Two weeks ago on Sept 20 we had an epic event at Hobuck Beach in Neah Bay - the first club Luau and Beach party. Tomas Tabisola prepared an amazing Hawaiian feast including a roast pig. Ineze Arlene and Hilary Barnes helped prepare the side dishes for Tomas' menu. We declare them to be Knights of the WKC for their heroic efforts! At least 40 club members and guests attended and contributed potluck to the feast, music, and camaraderie.
Ocean conditions and weather were perfect for surf instruction and practice. Hamp All, Deb Volturno, Ken DeBondt, Jameson Riser, Linda and Cliff Beltz, and Steve Jones taught five excellent surf and sea kayak clinics over 2 days. We now have many new ocean paddling addicts in our club. I'm sure we'll be heading back many times to keep them happy. These instructors really love to share their love of the ocean with others and we look forward to meeting them again on the beach.
We also tried to organize a day paddle to Cape Flattery on Saturday but it was blown off the water. Fifteen paddlers launched from Neah Bay hoping to paddle up the Straits or toward Cape Flattery depending on the condtions we would find on the open water. But the Straits funneled a stiff 25 knot east wind and big seas that prevented us from leaving the Bay. We had a fun adventure anyway, practicing paddling in strong wind and moderate conditions southeast of Waadah Island. But eventually we decided that it was too much a struggle heading into the wind so we turned around and surfed the wind waves very quickly back to shore. We were all thinking it would be a lot more fun to just go back to Hobuck and play in the surf, which is exactly what we did until the pig was declared done and the Tiki torches were lit. The next day a clinic was held off Waadah Island with mild conditions perfect for an introduction to rock gardening.
So, if you're sorry you were unable to attend, don't worry! The weekend was such a huge success I think we can expect many more such beach parties in the future.