Back to the water...

It was a beautiful drive, heading south from Beaver.  The fall colors were showing, and Mother Nature's beauty was everywhere - it made the drive a real pleasure...

Easily, the best part of the land traveling, this trip.  We are near both Zion and Bryce National Parks, and I get the itch to head back to those again... but that will be best with a real land conveyance.  So, we head on to our intended destination: Lake Powell.

We went in to Page, Arizona, to fuel up and get supplies.  Then, back through the entrance gate, paid our fees, and on to the boat inspection area.  The young lady who was inspecting our boat said, "It looks really clean," after asking all the expected questions (Where were you last?  How long were you in the water there?).  She was thorough; asked about our lines, fenders, and PFDs, as well.  When she looked at the anchor, she rubbed it with her finger, looked at me with an odd expression, and before she could ask, I told her, "It's either smashed bugs or bird crap - you can see it on the front of the kayaks and the radar arch, too."

"Ewwww."  Inspection over, we passed.

We drove to the staging area at the top of the ramp and transferred stuff from the truck to the boat.  Nope, we still don't travel light.  I drove the truck and trailer down the long ramp, made a U-turn at the bottom, and lined up to launch the boat.  The spot next to the finger dock was open (OK, there were only two other vehicles on the ramp), so I backed the trailer in, while Joan guided it off with lines.  We positioned the boat at the end of the dock (just in case anyone else needed that spot), and Joan lost the toss - she drove the truck and trailer back up the ramp and parked 'em...

I didn't just sit there.  I put up antennas, swapped out the chartplotter card, and fired up the motor to let it feel fresh water again!  We drove over to the marina office, got a slip, then to the pump out, then to the slip.  I think we will take a day or two in the marina to enjoy just being on the water again.

We walked back to the truck, got a couple things we forgot (of course), then back down that long sidewalk to the marina.  The sun was getting low, and the light was getting pretty...

The drive was pretty, but it's good to be back in the water again. :-)

On edit: a slight smell of smoke in the air tonight.  We could see it high in the sky late this afternoon.  The biggest effect: the moon is absolutely orange here tonight...