Really there probably was. The region was once heavily populated by American Indians and explored heavily by French Explorers. But this tribe is different.
They are wind junkies. I once was. Somehow I got responsibility and that faded and I lost it.
20 years ago there were these tribes on every continent. Windsurfing was the "in" rage, and most everyone had a "Windsurfer" brand one design board and sail that was identical to everyone elses.
We had a great group of families that traveled together, sailed together, and lived life on the weekend together each summer.
The One Design days were cool.
This meant the janitor could compete on the same equipment as the CEO, and it came down to who had the best skills and desire that won at races, but more than that, it meant everyone was equal, and we all learned to windsurf. It was not uncommon to find 60 plus at a local spot on a good day, who just turned out to have fun. The higher the wind, the harder it got, kinda like climbing a step hill on a trail race, there are different gears needed to handle these different challenges.
I have been reading a great book, and tis group syncs up with the spirit of the book. They still get together to sail, often. If they are not sailing they are having fun. Even when they are sailing they are having fun. Born t Run is about running for fun – Great parallels,
Anyway, Friday evening the wind machine of the afternoon shut down, and folks were packing up gear when a few folks arrived and floated in out of now where, or perhaps from the past. It would have been fun to get in some fun on the water.
The History of Windsurfing: A lost pair of old friends are found again.
In the mid 1980's the Schwietzer family was centric to the windsurfer brand. So - when Ted and Tara showed up with an updated version of a windsurfing van, with 2 old school windsurfer boards on top, it took me back to the days when we traveled all points on North America, with barely a dollar to eat with, but somehow managed to pay for gas and entry fee to get into the next regatta.
Going to events back then was just fun, racing was fun, winning occasionally was fun, and being with friends from all over the world was fun.
Here they were again, first time in 20 some years. This event had a feel it was going to be different. As the sunset over the lake in a spectacular display of orange and red, we retired to the sunset supper lounge and restaurant, established in 1838. Old school place. Kinda looked like it could be fun latter.
After the gear was away we headed over under the leadership of the Fond Du Lac tribe (Kevin) to the tribal house.
Tribal drink flowed as did the flow of more members from the local gang. So we were many strong, and the discussion ranged from wind, history, massage techniques, body parts, and then slid into the deep abyss. Somewhere in the enchantment I ate a wonderful piece of Salmon, and laughed. The issues of the day were far behind.
I had found a lost tribe of wind junkies, and their friends of the last 20 plus years were joining them at the tribal lodge.
There used to be a word – I think form the sixties – Karma.
Perhaps way to deep into words for a good time and being with friends.
There is however something going on here.
Perhaps it is Karma. If that is how it is actually spelled. Not a word I normally allow in my vocabulary.
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