Saturday 16th July - Windsurf ***** - The Maor at Felixstowe – sunny and hot.

 Foil – 16.39 knot max, 15.42 knot ave., 10.20 knot hour, 14.59 knot mile, 33.73 km., 7.98 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and Evolution Freeride foil with a Sailworks Retro 7.5.

After an amazing 3 hr 40 min. bike ride this morning, I didn’t think there would be enough wind for a foil this afternoon, then I got a WhatsApp message from windsurfing mate Robert saying he, Michael G and Mark D were heading to The Manor even though Landguard was only showing around 12 knots I decided to go and check the conditions. As I thought I could not park in Squiz Lane so continued to The Manor car park where Robert, Micheal and Mark were nearly ready all rigging around 6.5 with a nice onshore breeze, it looked really good. So, I quickly returned to Squiz Lane and managed to squeeze in near the beach which was busy but I had enough room to set up. It did not take long to rig my now favourite Sailworks Retro 7.5 and put my foil together by which time Michael was out but it did look fairly light but he did get flying in the end so quickly put my shortie on, sadly now more holes than neoprene! With the tide only just turned and the wind dead onshore I took care getting off the beach but made it with no problems as I beat away from the shore. I thought it was way too light for a good session but I was soon proved very wrong! You had to run down a wave and pump like crazy to get flying but once you were up it was like someone had switched the wind on, just amazing flying parallel to the busy beach full of people enjoying the lovely weather:) The sea was super smooth and my speeds are slowly improving but still not pushing too hard, just enjoying some mellow foiling. The first run I made it to the pier, then Bent Hill, then The Fludgers and finally I made it past the lumpy Jacobs Ladder getting just short o The Dip when I hit something in the water, I thought another fish but a seal popped up nearby so I hope I did not hit him! More pumping to get going as I sailed back down the coast, because of the strong currant on the point it really roughs up and I did loss control once as the foil breached and I ended up in the water but was soon on my way again:) A few more runs before I was getting tired it had been a busy day so far so decided to call it a day and headed back, being super cautious I jumped off way too early so had to swim for a bit but got everything ashore with no problems just as windsurfing mate Jason from Mistley arrived for a chat, here in Felixstowe with the family:) It was then time to pack up but not before I was given a yummy sausage sandwich from a lovely group having a BBQ on the beach who said they thought I deserved it for all my efforts:) As I was packing up Al Wiz set off, his foiling has come on well with loads of flying on his new 6.4:) So a perfect day enjoying the Suffolk sunshine, cant believe you can have so much fun in 12 knots of breeze:)

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Saturday 16th July – bike ***** – Two rivers including lunch at Kirton Church– sunny and hot.

The good weather continues with another glorious sunny day but the supper hot weather has not arrived yet:) Its Stat – urday on wordle where the winner from last weekend picks the word, Mag thrashed me this week, she is on a roll! With a chance of a sea breeze later we thought it was a good idea to head out on our bikes for breakfast, so with Weetabix and fruit packed we set off around 9.30, Mag gets side tracked by a neighbour and has a long chat. We make a small detour to take something back to Homebase, deliver another letter to our son’s house with Mags e-wheel playing up, it keep going into full power which scared her! After resetting it, it behaved its self and then Mag followed me as she did not know where we were going? I had my setting on manual as I didn’t think I needed any help on the flat Trimley High Street, in fact I absolutely flow all the way to our breakfast spot, Kirrton Churrch with Mag struggling to keep up. It was not until we found a nice bench in the shade, I realised I had my power slider set at about one third, no wonder I was whizzing along and there was me thinking I was super fit! We enjoyed breakfast relaxing in the quiet church grounds surrounded by wild flowers and butterflies:) We then take the footpaths and tracks leading to Falkenham Church and onto Kings Fleet where we see several kids doing their Duke of Edinburgh hike with full rucksack! Mag decides to take Marsh Lane route home while I take the Deben path to Felixstowe Ferry to check the wind. There is loads of action at the jetty with the ferryboat busy, loads of yachts on the river and the lady rowers a bit further down river and all in wall to wall sunshine with hardly a cloud in the sky with a nice onshore breeze, probably a little marginal for foiling but great to a day on the beach. I carried on along past the golf course then around to the busy Fudgers but I slowly cycle along the prom weaving in and out of the people, nice to see so many people enjoying s day by the seaside. There are several boats out to sea including another large container ship coming in. As it looked too light for windsurfing, I decided to continue all the way to the River Orwell to ship the container ship come in. Then back through Landguard Nature reserve, Langer Park and home around one just in time for a yummy sandwich with Mag. With the breeze still light I do my exercises in the back garden, then I get a WhatsApp message from Robert about 2.40 saying he, Michael and Mark were heading to The Manor so I decided to go and see but didn’t think I would be able to park in Squiz Lane?