Lake Powell July 18, 2009
What a difference a week makes! After leaving Provo Utah, we had smooth running about 250 miles to Brent and Dixie’s “old” house. Great Host and Hostess! Not only did they take us for over a hundred mile scenic drive (including the new digs—and the type of place a C brat would kill for—room for the RV, at least 3 boats, and 4 antique cars, plus specific hobby rooms! I can also say that I have finally been into Capital Reef National park—a place I managed to miss in the past. The next morning a great breakfast and some advice put us on the road to Powell. No problems with axels, brakes or bearings—temps all below 105 degrees (and at times no more than ambient temp). We arrived at Powell by about 2:30, moved things on and off the boat and by 4 I was on my way to a trailer repair shop which the new owner ‘s mechanic recommended. They will replace the one hub and all of the brake system by next Friday, in time for the “transfer”. I could have done it, but there were many logistic problems in the hot weather!—especially since I have already torn down each wheel in the last several days. Interestingly—the brake fellow said that they did NOT use water proof in the trailer bearings.
Let me tell you about HOT. I clicked the IR thermometer on toward the white painted dock at the Wahwep Marina—130 degrees! Air temp was 107 degrees. Marie had to drive the trailer as close to the dock as she could—I don’t think I could have made it up the hill to the parking lot. Fortunately my handicap permit allowed me to park the truck near the ramp to the marina last night, when I cam back from dropping off the trailer.
I put the window AC into the front window of the boat so that at least the dog could have some cooler air. We slept well with the AC on low, and about 70 degrees (73 was the coolest it was outside. We also used the “H20” Cool fan to blow cool air into the V bunk
This AM we washed off some of the road grime—it never fails when you put a good coat of wax on, then some oils and soot get on the boat—as happened with Frequent Sea, in the last 1000 miles of driving. A little touch up each morning should take care of these spots—but we didn’t bring the buffer on the lake….
By 9 AM we had the boat holding tank pumped out and were under way. There is a little haze and smoke from forrest fires up near Bryce, but what a beautiful (and ho0 day. We ran some at 6 to 8 knots and some at 14 knots to Oak Bay—what a difference with the lake up as high as it is You don’t don’t have to go around Antalope Island. Everything looks different, even the favorite landmarks! We have only rough charts for the lake (no chips in the plotters, so that we have to check off all of the bouys as we go along, and I D each canyon and feature.
We have had two swims (first of the last 7 weeks traveling) today already, and I suspect hat an evening swim will be in order. The temp in the cabin is 99 degrees. Marie is lying down—trying to get some spasm out of her legs. A xxxx 55 foot Sea Ray with about 30 passangers came night by us at about 12 knots (4 foot wake). I should have turned into the wake, but instead I let it slide under the boat—but the problem is that it flared up Marie’s back…..Update, the Soma and Lortab did the job—and she is off looking for a place to fish. I just hope I don’t have to carry her back!
Unfortunately our favorite spots at Oak Bay are taken—but we found a nice sandy beach—with some breeze—a bit off the land, so hotter than we would like. But we seem to be acclimating fast—faster than we did to the 45 to 55 degree cold in Alaska!
Unfortunately, the fishing is not good here, but we will go fish some structure in the morning.
We will have 4 to 5 days on the lake, then a day intense cleaning and then a couple of days with the new owner, and then head East to Pensacola.. I’ll have to admit that it will be nice to not be pulling a trailer, but there is a good chance that our next “second or third boat” will be trailerable!
I believe that Hunky Dory suggested backing off several clicks on the brakes. We have disc brakes and don’t know now to do that, since they seem to be self adjustable. I still believe that electric over Hyraulic is the best way to goo. But if a mechanic damages the brake lines, you will still have trouble,,,no matter who makes the brakes or what type of brake..
July 19, 2009
Only on Lake Powell, in July! Well, hot continues, but things are much more tolerable today. We have acclimated to 103 (in the boat), with breeze, and we are not going to have a repeat of last night. Decision made not to run the generator, and thus no AC. At bed time it was 98 in the boat and outside. We went to bed with 3 fans—one over each bunk and one through the hatch foreward. At about 6 AM the temp was finally down to 85 degrees. The wind as hot, and strong all night, off the thermal source of the rocks and canyon walls! My part Native American life partner tolerates the heat better than I do….
Of course before dinner last night was had the usual dumb things which happen at powell. For example a 20 foot runabout “Scouting for campsites” came plowing along about 100 feet off the bow—fortunately we have the motor up and pulled off into 3 feet of water, so no damage to the boat. The usual buzz bombs (jet skis) –my favorite was about a 14 year old teenager pulling her 7 year old brother in a tube behind the jet ski—no observer, and the youngster fell out of the tub several times—and the PWC rider was oblivious to it for several minutes….(or course the gal was not of legal age to drive a PWC. Then there were the boats with out running lights coming back to camp after a hard day’s drinking and sunning! Several house boats came in just about dusk, and had problems finding a camping spot. I awoke several times in the night—and noticed that one of these had its running lights on, search light on, and people on deck with flashlights. The wind had come up to about 25 to 30 knots (if you listened to the radio in the AM it sounded as if there had been a hurricane! When I woke up a couple of hours later this same house boat was tied up to the pump out station—a creative solution—but I wonder if the mooring for the pump out barge was made for a 60 foot 3 story house boat?
