Sailing over the 4th?

[tjspiel]

The lake I grew up on was too choked with power boats for good sailing so I usually avoided it on the 4th.

Lake Nokomis, where I keep my boat now, doesn't allow power boats and it's supposed to be marvelous on the 4th. People stay late and there are multiple firework shows visible from the water. Have always had other plans but was really looking forward to it this year. My wife, son and his girlfriend were going to join me.

Alas the weather looks pretty iffy with a good chance of thunderstorms. So we'll play it by ear.

Did get out tonight to enjoy the sunset and nearly full moon with my daughter. She almost lost her phone getting the pic below. She tried to get on the tube straight from the swim ladder with phone in hand.

Didn't work.

Phone got very wet but she held on.

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[Shesaidno]

Nice photo!!!  Have a good 4th!  Happy birthday USA!!!

[Quantico Frank]

She would  have been a very "Mad Baby" if she had lost it, Tom. I still love that name  .

[Brian N.]

Great Photo! Weather here is "iffy" as well, but I make it a point not to go out on July 4th. It is usually a zoo with power boats, inebriated skippers, and a long line at the ramp with impatient boaters. A couple of years back my son and I went down to the ramp, not to launch, but to lend a hand to others. Most were appreciative. Might do it again tomorrow for a couple of hours. Got the idea from a boy in the "Sea Scouts", but sadly that troop folded.

[Riggerdood]

She would  have been a very "Mad Baby" if she had lost it, Tom. I still love that name  .

Good one Frank!

Happy 4th everyone! We have company in town, former neighbors from Santa Cruz, but we're just gonna hang out here, avoid the traffic, and watch fireworks. There is an overlook at the park up the street, where lots of folks gather to watch. From there you can see about 5 different fireworks displays going on at once!

[tjspiel]

A couple of years back my son and I went down to the ramp, not to launch, but to lend a hand to others. Most were appreciative. Might do it again tomorrow for a couple of hours. Got the idea from a boy in the "Sea Scouts", but sadly that troop folded.

What a great idea !

I volunteer at "Youth Sailing Resources" on Thursday nights. It's a non-profit dedicated to providing opportunities for kids to sail. My understanding was that it grew out of a plan to procure boats for Sea Scouts.

My son and his friends enjoyed messing around on the Sunfish at Scout Camp but once he got into high school, the meetings conflicted with football practice and he eventually dropped out. He learned a lot though and if it weren't for his positive experiences as a Scout he would have never wanted to climb Kilimanjaro with his old man.

[johnandcandace]

Beautiful photo and a forever memory for you guys.
Reminds us of mooring nights at Howard Prairie Reservoir, OR, wife, me, and young two sons. Sometimes I'd just lay awake in the cabin, at night, thinking I'm the luckiest person in the world. Later years we'd sail Puget Sound, WA on the 4th; we remember two of the Sound years sailing in full snow ski clothes. Then after dark the Seattle fireworks. Thanks for reminding us of good sailing memories.

[tjspiel]

Sometimes I'd just lay awake in the cabin, at night, thinking I'm the luckiest person in the world...

I know the feeling. Nothing like a night on the water to make one feel blessed. Not something everyone gets to experience. We are fortunate.

[Brian S]

Fantastic picture! Love it!

I used to have a waterproof case for my phone, and one of the accessories was this big orange foam block that it fit into. That's how I got this one from a 4th of July raft-up back in 2013.

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[tjspiel]

Fantastic picture! Love it!

I used to have a waterproof case for my phone, and one of the accessories was this big orange foam block that it fit into. That's how I got this one from a 4th of July raft-up back in 2013.

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I like the foam block idea and your raft up looked like a lot of fun !

We were supposed to have a raft-up on the 4th this year but storms (forecast and actual) ruined that. But it cleared out in the evening so we did watch fireworks from the boat while sailing.

Sailed on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th so I guess I can't complain too much.