Saturday, August 8, 2009

Lake Powell Trip - July 26th - July 31st

The long awaited trip finally came to fruition.  My parents and my older brother, Justin and his wife, Jamie flew in from Minnesota and then my younger brother Ivan with his wife, Dee all joined us to head off on an RV to Lake Powell.  Thank goodness we took an RV considering traveling with a ten month old boy and how sitting in a car seat for nine hours straight would not have gone over very well.  


We picked up a house boat at Bullfrog Marina.  After a quick overview of how to use the houseboat we headed off...in the wrong direction.  I had asked the marina pilot which way was south and some how he gave us the wrong information.  After finally looking at our GPS and checking it with another GPS we started in the right direction.  

Trying to beach the houseboat is quite the interesting process.  All the brothers are screaming at each other, "right forward throttle...no, left back throttle...are you doing anything."  Even my mom would sometime jump in to the tense moments as we tried to steer this behemoth boat against a current in a particular direction while near rocks and shrubs under the water.  That first night we would drive into a cove to later find that all the spots were taken (first come first served for whatever spot you think is suitable).  Finally we went into one cove and there was another boat there but there was a spot to the left that looked like a decent spot to beach.  Not like we are experts in beaching.  Well, it turns out that we got a great spot.

Earlier in the morning McKye and I would head off for a hike.  This was a way to calm him down so that others in the boat could sleep in a bit.  It is pretty fun to hear him making noises as we would scamper up these rocks.  If his mom only knew where we hike...someone might be in trouble
McKye's Aunt Dee playing with him in the water.  Thankfully he loved to swim and play in the water.  

Our first anchor point, a huge rock probably weighing about 1500 lbs. pulled free after the wind pulled the boat away.  Finally we figured out a better way to anchor the boat.  

My beautiful wife advertising her favorite cold beverage.

We had the opportunity to water ski in these beautiful canyon walls...gorgeous.  

Angie and I had the opportunity to hang out and go on hikes together and get a bit of kayaking in.  It was a great time...a little different with a ten month old baby but still quite the blessing of a trip.