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Mille Lacs Kite Crossing

Well, Paul and I were down in Minnesota this past weekend doing some kiting and hooking up with some of our Team World members. Lots of fun was had by all as usual! Some of the Iowa crew made the trek, as well as Roland with his (imaginary) wife Margaret from Winnipeg.
The conditions on Saturday were bright blue sky with very little wind in the morning. The race committee decided at that point to do the crossing on Sunday. Well true to Murphy's law, the wind picked up to a nice steady breeze about an hour after the cancellation. There were about 60-70 kiters cruisin' around that afternoon which was really cool to watch.
Sunday morning we awoke to a couple of inches of fresh snow and a steady breeze. Everyone was ready to race!! The conditions on Sunday by race time were that of freezing rain and fog, with visibility about 1 kilometer! So off we went following the other kiters into the fog. As the race progressed, the kiters spread out quite a bit from each other, while slowly disappearing into the fog. This wasn't a big deal until we reached the upwind mark, then we went on a downwinder back to our starting point in Garrison. Most of the time during the downwind leg, noboby was around to follow or see, just your kite and the fog...really kinda spooky. I had my gps with me , but forgot to change the batteries, so I could only turn it on and have a quick reference to where I was on the lake. After a gruelling 2.5 hours kiting over 50km's I crossed the finish line!! I was soaked from head to toe from the freezing rain, my kite and lines were about 10lbs heavier due to the ice loading. Crazy stuff!! I was totally amazed that I actually made the crossing after coming off a few weeks of illness. Stubborness? Competitiveness? Luck? Any way you look at it, I was so happy to be feeling myself again!!

Some great pictures HERE

Have fun in life

Posted by Brad at March 8, 2006 6:40 PM

Comments

YOu did it! Congratulations!!!

Posted by: Guinevere at March 8, 2006 7:32 PM

Stubborness? Competitiveness? Luck? ..we are just happy to have the old Woody back!

Posted by: Margot at March 8, 2006 10:24 PM

[Forwarded from a previous post that I had to approve]

Hi to the Woody's,

Josh looks great on this shot and hopefully he can now join Mom and Dad on the circuit.
Wanted to say that it was good to see you Brad on this 2nd annual Kite Crossing. I am also glad to hear that you are healthy again. You had to have a lot of courage to do that race on the weekend. Didn't help that neither of us knew where we were heading. That turn around marker was completely out of wack for us. Suffice it to say that you continued on and found your way back to the finish line, although not in first place but very commendable, considering your last couple of weeks in sick bay. We certainly missed Schwaby on this weekend and now cannot prove to Woodette that my Margaret actually exists. You will vouch for me Brad, won't you? It was a very interesting race, for sure, but ultimately, it was a lot of fun and better than the last three hours of our ride home. The highway was covered in ice and snow and it slowed us considerably. We did make it home safely as this posting will undoubtably prove. I am looking forward to your visit in the summer. We are going to be away for the month of June and of course there will be the Moosefest in early July. Send us an email or phone us whenever you want to contact us.
Looking forward to our next visit.
Roland

Posted by: Roland at March 9, 2006 9:26 AM

Glad you had a great time Woody - and you are feeling yourself again

Posted by: Links at March 9, 2006 5:42 PM

Ya,Ya Roland. I still didn't get any proof that your wife actually exists!! Not even a picture. I think you paid Woody to go along (which is not hard if we speak beer funds) and she continues to be one thrilling, beautiful imagination of yours till of course I actually get to meet her!!! But till then...

Posted by: Margot at March 9, 2006 8:29 PM