We got up at 6 AM and got a few hours work in waxing and detailing the boat before breakfast (and sunup). Later in the morning we ran down to Dangling rope to pick up some more cube ice. These temps are murder on the ice, even with the outer banks chest and keeping a wet white towel over the ice chest. On the way down we heard an antelope point rental boat calling their services—one of their engines would not start in the “storm” of the previous night. Finally Dangling Rope mechanical services answered and ascertained that Antelope point would not hear that rental boat. Dangling Rope tried to find out where the rental boat was: The skipper, asked where he would find that on the GPS—when asked what was the nearest marker bouy—and had no idea of what bay he had been in the night before.
We ran up several canyons---you are taking your life in your hands, with the ski boats(OK Wake board boats) and PWC speeding up the narrow canyons. We came upon about 6 people swimming—and of course were running slowly—the skipper yelled out “thanks—you are the only one who has slowed down all day). We found a delightful place for lunch—and a jump off the boat for Marie and Miss Priss. But the holding ws not adequate for an overnight stop—the real plus, was that probably no other boat would have come up that far—we only had inches on each side of the boat between the canyon walls. When we came back down, we happened up on 15 young children swimming—they all swam to one side as we approached---but there was only one adult in a ski boat with them (we suspect that there had been another ski boat involved at some point.) We warned the other boats who were speeding up the canyon…
We also noted a number of fast boats which seemed to be housed at one of the marinas, where the owners run up the lake each day—for sight seeing, fishing, touring or skiing, We assume that these folks stay at one of the motels, or lodges or in an RV—yet are still able to spend most of the day on the lake (just a little gas costs!)
The Artic King AC unit has brought the temp in the boat from 103 to 91 in about the time I took to type the above—less than 30 minutes. We cannot hear the Honda EU 1000 I generator over the AC unit. (the generator is on eco throttle, plus running the refrigerator and battery charger)
Of course hydration is an issue—we have each consumed at lest 6 pints of water today, plus a couple of soft drinks. Marie recycles the water bottles, after filling them with a Brita filter. (maybe part of our ice consumption is related to the cooling of all of these bottles.).
After we get the cabin cooled, we will direct cold air with the O2 fan into the foreward cabin (same fan we used to blow “cool” air into the bunk two days ago.)
I think I would want the built in AC (as the RV type such as we use in the Tom Cat) if we spent many summer days on Powell. Officially the temp is 108 degrees. We put up the window coverings and have cut foil reflective bubble wrap to fit on the outside between thewindow and window coverings. This wrap drops the I R measured temperature of the inside of the coverings by at least 5 degrees—and more like 10 degrees when in the sun.
Tomorrow will be our last full day on the lake, then down to Wahweep on the 21st, spending the 22nd working on detailing the boat.
That night we stayed at the confluence of the San Juan and Lake Powell arms, behind some rocks—and the wind blew, along with one of the spectacular rain storms. Wind up to 35 knots, alternating on the beams. No problems with the Manson Supreme anchor.
The next day, some more canyon explorations, fishing (Marie caught one large mouth bass, but she put it back—as being too small—it would have made a meal for only one…or Miss Priss.)
That night we had a devil of a time finding a camping spot up Last Chance canyon. By the time we found a semi decent place, it was windy and the rain started again. At least the rain cools down the boat—and we had run the AC only two nights out of the trip.
The last day on the lake we took our time and ambled along at less than 6 knots. It was sad to leave the lake and Frequent Sea. We stayed for the last night on the boat in the Marina. The next day we started at 5AM cleaning—and finally at about 2 PM went and got a hotel room for the night. As we might expect, the new owner showed up (I would have also) in the mid afternoon (we were in his slip). We had not previously had the pleasure of meeting Steve Dalton (Hooked on Powell)—until then. We had dinner together, and then Steve helped me the next AM finish up the detail work on the boat. After going over gear and systems, we did sea trials, and Steve handled the boat like a pro! Steve is a great addition to Sea Brats and I know we will hear many more travels from Frequent Sea (the name will stay with the boat.
We had another dinner with Steve, and had a great time getting to know him. Unfortunately his wife was working (assumedly to pay for the boat—so we didn’t get to meet her).
Today (the 24th) we got up at 5 AM and packed the truck. Marie spent most of yesterday re-organizing our gear and putting things into boxes and “action packers”. We still managed a place to lie down when driving---but the “foot” is only about 12” wide. (I don’t think Steve believed that we could get all of that “stuff” which went with the boat out of our truck).
We had the truck serviced first thing this AM and made Albuquerque by 6 PM and our first fill day’s drive toward home—without a boat trailer.
Thanks to all for following our adventures, and we hope that we can contribute more down the line!
Glad to hear that Dr. Bob and Marie made it to your place... nice to be able to pay back some of that hospitality they so kindly share.