Back on the Water

The truck is fixed and home. The boat is home. It was unbelievably dirty. Even though the guys in St. George washed the worst of the oil off the exterior, it had been parked next to a construction site for two weeks. In St. George, they have red dirt. It. Gets. Everywhere. 'Nuff said.

Sunday we finally got back on the water. Almost by accident I found out we'd set up the foil incorrectly and the center of balance was all wrong. It's a lot easier now, I got up and rode! I can easily say this is the most fun thing I've ever done on the water. EVER.

First, here's Scott coming out of the water like a rocket. He's close, he'll be riding next trip out.



Here I am riding pretty much in control and flying just a little bit.



And another, similar picture, but with houseboats in the background:



And here I am really out of the water. Honestly, this is higher than I'm really ready to go, my control isn't all that great yet, but boy is it fun.

The trip home was eventful....

After (fortunately) a great vacation, the rear axle in the truck self-destructed 30 miles east of Kanab, UT. This is not especially close to home, or especially close to anything else -- except, of course, Kanab, but that's a lot like not being close to anything at all. After some phone calls a really nice guy came and picked up the truck and the boat, and after verifying that credit card wouldn't melt under the strain, hauled both to St. George, UT, which is at least closer to home. Just for grins, here's what the boat looks like after the "event". We've got some cleaning up to do, once we get everything back home.

Lake Powell, Part Three

Here are some random pictures of the lake that I liked. Here's the boat tied up in the morning. The water was so still, I liked the reflections in these pictures.

This is a view out of our cove, looking at the cliffs.

And another view from the boat, looking towards the main channel.

On Sunday afternoon, thunderstorms came through with just enough rain to cool everything down. Here's a picture looking north from our campsite, just as the sun was peeking out.

Looking south as the rain moves towards us..."

... and the wall behind our tent after the rain passed.

Lake Powell, Part Two

Here are some pictures of us riding the Ski Sky. Here's Scott getting out of the water...

... and falling. This thing is fun for the people in the boat, too!

This is another picture I liked, Scott in the sparkling water waiting to launch.

And this is me, flying a little bit. I have no idea how I did it, and I crashed right after this, but it was fun while it lasted.

Lake Powell, Part One

We spent Wednesday night in the trucks at State Line marina, so we could launch at first light. Here's the sunrise we were treated to Thursday morning just before we launched.

Here are some pictures of the boat at the campsite Thursday night shortly before the sun went behind the cliffs.

Friday morning glass, before we headed out.

Here's a couple of shots from near where we camped. This picture looks back towards the campsite, just looking at the cliffs in the area....

... and this one I just thought was cool, I liked the sparkles on the water.

Here I am riding my birthday present, or sort of riding, getting up out of the water was tricky, but man that thing is FUN!

The more-usual outcome of my rides. I guess I should say getting out of the water "under control" was the tricky part. Can't wait to get on the ski again, it was incredibly fun, even though I have some steering issues to work out. Note the strategically pinched nose; I've taken a lot of grief for that manuver, but I'm pretty proud, actually, that I rarely get water up my nose.