June Ends, The Summer Begins

Yesterday we got out to the lake, and there was barely a breeze. The lake was glass. We opted to ski around the lake. Al did the full lake including large coves, which works out to be about 10 miles of skiing. I did just the perimeter of the main lake, which is about 7 miles of skiing. That made a great kick-start beginning for endurance.

Today the wind was slight, giving a very small wind chop across the lake. We were out a little later than usual, about a half hour after dawn. Great fun!

Al doing a nice on side cross.

Marsha doing an on side cross (skiing at 30 mph now, still a little slow but getting better.)

Thank You, Tropical Storm Debbie

It's been an ugly weather week. Tropical Storm Debbie slowly meandered across Florida 250 miles north of us. The outer bands of the storm provided us with much needed rain and some unwanted wind gusts and tornadoes. We've been trapped indoors by the rain, and everyone is bored and edgy from lack of exercise. We are pretty desperate to burn off some energy.

The bright side, and the side we are so very happy about, is that the lake is up a lot. It's within an inch of last summer's level! That isn't as high as other summers (last summer being a drought year without ANY tropical storms in our area) but it certainly eliminates much of the problems boaters have had so far this year.

Rain

We decided to go out this morning on the chance things would be good for skiing. It has been windy lately, and the winds have been from the northeast to east-northeast which puts maximum chop on our lake.

The rain has stopped for a while, and the dawn sun glows on wispy clouds.

We needed to run the boat, so the short ride to the lake was pleasant. The lake itself was choppy. We don't ski on choppy. Life is too short. We ran the boat a bit, then circled home, enjoying the birds and other critters along the creek.

A limpkin hunting snails and freshwater clams.

One of the local limpkins was searching for breakfast along the creek bank. Limpkins are a tad bigger than ibis, live in the marsh/swamp areas around here, and make a huge racket at any time of day or night. Having one of these birds living next to your house is an experience. Their call is an amazingly loud piercing wail, like the worst colicky baby ever.

But the real story is the rain. We've had a bit already, and there is a system in the Gulf that is intensifying. Regardless of which direction it heads, we will get rain this week. How much and for how long depends on its final direction.

A rain producing system is developing in the Gulf.

Better Late than Never

It seemed like it would never come. My first ski of the year. Finally.

We were out just after dawn. Al waits patiently while I get the boat in position for his start.

Al always skis first. The forecast is bad for the next few days, so he takes a long, enthusiastic ski.

I wasn't sure how long I'd be skiing, so I had Al take a picture of me and my ski just in case it was too short for a shot on the water. 

Al kept my speed slow (28 mph), and I found I had no problems! I'll get back to my normal skiing speed in a week or so.

I had a fun out there for a good long ski.

My first ski of the year, and I am HAPPY!

Happiness Is A Sunny Dawn

We've been happy to have lots of afternoon and evening rains this week. We've even had a couple of wet mornings. The lake level is coming up nicely.

The end of the creek by the lake at dawn.

It was clear, warm, humid, and barely breezy when we walked the cat and drank coffee before dawn. As soon as it was light enough, we headed out to the lake. The lake temperature is a pleasant 84 degrees and a nice contrast to the 75 degree air temperature.

Al had a long ski.

Al went out for a long ski, a good 4 to 5 miles of sking. That's about our average length for the middle of the season, but not for the second ski of the year. He'll sleep soundly tonight.

Once again I skipped skiing. It's been a long week with a couple of days where major knee and hip flares left me pretty much non-ambulatory. (Slow hunched limping does not count as ambulation.) The rheumatologist just shrugged his shoulders and said not to worry, the meds are kicking in nicely. I'm off for my next infusion treatment tomorrow, and I'm hoping to ski later this week...if only on a wussy kneeboard!

Out on the Lake (At Last)

A front is heading our way, and today is supposed to be windy. But around dawn the wind was gentle. We decided to head out and see if we could beat the wind and get in a ski.

All was quiet on the creek heading out to the lake.

Even the public boat ramp was quiet. Only one truck and trailer in the parking lot.

This is why you ski early. It is the best water of the day.

By the time Al was gearing up, the wind was already increasing.

We found the quietest water on the west side of the lake. Al had some fun.

The wind kept increasing. We called it a day and headed in.

Al's cleaning up the boat and gear, and the neighbors are barely up. (And they wonder why we're in bed so early every night!)

The lake is warm and skiing is great. I should be OK to ski next week. (Can't wait!)