The Yellow Kite

Tocco won a bet against me (what the heck!) and got a kitesurfing photo shoot as a result. Good for you T-dog, you deserve it.  The photos aren't behaving and won't stay where I put them, so they're out of order, but no biggie. You can see T in all of his glory in any order. When you do look at these, know that you are seeing this man doing his favorite things pretty much EVER in the world: kitesurfing, hanging out with his girl, watching the sunset, vodka-lemonading, talking to all kinds of other surfers, being at the beach. Behold:

Salty

Friday we went to our favorite local beach after work. I met T with two vodka lemonades, a camera, and all of his kiting equipment. It was a kind of farewell surf session for him and his friend since his buddy was moving away the next day. It's pretty sweet to be the only ones on the beach as it gets dark. It feels so summery, like you have endless time, and the colors are so soft and pretty. But then it gets very cold, and everyone's cup needs a refill and it's time to go. 

T's friend came over to hang out for the rest of the evening. This guy knows his sails - he has two engineering degrees and was hired to figure out how to make sails even more streamlined, and faster, for America's Cup sailboats. Not a small gig. But what cracked me up was Tocco! This guy totally knows his sport. Every step of the conversation Tocco was like, oh yeah, this and that, sails, sails, sails, past, present, and future. Not only that, he knew endless sail variations, has tried them all out, and also knows the English and the German words for all the parts. I tried not to be too amused. But I was loving it. This is why I call this water boy Salty

Crissy Field Day

Over the weekend, Tocco and his buddy had the (brilliant? stupid?) idea to hire a guy with a boat to drop them off at the mouth of the Pacific, under the Golden Gate Bridge to kitesurf. Apparently, that's where the "good" wind is. But dude didn't show up on time so T and his friend went out on their own, into a swarm of other kiters at Crissy Field. I have no interest in doing this sport myself, but I must say it's amazing to watch. All of these huge sails, kites, windboarders, and sailboats on the water, doing their thang under the GGB is a sight to see. 

T and his happy place. 

The downside is it's soooo super windy out there when he does this! I was hanging around fairly ok with getting sand in my eyes until I lost both my coffee, and my hat then had to call it, and go back to the car. Them's the breaks. 

Notice there are no humans on the beach but kiters and their stuff? Yep, TOO WINDY.

But we had a really good time. It always feels special to come back to this spot which I would claim is the best spot in SF. Afterwards, the wind died down and we warmed up with a change of clothes, beers and company with a friend. Solid.

Friday

Mark Peckmezian

This weekend we'll try to rouse ourselves from this rainy sleepy week to work in the garden and paint the lower hallway (maybe not?) And on Sunday, Tocco gets to go kitesurfing for the first time all season and he couldn't be happier. While he does that, I get to watch, jog, stroll, search for shells, and take photos. Cap it all off with a drink at sunset. So relaxing. Hello weekend.