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Got
a late start home from work on Friday the 6th. Finished loading
the boat around 8:30 pm, still early enough to leave but checked
the road reports and found it was snowing like a mutha at the tunnel
so decided to leave early Saturday morning.
On the road early, still a couple slick spots on I-70 but through
the Ike with no problem..over Vail Pass still no trouble. Stop for
gas at Hanksville, Ut and discover a few things missing from the
boat, most notably my sleeping pad. Tough way to learn that no matter
how tight ya wedge stuff in, if it ain't tied down, it's gone.
Pull into Bullfrog around 2pm, launch with no problem, park the
truck, load the dog and head out, first stop Moki canyon for a campsite.
Finally found an acceptable site (not great, acceptable, more on
that later) pitch the tent, set up the chair and table and decide
to do some fishing. Rig up a couple rods and cast off to explore
some of the structure in the main channel..realize I didn't buy
a license. Being the upstanding individual I am, it's back to the
Marina for a license.
Headin back to Moki, I encounter a disabled PWC in the main channel...tow
them back home. Finally finish that around 7pm..tired, frustrated,
hungry, head for camp. Caught 2 channel cats off the back of the
boat while heating the Dinty Moore. Feed the stew to the dog, eat
the fish myself...best part of the trip.
Up at first light Sunday, tent is hotter than heck..head for the
houseboat area at Halls to make full use of Rich's marvelous report..find
out the damn dog is diving in the lake to retreive my topwaters
everytime I cast. Fifth time I have to drag her butt back into the
boat I figure this has morphed into a photographic trip with little
or no fishing. Don't want to make the 100 mile trip to the nearest
vet to get her "unplugged."
Cruise the lake, find a great new campsite in what would be a water
cave if the water were 15 feet higher. Head back to camp, load up
the stuff except for the tent, (burned my fingers on the smoldering
aluminium poles so I figure I'll come back for it when it cools
off) While I'm setting up new camp, wind comes up, imagine that.
Get back later to find the tent in the water, all poles broken or
bent beyond salvage...good thing I'm now camped under a ledge. Dredge
up tent, back to new camp to find a houseboat full of about 16 twentysomethings
trying to commandeer my spot despite seeing my coolers, stove, table,
chairs, etc. After a few minutes of serious debating I dissuade
them from the attempt to usurp my spot. (e-mail me for details,
it's amusing)
Now the real fun begins...head out to the main channel at the appointed
time to call home and check in...I can see Navajo Mountain but my
cell phone won't work..what's up with that? Back to the marina to
place a call and find my cell phone works great standing next to
the pay phone at the store. In the meantime I've discovered that
some yahoo in the parking lot decided my trailer had too many lights
and decided to remove one. Thanks pal. By now of course, the boat
shop is closed and there's nobody at the station to repair it for
me. Resolve to be standing at their door at 8am Monday to get it
done with and reserve a room at the lodge for Tuesday night. Back
to camp, 4 more channel cats caught while cooking supper. Put the
filets on ice for later reference.
Heading to Bullfrog Monday morning I find the gas gauge on the boat
isn't working when I run out of gas at the no wake buoys. I say
to myself "self, this is a sign....this trip is over",
head back to Moki, pack up and head out. Recover the boat no problems,
pull up to the boat shop, they don't do trailers!!! Bid goodbye
to Powell and head for Offshore Marine where they fix the trailer
in no time and I'm on the road.
Stop for late breakfast at a little diner on the road, (I won't
mention the name but it's between Bullfrog and I-70..you do the
math) great food...2 hours later I'm sick as a dog. I now have first
hand knowledge of every rest area and most of the gas stations between
Grand Junction and Denver.
Is that a Chevy Chase movie or what? Final fish report for this
trip...6 channel cats, 16 brown trout, 4 brook trout, 4 rainbows..(the
last half of the vacation was spent at a family reunion in the Black
Hills and the stream that bisects my in-laws' ranch is marvelous)
On the positive side, assuming there are no serious bodily injuries,
there's no such thing as a bad trip to Lake Powell..only opportunities
to burn bad trip karma and insure future trips will be trouble free.
Sorry to be so long winded..Fair skies and tight lines.
Read
about my 2003 Lake Powell Vacation here
Read
about my 2003 Estes Park Vacation here
Read
about my 2004 Moab Vacation here
Read
about my 2005 Arizona Vacation here
Read
about my 2005 Crested Butte Vacation here
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