Lake Powell

I have been in a BAD mood all day. Not only do I have an acid tongue, but acid seems to be oozing from every pore. Don't visit me today. But because I detest living in such a state, I decided to do something fun and cheery, so you will get another post. I guess there really is opposition in all things.
Anyhoo, I am going to post on our recent trip down south. I'm starting at the end of the trip so that those who don't check my blog for awhile will be able to read about the trip start to finish.
Lake Powell has been my favorite lake for years. I learned to water-ski here while I worked at the Grand Canyon. I love the unusual beauty and the warm water. It's so different from most lakes. You miss the shade at times, but hey, you can always bring your own if you plan ahead (which leaves me out - being a busy mom preparing to leave a few hours after a week trip to Park City, and looking after two vans and 9 kids - How did my parents do it?!!!) We started on a semi-private location on the lake. There wasn't much of a beach, but the kids got to "cliff" jump, which was fun for them to do and fun for me to watch. We had a little blow up boat we took turns paddling around; add to that a plethora of floaties and you have the makings of success.
We went to a pavilion for a bathroom break and lunch. Then we went to a beachy part for shallow water and the "beach" experience. Then the fun began. We were only going to stay 1/2 hour. That became 1 1/2 hours when both of our vans got stuck in the sand!!

Here's the story: We foolishly drive down a sand road, stop at the side of the road to unload, decide to move the vans because it's not a great place to park (duh!) and in that 10 minutes the vans have sunk a foot down into the sand. Paul and I borrow a shovel, start digging, nice couple in large truck stop to pull us out, man in big truck pulling boat gets impatient and tries to drive around us, gets stuck. We get out the van out, Paul drives it to safe place, comes back to help truck and boat out; they succeed. The truck/boat man leaves his trailer partially on the road to come and help us get our second van out (which I've been trying to dig enough sand away to help for the inevitable pull). While pulling our van out, another big truck and boat come, get impatient (can you guess the result?...) and you guess it - get stuck in the sand. (As I see them start to go around I'm vainly wishing them to stop, but oh well.) We get the second van out, Paul moves it to safe location. The man in the truck who helped us goes to turn around so he can get his trailer. Meanwhile another truck comes and gets the 2nd truck and boat out. Meanwhile still, a small sedan comes, gets impatient for the trailer to be moved, goes around and...NO WAY!...gets stuck! The car is on a severe tilt and the drivers side is buried half way in the sand!!! Please! This is getting ridiculous! Paul gets back, helps the others dig out the car. (Those poor people who were just there for a relaxing day at the beach. They parked smart and spend over an hour digging us all out. God bless the kind.) We all walk to the vans, get loaded up, drive to the bathrooms to change, and get home after 12:30 in the morning. What an adventure.