A bit of a breeze...

After two nights in the Wahweap Marina, we were more than ready to get out and about on Lake Powell.  We topped off water tanks, untied dock lines, and shoved off.  The wind was predicted to be 15 to 20 today, but it was light and variable when we left.

The pass at Castlerock is still open; we had about 12 feet of depth going through there.  That cuts off a few miles, but even more important: it keeps you out of the Narrows that runs by Antelope Marina.  Even without wind, the boat wake going through the Narrows is frequently like a washing machine.

The last time we were here, that pass was high and dry.  We have no destination or itinerary - the plan is to just chug along at 6 knots, take in the beautiful scenery, and find a protected place to beach the boat or anchor out.  Early, so we can sit back and enjoy.

We considered Last Chance Canyon, but it was too early.  Then, Friendship Cove, but looking to the south, West Canyon appeared to have some interesting possibilities.  As we motored down the opening to West Canyon, we made mental notes of places we passed that looked good.  Our preference here is to find a “soft” place along the water’s edge... and avoid places where it is rocky.

The water is pretty clear, so once out of the 400+ foot deep main channel, and approaching shore, we could see down to the bottom in 10 to 12 feet of water.  “Does that look rocky to you?” Joan asked from the bow.

I stepped back to the cockpit and got a boat pole - stuck it in... “Nope, that’s soft.”  We inched our way towards shore until the depth-finder gave us, the shut off the motor and titled it up.  The forward momentum stopped when the bow made contact with the bottom a few feet from the shore.  “Yep, that’s pretty shallow here... and soft.”

I stepped off the side of the boat and grabbed the main anchor; Joan let out the chain with the windlass, and I stuck it in onshore.  Then, we set another anchor off one side of the stern, led back to shore, and another line off the other side of the stern, tied to what used to be a bush.  As long as it doesn’t blow like stink, we should be set for the night.

We picked a spot where the sun would set behind a cliff, and we would have some breeze on the shady side.  Well, that was the plan.  The light breeze was pretty shifty in this canyon.

Not much boat traffic, but we did pass a houseboat and two other boats beached as we came in... occasionally, a boat will run past, but we can’t see any other boats anchored or beached from our spot. 

By late afternoon, the wind kicked up, gusting above 25 mph.  I looked out at the second stern line, tied around a bit of dead bush with a couple rocks on it... yeah, that should hold.  And it did.  The wind stayed up ‘till well after midnight.

After dark, we sat in the cockpit, admiring the stars... with no city lights to dilute them.  The scenery here is spectacular, but the view into the heavens tonight was as pretty as I’ve ever seen.