Lake Powell is a volitale weather area. It is in the dessert of southern Utah. I have been there when it turns from hot calm day to a “perfect storm” in 30 minutes. These quick and volitale weather changes are year round. For example, Thursday was windy, we flew kites and had Thanksgiving dinner. Friday and Saturday were calm and warmer than Thursday. On Saturday, I played scrabble in the sun with Geri in very pleasant weather. She won the game by two points. Smart cookie.
“scrabble”
That afternoon, people decided the wanted take a slide off the back of the boat into the cool (57 degree) water.
“prejump”
Judith caught the splash after the slide.
“splash”
We planned to return on Sunday. The volitale weather had other plans. Early Sunday morning, a strong (60 to 70 mph) wind blew us up onto the beach where we were anchored. We decided to try and make the hour trip into the marina and try to get on the road home. Once in the little bay where we were camped, the 25 mph winds took the house boat and blew us across the bay against the sandstone wall. We weren’t going to go anywhere. We decided to secure the houseboat as the forecast was prediciting the winds would get worse during the day. The winds were very rough.
“roughwater”
Pinned up against a sandstone wall, we decided to first secure the boat to a little nook in the wall. The nook is obviously carved into the sandstone from constant wind. We were victimized and saved by the same forces.
“nook”
We then proceeded to anchor the boat to some rocks from the stern,
“stern”
and to the beach in front of us. Those are tumbleweeds in the lake and on the beach blown across the dessert into the water.
“bow”
There we sat the rest of the day. The winds died down on Monday and we made our way home.
A great adventure with family and nature.