The second time it was a confused windsurfer.

Both times it took awhile for the person to figure out that the train had stopped for them!!! Evil or Very Mad

Also multiple cars on the river side of the road, at one point blocking the RR road entrance.

Should we run a pool on how long it is before a fence goes up?

windobsessed · Since 07 Aug 2008 120 Posts Vancouver Stoked

Problem is you still have to cross the railroad tracks even at the east end,
I don't see anyway under the railroad bridge. But then again crossing the
tracks there will probably attract less attention?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

i'd like to note, that the railroad cop did show up after the second time the train stopped. did anybody get a ticket, warning or a talking to? it was about 4:15pm on Sunday when he showed up.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Just to add fuel to the fire:

http://forums.iwindsurf.com/viewtopic.php?t=15885

jcohenx · Since 28 Aug 2007 250 Posts Portland Obsessed

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

I'd think that Japanese people would understand the concept of train tracks better than most american suburbanites... that windsurfer has no excuse though. Yikes, this is the exact type of crap we DON'T need happening.

Mark · Mon Sep 01, 08 11:56 am

Except the Japanese have 200 mph bullet trains. You would think they understand better than we do...

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Sep 01, 08 2:00 pm

Link

hah hah.

Link

da-da-da dumbass

Link

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

No offense but Japanese tourists can be, how should I put this, "unwise" at times. To the windsurfer dude I have to say "WTF???". Do people even windsurf Lyle anymore? Seems like they have lotsa other options that aren't controversial.

Is there anything we can do to try prevent these idiots from standing around on the tracks? Like putting up a sign that says "Don't be an idiot! DON'T stand around on the tracks!" I know this could cause problems but wondering if anyone has actually feasible suggestions.

forrest · Tue Sep 02, 08 8:52 am

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

wow brian just gave me three good reasons to avoid lyle.
i used to be scared just walking to secret spot on the tracks.
I'll hold off on kiting Lyle until things improve.
I understand that many love this beach and sandbar and will continue to kite there.
the problem may be with those, like the tourists, who see people riding and are attracted to this area, and don't understand the issues that the kiting community is dealing with.
those may be the individuals who will bring the most attention to the problem.

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

Mike Hawk · Thu Sep 04, 08 9:31 am **path**

yeah use the north p lot and the path, sex rules! and let the nimrods deal with the trains, cause you cannot protect people form their own stupidity, even thought they need it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2ynhobRmOQ&feature=related

I wonder if this chic is still alive to regret her to dead kids

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked