SPI first time questions

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

I have to work in Louisiana through the weekend but heading down to SPI Tuesday AM. Wondering whether to book car ahead of time through hotwire or similar or will i get a better rate in Harlingen?

Same question for motel book it or find something Tuesday?

what's been peoples experience on how to get the best rate? Thanks - fingers crossed for a couple of windy days Very Happy

paul

alien · Since 01 Aug 2006 114 Posts Portland Stoked

You should be able to find good rates through expedia, travelocity, etc. I stayed at the Ramada for $40/night when I was there in November. Includes free continental breakfast and in-room wifi and they have a hot tub and pool. There is a Super 8 or Motel 6 that was a little cheaper but no breakfast or wifi.

You can also camp on the beach at access #5 for free if you get the $18 county parks pass. Works out pretty well/cheap if you rent a van.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

I think it's Enterprise that is just down the road from the airport. They tend to be cheaper since you'll be avoiding airport fees. I'm pretty sure they have a phone near the baggage claim and I know they will pick you up and drop you off. Go for a compact and then ask for a free upgrade to a mid-sized. They had plenty of cars sitting there earlier this week. Forecast looks good. I wouldn't camp on the beach because the tide can come up and then you'll be stuck. Shop around for a room and always ask to see it before you check in.

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

We just got back from our stay at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in SPI. It's close to the Flats, free breakfasts (including my daily dose of fresh waffles and whipped cream), and happy hour from 5-6 with free cheap ass nachos, beer, and wine (2 drink limit). I would definitely book ahead because I know more than one person who was charged higher rates when they chose to extend their stay even though the hotel was quite empty.

Ethan

carolb · Mon Dec 08, 08 5:27 am **this weeks forecast in spi**

Looks like its going to be a good week in spi. We're thinking we'll be using our 8m and even our 6m kite on Wednesday so if you have them, I'd throw in the small ones. Its gotten into its usualy switching pattern of 2 days north, 1 day light, 2 days south.

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

your old nemesis 7m is in my new golf bag and ready to go

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

kinda' big today Shocked

side off even Smile

sorry to gloat Embarassed

no taxis today; hitched from the end of the road
and rode the free mass transit later. It's called
the Wave because you can just wave it down.
Get off before the bridge or you'll end up in Port I.

tonyb · Tue Dec 09, 08 5:24 pm

7:30 ish wave sesh this morning. 8m kite, 5' 7" board and Very Happy

Some awesome waves on the outside this morning.

Got down to work at 9:30 then too busy to play the rest of the day - Sad

but wait - there's a north wind coming in tomorrow, downwinders the other way!

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

i got here to SPI today and could see it was windy before the plane even landed Very Happy

. Tony and Carol thanks for the passes - used them both. Got in about 4 hours at the flats. Golf bag paid for itself on the two travel legs to get here. If anyone is coming down in the next couple of days i have a spare queen bed in my hotel room. $20 a night and it's yours PM me or look for me kiting riding white royals or an orange nemesis. Hats off to the guys and ladies doing Gulf side downwiinders big blown out short interval swell looked too munchy for my first day here....

carolb · Wed Dec 10, 08 5:54 am **most excellent adventure!!**

Double to sometimes triple overhead waves on the outside 4th break that you could ride all the way in, 6-8 m kites, and air temp was 78-84. Doesn't get any better than that! Outside waves were 5 sec intervals and clean. huge Very Happy

and

by everyone!

This morning - a northerly with winds averaging 39 mph and air temp is 45. burr on the dog walk this morning!

On the sad side...
Apparently the bugs are huge here too because Margarita got bit under the chin which got infected and spreading and she had a trip to the vet yesterday with lots of shots, antibiotics, and a $180 bill. She is Sad

today and has 2 weeks of being stuck inside and pampered. Vet thought it probably was a spider.

Mark · Wed Dec 10, 08 7:56 am

Sorry to hear about Margarita. She is a very cool dog. She does a great job of keeping the evening beach chill off by sitting with you! Hope she gets better.

Keep the kite/wave updates coming. We are living vicariously thru you.

surfboy1968 · Since 17 Jun 2008 224 Posts south padre island Stoked

Sorry to hear about your dog. Something got one of mine a couple of weeks ago and the vet thought it was a tree frog Question

Apparently they are very poisnous to animals. I have seen them out in the yard before and never thought anything about it until now. There are also alot of spiders that can cause those symptoms too. Hope she recovers.

Wind as been great the past couple of days. Too cold today for me. Weekend looks promising as well. Have fun and ride safe.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Hope your doggy gets better. Another thing to watch out for here is heart worm. It's not a problem in the NW but the mosquito here carry it.

I didn't count the interval on the outside but it was way more than 5 secs. More like 7 to 8, maybe longer. It always looks short, choppy and pretty much crap from the beach up by the jetty but it can get really clean from the condos down. I made the second run with my trusty 5m unhooked and unstrapped on my 6-0 quad at around 2:30. It was epic. No problem with the condo wind shadows everyone worries about. Just keep the kite moving and you'll be fine. Park it and it could dump. I seriously wouldn't know how to do it hooked in. Rolling Eyes

I'd surely get impaled on my bar when I inevitably go over the falls trying to take a late hit. Had to duck dive some of the big-uns. Too cold for my blood today. Kept waiting for a kite to pop up at Boca but never saw one. The boat stuck on the south jetty looks pretty much destroyed by now.

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

watched Hein go by unhooked from beach access 5. I didn't bring a suit for these cold northerlies. Got 45 minutes at South flats then had to sit in car with heater going for 10 minutes before i could derig. Wind was great but it was COLD water temp dropped overnight as well. Supposed to be another northerly day tomorrow, not much Friday and south on Saturday and Sunday. Maybe in Fall/Spring it's warm all the time but if you come in Winter bring a suit for cold wind.

carolb · Sat Jan 03, 09 5:48 pm **2009 is going to be a good year**

If today is any indication of the upcoming year, its going to be awesome. SPI delivered a warm wind today and so we did a morning ocean downwinder on 10/12's, followed by a freestyle session on the flats, (8/10's) then a Flats to Holly Beach crossing on the race surfboards. (Birds at the Holly Beach islands still don't like kites.) Then an end of day unhooked sesh as the wind came down.

We also found a new butter playground that we can't wait to try out a few miles past roads end. Cool

Too bad Tony won't take me out to dinner cause Dorado's is still closed Evil or Very Mad