It was one of those days (which included SHT by others)
So we head to Lake Castaic this morning get there around 10. Pull up and the ranger asks: when and where was the last lake the boat was in? (worried about bringing in the invasive mussel). I'm honest - 3 weeks ago - Lake Mohave. She says - boat needs to be inspected but you won't pass because I saw water coming out of your bilge. No arguing with her so we head back down the hill. Siphon, scoop and rag out all the water out of the foot locker where the fat sack is.
I'm obsessive about keeping a clean dry boat but I forgot that a huge monsoon rolled through laughlin the last night we were there and the foot locker must have filled with water and didn't drain out (added that to the list of things to clean).
Okay - we go try the other entrance. Ranger says you can't launch today. I'm confused and ask why - she says the other gate called and said you can't launch. Crap - whatever, leave.
Go to another lake we haven't been to (Lake Pyramid) about 30 minutes away. They let us right in. Great! The ranger is on the loudspeaker telling the inconsiderates that you don't prep on the ramp - move off now and come back when you're ready. OOH - not bad. Ranger telling parents to get kids in life vests - now!. WOW.
We launch - wife and one son go to park the truck and my other son says "Dad one of the bunks is missing on the trailer" Crap (sorry favorite word tonight). I'm sweating now - can't find it....see it floating 10 feet away. Cool get it - son takes it to truck and uses duct tape to keep it on. Can do permanent fix at home. No more sweating.
Okay the worst is behind us. Let's go have some lunch. The SHT's start. Seadoo almost runs into me in the no wake zone - within 6 inches. Push him away - apologies - okay.
Get into lake. The algae is blooming. Whatever. Have lunch start touring the lake. Not so bad. Son wants to go wakeboarding. Find a quite area. Board for about 5 minutes and everyone boarder, tuber and jetski converges on the area. Son almost gets run over by a boat and jetski as they are racing each other. Okay - get son out of water - not safe.
Move to another part of the lake. Going about 10 mph and son says tuber at 5:00. Great communication. See the boat. Son yells dad floor it left NOW. Do so and look back as this jerk is 15 feet of my starboard WOT not looking at me but at his tuber and boat is aiming at me. Get of danger - have a few stare downs. Not interested in having a verbal fight.
Family looks at each other and says - this lake sucks - people are idiots - we are out of here.
Back at the ramp. Son is pulling truck around. Lady in a car....in a car - no trailer stops in the middle of the ramp perpindicular to traffic. WTH? Load boat. In wash down area cleaning everything. Some moron decides that he should honk his horn for 5 minutes (not exaggerating). Another family pulls up next to me to clean their boat. He says the idiots are coming. Ranger is down at ramp nabbing people for DUI tests.
What I learned (4th time out on boat but have Sea Doos for 5 years). Don't go to Lake Pyramid. Wet vac foot locker out when I get home. Remember to assume that everyone is capable of a SHT whether they mean to or not.
Most important. Its better to be on the water with the family than at home doing chores.
So we head to Lake Castaic this morning get there around 10. Pull up and the ranger asks: when and where was the last lake the boat was in? (worried about bringing in the invasive mussel). I'm honest - 3 weeks ago - Lake Mohave. She says - boat needs to be inspected but you won't pass because I saw water coming out of your bilge. No arguing with her so we head back down the hill. Siphon, scoop and rag out all the water out of the foot locker where the fat sack is.
I'm obsessive about keeping a clean dry boat but I forgot that a huge monsoon rolled through laughlin the last night we were there and the foot locker must have filled with water and didn't drain out (added that to the list of things to clean).
Okay - we go try the other entrance. Ranger says you can't launch today. I'm confused and ask why - she says the other gate called and said you can't launch. Crap - whatever, leave.
Go to another lake we haven't been to (Lake Pyramid) about 30 minutes away. They let us right in. Great! The ranger is on the loudspeaker telling the inconsiderates that you don't prep on the ramp - move off now and come back when you're ready. OOH - not bad. Ranger telling parents to get kids in life vests - now!. WOW.
We launch - wife and one son go to park the truck and my other son says "Dad one of the bunks is missing on the trailer" Crap (sorry favorite word tonight). I'm sweating now - can't find it....see it floating 10 feet away. Cool get it - son takes it to truck and uses duct tape to keep it on. Can do permanent fix at home. No more sweating.
Okay the worst is behind us. Let's go have some lunch. The SHT's start. Seadoo almost runs into me in the no wake zone - within 6 inches. Push him away - apologies - okay.
Get into lake. The algae is blooming. Whatever. Have lunch start touring the lake. Not so bad. Son wants to go wakeboarding. Find a quite area. Board for about 5 minutes and everyone boarder, tuber and jetski converges on the area. Son almost gets run over by a boat and jetski as they are racing each other. Okay - get son out of water - not safe.
Move to another part of the lake. Going about 10 mph and son says tuber at 5:00. Great communication. See the boat. Son yells dad floor it left NOW. Do so and look back as this jerk is 15 feet of my starboard WOT not looking at me but at his tuber and boat is aiming at me. Get of danger - have a few stare downs. Not interested in having a verbal fight.
Family looks at each other and says - this lake sucks - people are idiots - we are out of here.
Back at the ramp. Son is pulling truck around. Lady in a car....in a car - no trailer stops in the middle of the ramp perpindicular to traffic. WTH? Load boat. In wash down area cleaning everything. Some moron decides that he should honk his horn for 5 minutes (not exaggerating). Another family pulls up next to me to clean their boat. He says the idiots are coming. Ranger is down at ramp nabbing people for DUI tests.
What I learned (4th time out on boat but have Sea Doos for 5 years). Don't go to Lake Pyramid. Wet vac foot locker out when I get home. Remember to assume that everyone is capable of a SHT whether they mean to or not.
Most important. Its better to be on the water with the family than at home doing chores.
