If you're hardcore, you ride there with just a shortie. ;)

make plans for a trip to the Gorge in Oregon.. just outside of Portland.. during the summer months.. July / Aug..

Nice temps.. amazing..AMAZING wind.. you will be 30 minutes from Portland so there is tons of stuff to do on those days of rest (you will need them).

I did a 10 day trip there last summer and could have rode 9 of the 10 days.. typically on my 9m kite (i weigh 200 lbs).. blowing 20 to 30 each day.

Thing about going to OBX or some places in TX is that you are pretty isolated from any city life. In Hood River you can be downtown in one of the nicest cities in America in less than 1 hour from your launch spot.

If you are the camping type and dont need the nightlife.. then maybe OBX is another great vacation bet..

If you check GoogleEarth or www.maps.google.com you can see that there is an AWESOME downwind camping marathon in Texas. From Corpus Christi to South Padre there is nothing but 150 miles of east facing shoreline with nothing, i mean nothing, there. Ride 50 miles then camp out, ride 50 miles camp out, etc..

Another awesome run (and much closer) is from Naples/marco Island down to Marathon. Probably want a boat for this one. 95 miles straight south, would work on a NE, E, W or NW.

Hey Big G, feel like ridin to the keys??? Your boat would make that run yeah?

Use your kite for a tent/ sleeping bag and catch fish with your bare hands and hope it rains for water?

There's always Tuckerman's.
But I wouldn't bother bringing a kite, just skis.

[QUOTE=Skyway Scott;27333]I think the snowbirds provide the local economy with a large proportion of our income. Probably not a good call to treat them poorly.

You're right, but as a lifelong local to this area they do get on my nerves from time to time. What i don't understand is why developers are tearing down all these hotels and shoppes and building condos in their place. Take a look at clearwater beach, perfect example. As a tourist your options are now very limited as far as where to stay and where to spend your money, and guess what? Those condos aren't selling!!!! Half of the condo projects haven't even come out of the ground yet due to lack of interest. All part of some master plan, i guess. So i don't hate tourists, but i still love the saying "If its tourist season, why can't we shoot them??"

My boat is ready for a Keys trip anytime someone want to make the trip. I may even thow in a few dollars to sponsor that. There would be a couple of good stop along the way if necessary.
1. Port Charlotte
2. Boca Grande
3. Marco Is. (last stop to the Keys)
4. Key West.

I am good for that trip! Consider my boat in as the lead...

Sweet Big G ! I knew youd come thru.
To save gas I thought we could trailer to Naples then make the 95 mile run down to Marathon. We can take turns kiting and driving the boat.

Hell yeah Big G. Count us in. I will chip in gas $$.

Chris

thats 100 miles as the crow flies over completely open ocean

maybe make it in 8 hours if your course is true

I would do it with at least another boat in case one breaks down ( or at least have two engines if only on one boat )