By William Van Alstine
September 25, 2024
TSPS’S BBQ at Lake Inawashiro Sept 14-15 included Sunfish sailboats, wakeboard boats, an evening BBQ and a morning of French toast… many members brought their own camping equipment, paddle boards, picnic items to share. Two days on this beautiful lake was fabulous!
All in all, 19 Members and families showed up to have a pretty good time. This was the second time for TSPS to attempt this lakeside ordeal, with a chance for everyone to try something new, to enjoy a truly spectacular place, and get to know each other a lot better.
The organization could have benefitted from the wake-boats NOT being a 30 minute drive from the other side of the lake, out of sight of the rest of the group, the wind NOT being so iffy at the beach, a little less rain on Sunday, and someone’s better ability to get the windsurfers and canoes to the beach. But the event actually went swimmingly well, given the logistics and the last-minute weather.
In fact, sponsoring a BBQ that far from Tokyo (a four hour+ drive) requires more than a couple of boats and a fabulous steak BBQ to be attractive! And, in fact, this involved a lot of fellow Members’ help and contributions to get off the ground. Brendan, Alex D., Jeff Canaday, Gary Thomas, Maria, Svetlana and lots of others deserve at least a mention for carrying so much: thank you, guys.
On the day of the event, its a beautiful morning. By noon, people are filtering in to the marina, far away from our actual camp, so some Members take a few boats and get out on the water while another group forms a caravan to drive through the forest where the event is being held. Tons of incidents and drama in between.
At the BBQ folks are just starting to party. People on the Sunfish, on paddle boards, swimming, the fire is started in the grill. Brendan shakes my hand with a smile.
In the morning, I wake-up to see Frank ready to depart in the Sunfish, the sun just rising over the nearby mountain ridge. I get a fire going to make French toast and Marina joins in. Its a blast. We choose teams to sail the boats back to my cottage with Alex in charge.
Suggestively, the wind is dying and clouds are coming in. There is a table covered with breakfast food still and suddenly, rain starts. It increases in strength as people rush the sails and rigging into the container before they get too wet, attempt to break camp, load things getting increasingly drenched back into their cars; just a tiny bit of pandemonium.
One of the team drives back from the marina (after delivering the boats) but by now the water is cascading from the sky. I see fleeting glimpses of the team scattered here-and-there as they scurry to finish loading. We wave our goodbyes hurriedly as I observe a table of leftover food and drinks – a lot of bread on the table under plastic, but no way to rescue them; packs of ham and chicken filling with water. And I am of course soaked.
Nevertheless, the event was largely successful and I think everyone had a good time. We should definitely make this an annual event but maybe devote a little more organization into it. The volunteers who helped this year were fabulous, and TSPS owes you a huge debt of gratitude!
So please add your own observations and Comment in the section below, and let everyone know how YOUR experience was?
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Bill is an avid boater and reasonably tolerable Commander of Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron for the last two years. He has held several positions on the Bridge including as Treasurer and also as Secretary. If he is not making granola at his shop in Tokyo then he is probably on, in or close to the water. #wakeboard, sunfish dinghy, windsurfing, canoe, sailing, swim
While quite a drive from Tokyo, (about four hours) Lake Inawashiro was well worth visiting. The lake and surrounding environment are peace itself. And first-time lake sailors (like me) might be surprised at how easy it is to read the wind on the water. Once out of the lee of the trees, sailing Bill’s lovingly restored Sunfish was a blast!
The hours melted away and before we knew it, it was time to head back in for a feast of steak, salmon, and an assortment of vegetables all cooked on a charcoal grill. You can see it somewhat in the pictures. Good food and good company was enjoyed late into the night and while we retired to a local ryokan, we heard the next morning from the campers that they slept under a clear and starry night.
On the second day, we returned to the lakefront to help sail the Sunfish(es) back to Bill’s property during the early stages of a rainstorm (with accompanying thunder), which made for a very cinematic last activity on the waters of Inawashiro. All in all, a lovely, temperate respite from the bustle and heat of summertime Tokyo. Would be very happy to head back up there again next year.