Garage Works - 6/12/2025

The wind seemed to be too much for good Foil Drive-ing and not enough to wing/parawing (without having to wait out lulls) - so I decided to get some stuff done around the house (and get some rest).

I mowed the lawn, reset the sprinkler timer, helped La wax her car, then worked on some stuff in the garage.

Up first was doing the final shaping on No.41 

It's good to finish the rough shaping on a board then walk away from it for a while.  That allows you to see all the anomalies easier.

I also had to get the top deck cleaned up at the nose (rough surface foam needed to come off) and I dialed in the back of the board to blend in the track block.

I'm happy with the shape now.

And I also got a layer of thickened epoxy into the joint between the offcut and the section with the tracks.  I used 0.56 ounces to get the first layer of sealant on.

I'll get the bottom deck laminated next - but I'll probably buy some beer first (I'll have to babysit the lamination).  I'll put a layer of carbon tape over the offcuts extending over to the nose area (double stringers), then get a cap sheet of the 4.8 ounce carbon nose to tail.

I also set up a different coil leash for FD and PW.  This is a short coil for bodyboarding with a length of standard line.  I'm going to put the knotted pig tails on the boards (same as I have them on the wings) and use a lark's head to stay connected to the board.

We'll see how this works!  I'm hopeful that it'll resolve the fights I have with the longer coil leashes.

And while working in the garage, I got to meet the new neighbors!

Noe and I fed them lots of bread.  I hope they stick around!

I love living here!

Evening Surf - 2/25/2020

La took both kids to sailing so I figured I should get some exercise.  The report said the surf was supposed to be down (but it wasn't).  I had placed the Viking on the racks and headed out.

The swell was breaking on the outside and was chest high.  The wind was up - 15 to 20mph, and the tide was at the smaller high at 1.3'.  I caught a couple of handful of waves in just over an hour.  I rode several from the outside all the way in - threading the flats and maneuvering to catch the bumps.  I was thinking this board can go as long as the foil...  I did see a few of the foil guys out, but the wind was wreaking havoc on their rides.  They'd pick up the wave and could only get any distance if they went left (with the side shore wind) - turning right meant getting wind under the board and ending the ride in a wipeout.  I had a few wipeouts myself - taking off on a bigger wave requires a lot of juggling to keep the board from pearling and to also to keep on the wave (and not get blown off by the same headwind the foilers were dealing with).  I am really impressed with the versatility of the Viking.  It is a completely different ride from the TJ Everyday (nose rider + carvey longboard, versus a strict "glider" which I did not even really know about until getting this board).  I really like this board and I'm starting to figure out why there is so little visibility on the web about it (fans are surfing this board and it is letting them surf way more - so they spent a lot less time on line talking about it - plus they don't want more people buying gliders so they don't have to compete for waves).  And with that, this is likely the last time I talk about how much I love this board.

On to the next topic - White Plains has a resident chicken (Red Jungle Fowl sounds more intimidating).  And this gal viewed this SUV as hers.  When I pulled into the parking lot, it was hanging out on top of the vehicle parked in this spot - ON TOP.  Then when I was packing up, it was asleep on the windshield of this SUV.  While I was loading the board, it woke up and started looking at me (pretty annoyed too - like "can't you see I'm trying to sleep here??!!!).  Then it even started scratching the windshield wiper area like it was looking for food.  I'm glad it didn't claim the Odyssey.

Kauai Bounce Trip

I had to scope out a project on Kauai this past Thursday.  Here are some pictures of one of my favorite places on this planet to just hang out.  Niihau and Lehua in the background of Majors Bay.

Pulled pork food truck turned brick and mortar (so ono!)

And I really wanted to bring these two back home - they wouldn't stop following me around.  Such a handsome couple!

I wish I had more time - would have gone fishing!

North Shore Chicken Hunting

We packed up the truck and went out to grab a couple of pieces of lumber - then made a trip out to Haleiwa to grab a Kua Aina Burger (drooling)!  To pass a few minutes in hope of letting any lunch hour lines die down, we checked out the Patagonia shop.  Without fail, there were chicken families in several stages of development.  My kids went into "hunt" mode..

Ever since our trip to Kauai, my kids love to catch recently hatched chicks, study them, and release them to continue hunting bugs.  I love to hear the hen scream bloody murder - I realize the hen may not think the same of the situation as I do, but this never gets old for me or the kids.  I'm sure it gets old for the birds.

No animals were physically harmed in the making of this blog post.  In fact, the chicks we picked up got belly rubs and hugs.

And Now Day 3 - Chickens!!!!

Day 3 - our goal was to get up to the North Shore and check out the area. But first breakfast - more chicken tacos

 

And more chickens - we all were catching the chicks and trying to get them relaxed and hypnotized -

 

 Chickens....

Lookout Views (Still Day 2)

Lots to see at the lookouts - not just spectacular vistas and beautiful flora, but chickens too. This last photo makes me smile!!!

Kauai for the Day

My office was on Kauai for the day for business. There are probably more chickens on Kauai then there are people. This guy wasn't even afraid of me when I was taking pictures - almost the complete opposite like "what the F#^k are you doing on my turf?!?". Got lunch at a saimen place. And at the airport, they were acknowledging that this is the Year of the Monk Seal. I wish I could have stayed longer and had the family out - next time!