I was so excited to get out on the water today!
Waking up at 0630, I felt refreshed, eager to get out on the water. I took care on the hour long drive from North Vancouver, with the rain making the pavement slick. Reaching Tsawwassen, pulling up to 3rd Beach, I spied a gorgeous cyan kite drifting gracefully overhead.
Getting onto the beach and setting up, meeting new people, getting the feel for the place, just left me feeling so pumped, so ready! My neighbour was helpful enough to launch me, and in my haste and anxiousness, I overlooked my pre-launch line check. "Let's go! Let's fly kites! Let'er go!", I exclaimed. I watched my kite float up lightly into the cool morning breeze and let out a sigh of anticipation, which quickly turned into a cry of frustration.
With my outside line over my inside line however, all we could do was watch it continue to arc, reach its zenith and then descend into a neighbouring garden. Alas, it was a NOMA garden light the broke my kites fall, rupturing the bladder and tearing the sail; not the patch of grass I was hoping for. The damage to my pride, to my "stoke", briefly overshadowed the damage done to the kite.
Perhaps it was all for the best. My 9m sail would have been hard pressed to stay aloft in the lighter than forecast winds. I likely would have ended up cold, wet, and walking back up the beach; frustrated.
Now as I sit eating a slice of cold pizza, the taste is bittersweet, all I can do is kick myself for rushing; and Google ways to fix my kite. One day soon I shall return.