Sport Today

by **Mike** » Sun, 14 May 2000 04:00:00

In many posts, and in some on-the-beach discussions, I see or hear inquiries
about sailing sites such as, "How are the locals?" or "Are the locals
friendly?".One father seemed downright AFRAID to camp in the Gorge with his
20-ish son.

What's triggering this? Aren't almost all locals "friendly"? Who's not
"friendly", except in inner-city ghettos? I mean, we all know by now that
camping at Jones Beach near Clatskenie on the Columbia west of the Gorge is
Russian roulette, but isn't that rare? Do that many of you feel
uncomfortable, even plum worried, when sailing or camping? Are things that
bad outside the movies and the worst big cities? Am I that naiive, or have I
just lived in the right places all these decades?

Mike \m/
--
To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.

by **Mark H** » Mon, 15 May 2000 04:00:00

Well, I think you're just a naturally friendly guy, Mike! ;-)
So, let's analyze this. Possible reasons include:
1) Maybe it's just a simple common reaction of people going to a new place
to want to know what their reception may be like.
2) There have been comments in posts about travel to other countries that
warn WSers to watch out for certain situations - Costa Rica and some places
in El Carib comes to my mind.
3) I seem to recall early publicity about the Gorge many times suggesting
the natives didn't like the influx of WSers and windsurfers should be
especially careful to act respectfully. Didn't Warren Miller's "Gone with
the Windsurfer" mention this? And early editions of the Gorge guide?
4) Might it be an extension of reaction to the alleged territorial issues of
surfers at their beaches? I always thought surfer turf wars was somewhat of
a myth, until a couple years ago when I happened to surf in Santa Cruz, CA.
Some foreign tourists were a bit too overbearing in their aggressive surfing
style and were confronted rather forcefully by locals. In this instance,
the locals were the "good guys," but the resultant tension and suspicion of
outsiders made me glad I was the guest of a local.
5) Maybe modern society, the nineties, gives people angst.
6) Maybe too many of us tourists live in the worst big cities to begin with
and carry our primal fears with us.
7) Didn't they film "Deliverance" in the Gorge?

Mark H.
Da Bronx

by **Tom von Alte** » Mon, 15 May 2000 04:00:00

Quote:

> 7) Didn't they film "Deliverance" in the Gorge?

:-) Not exactly. It was somewhere in the SE/Appalachia.
I take it you didn't see the movie (or at least not both
the movie and the Gorge)?
_____________
Tom von Alten http://pobox.com/~tva/windsurfing

by **Mike** » Tue, 16 May 2000 04:00:00

Quote:

> > 7) Didn't they film "Deliverance" in the Gorge?

> :-) Not exactly. It was somewhere in the SE/Appalachia.
> I take it you didn't see the movie (or at least not both
> the movie and the Gorge)?

Ahhh ... the pitfalls of written humor ... 'Twas in Georgia, but that's not
as funny.

Mike \m/

by **Mark Fros** » Tue, 16 May 2000 04:00:00

Mike,

The concerned poster(s) probably dug up some old rec.windsurfing article
about someone that defends his w'surf gear/truck with his dogs and a rifle.

<grin>

Mark

Quote:

> In many posts, and in some on-the-beach discussions, I see or hear
inquiries
> about sailing sites such as, "How are the locals?" or "Are the locals
> friendly?".One father seemed downright AFRAID to camp in the Gorge with
his
> 20-ish son.

> What's triggering this? Aren't almost all locals "friendly"? Who's not
> "friendly", except in inner-city ghettos? I mean, we all know by now that
> camping at Jones Beach near Clatskenie on the Columbia west of the Gorge
is
> Russian roulette, but isn't that rare? Do that many of you feel
> uncomfortable, even plum worried, when sailing or camping? Are things that
> bad outside the movies and the worst big cities? Am I that naiive, or have
I
> just lived in the right places all these decades?

> Mike \m/
> --
> To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.

by **The Do** » Tue, 16 May 2000 04:00:00

It's not a rifle, it's a .41 Rem Mag Mark IIV Desert Eagle with a red
dot sight and 230 gr JHP rounds. It just looks like a rifle because
it's so dang big. And it's only one dog, unless you count me....
Though I am more likely to bite than Max is.

;-)

The Dog

Quote:

> Mike,

> The concerned poster(s) probably dug up some old rec.windsurfing article
> about someone that defends his w'surf gear/truck with his dogs and a rifle.

> <grin>

> Mark

--
Brian "The Dog" Cunningham
http://web2.airmail.net/bcunning

Some days you're the dog,
and some days you're the hydrant.

by **Tom - Chicag** » Wed, 17 May 2000 04:00:00

No Mike, you're not afraid because you travel fully armed.

Tom - Chicago

Quote:

> In many posts, and in some on-the-beach discussions, I see or hear inquiries
> about sailing sites such as, "How are the locals?" or "Are the locals
> friendly?".One father seemed downright AFRAID to camp in the Gorge with his
> 20-ish son.

> What's triggering this? Aren't almost all locals "friendly"? Who's not
> "friendly", except in inner-city ghettos? I mean, we all know by now that
> camping at Jones Beach near Clatskenie on the Columbia west of the Gorge is
> Russian roulette, but isn't that rare? Do that many of you feel
> uncomfortable, even plum worried, when sailing or camping? Are things that
> bad outside the movies and the worst big cities? Am I that naiive, or have I
> just lived in the right places all these decades?

> Mike \m/
> --
> To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.

by **The Do** » Wed, 17 May 2000 04:00:00

Quote:

> No Mike, you're not afraid because you travel fully armed.

> Tom - Chicago

You're right... I've met Mike. He has big arms. Probably pumps
a lot of iron when it's not windy. ;-)

Dog
--
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings,
They did it by killing all those who opposed them.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

by **Mike** » Wed, 17 May 2000 04:00:00

Quote:

> No Mike, you're not afraid because you travel fully armed.

Ya know what started that? Seeing coyotes all around my van when camped in
the desert (they carry rabies, and it was widespread at the time). The gun's
just sorta stayed there ever since ... just in case. Heck, if I were that
worried about two-legged critters, I'd at least close the van's sliding door
as I slept. The only invaders I've seen so far were a rat, a deer (just the
head, fortunately), and a couple of housecats.

But I do regret having to concede Clatskenie to the inbred locals at night,
because it has the steadiest wind I've ever seen on the Columbia, and can
blow hard for many days on end for 10-20 hours a day. I'll camp there again
some time, but not eagerly. And not alone.

Other than that place, mentioned in my original post, I don't remember
feeling threatened enough by "locals" to worry about stopping to sail
anywhere I've run across. I have l ocked my doors while out sailing in many
places, though, just in case. I'm probably overdue for a problem.

Mike \m/

by **Mark H** » Thu, 18 May 2000 04:00:00

Mike F sadly mused..

Quote:

> Other than that place, mentioned in my original post, I don't remember
> feeling threatened enough by "locals" to worry about stopping to sail
> anywhere I've run across. I have locked my doors while out sailing in many
> places, though, just in case. I'm probably overdue for a problem.

Hey, Paisano, I think you're ready for a road trip to Brooklyn's Plum(b)
Beach! If you bring the van, I'll bring the TECP suits!

Sport Today

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"

What's WIth "How Are the Locals?"