7/21 Salt Ponds

[Kenny]

I didn't have enough time to go to Lincoln and the wind seemed a little too west for Rush, so I headed to the Salt Ponds. Wind blew 15 - 20 during the 2 hours I was there and as steady as ULSSB. The brine has gotten really thick on the edges and has evaropated leaving 1/2 inch thick salt with a gooey mud layer underneath, so high-top booties are a definite necessity. Launched at the east end and rode upwind to the west end and then downwind on pure glass water due to the I-80 windshadow. It was incredible.

I wore a pair of Speedo goggles and that kept the salt out of my eyes. However, I got overconfident and screwed up a big air. I should have been wearing my nose plugs. A shot of brine went up my nose and down my throat. That stuff burns like crazy. My throat was so inflamed that I was gasping for air and trying not to puke. Awful feeling subsided after 10 minutes, but it took 12 hours for my sinuses to calm down. Got to keep you head out of the water at the Salt Ponds - it is not the Caribbean even though it may have the same color of water - it was perfectly gorgeous yesterday.