Thermalito Afterbay

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:26 pm

Went up to Thermalito Afterbay near Chico (20 miles south) in hopes to find some wind and scope out this spot. Not enough wind to (really) kite today, but what an awesome spot! One local kiter (Ray) went for a quick 5 minute session on his 12m and my buddy did an under powered down-winder on his 11m.

This beach has a write-up on KiteBeaches - http://www.kitebeaches.com/kitebeaches/ ... hp?id=1672
Read the details on the link about this beach... it has a lot of potential of being an excilent place to kite. It's right off Hwy162 near the intersection of Hwy99, so it's very easy to get to and no parking fees. It's a quick drive, about 1 hour north of Sac.

This place blows in the fall and spring on N winds. The beach has a large grass/dirt area to rig and safely launch. The shore is very muddy, but no sharp rocks to thrash your feet on, however, you may want boots to protect your feet from sticks and glass. It's a nicer beach as compared to Folsom and much safer for beginners.

The next time it blows here in the valley from the N, we should all hit this place up instead of Folsom! Then hit up Sierra Nevada Brewery! :drinkers:

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:19 pm

That does look inviting, I have family in the area so I might just hit that up sometime. I was thinking about trying to speed kite on the rice fields.. Thanks for posting!!
L.M.G.

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:37 pm

Thermalito looks like it will be blowin' 17mph from the NE on Tuesday according to NOAA.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/ ... -121.67625

Let's hope this forecast holds!!!

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:46 pm

:( It may be raining Tuesday.

Bulldog · Post by **Bulldog** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:13 pm

They're having just a bit of trouble forecasting the weather in the Valley right now. It's the cut-off low.

They've been changing the forecast sometimes three times a day.

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:04 pm

at alameda the forcast changes at least every fifteen minutes (sucker-puff, no sucka-puff, PUFF, Puff- SUCKER pufff!, no puff, swim)
it's pure joy,
L.M.G.

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:08 am

It's looking good! Leaving right now. There will be at least three of us out there... come join us. :)

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:32 pm

SKUNKED!!! :(

Well Mother Nature can be a BITCH! The wind was saying 15-17mph when we left. The wind was expected to hit the low to mid 20's, but when we pulled up...NOTHING... actually it was around 8-10mph.

Some gusts would come and tease you, but they were short lived. I tried to go out on my 11m HY, but I could barely keep the kite in the air... I never got to ride. Rich (aka Proparoo) rigged his 16m C, but he didn't bother trying to launch it... it wasn't worth it.

A few Chico locals came down to check it out. One guy tried to go out on a 12m SLE and ended up with the same luck as me. Another guy was able to get his 18m C up and flying, but he was a little under-powered and the wind was funky, so he called it quits after a quick 5 min. session.

Oh well, it was still a good day to get away... and what a beautiful day to hang out at a scenic lake! :)

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:27 pm

tiz the time of the season...
I feel ya,
L.M.G.

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Thermalito Afterbay

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