May 3rd.
We woke up to a real change in the weather. A cold front had dropped the temperatures to "long pants warnings" and the wind came up. Steve and John had both been here for a couple days and were anxious to head out. Since things didn't really kick off for the gathering until tomorrow, we waved good-bye to them and set about getting Wild Blue ready to cruise again.
It was cold enough to need the space heater and white caps nipped at the breakwater... I thought about Steve and John heading towards Bullfrog. The weather will turn back to gorgeous in a day or two, but I understand their desire to get out there.
This afternoon, we came upon a guy with a C-Dory cap as we walked down the docks. I had seen Rana Verde in the parking lot, so... "Let me guess... your name is Chris?" He didn't know whether I was psychic or psychotic. We introduced ourselves, and I offered to give him a hand launching. It quickly became obvious that Chris didn't need our help as he efficiently set about getting Rana Verde into the water. However, I did get a ride on his well organized boat from the ramp to the slip next to Wild Blue.
We got a call from Dixie, letting us know that they'd be in tomorrow; we decided to stay in the slip one more night. We had a nice meal with Chris, another long walk back to the boats, and turned in.
May 4th. It seems like forever since we've seen our friends Brent and Dixie, and we were excited when we saw Discovery at the top of the ramp! By the time I walked from the marina to the ramp, they had her in the water. We exchanged hugs and how-ya-beens, then got ready to shove off. We're here to see more than the marina.
Brent told us that another couple, Warren and Lori (onboard Lori Ann) would be coming in tomorrow to join the gathering. We decided to head out for the night and come back to Wahweap to give them a hand launching (this is their first trailer trip with their new boat).
We motored to a cove near Lone Rock and beached the boats.
This Lake Powell style of anchoring is new to us: put an anchor on the beach and then tie two more lines from the stern to rocks or a stake on the beach. The wind was still blowing pretty good, so I dropped a stern anchor off as well (belt and suspenders technique? :wink: ).
A lot has been written here on the C-Brats about Lake Powell. I had some sailing friends who said, "It's a lake, mostly houseboats," implying that "it isn't the ocean." Friends, let me tell you that this place is something very special... it is beyond a mere "lake". Take the Grand Canyon, add Zion and Bryce National Parks, and throw in over 2000 miles of shoreline... this is cruiser paradise for boats like ours. The navigating can be challenging and some of the narrow canyons will get your heart rate up. If a boater comes here and thinks "just another lake", they have no soul. As Bill and El have said, "This place is magical."
Best wishes,
Jim B.
:roll:
Chips, salsa, chili con queso, margaritas, cervesas. It was still chilly and looked like rain; WIld Blue had the only camperback. We managed to fit 7 of us in the cockpit (and, yep, the scuppers do let water IN when you get the stern below them).
