4th of July Poll-- Boating Or No Way, Too Many Idiots, BBQ Only-- What plans?

[motosno963]

back in 2010 we went out on the bay and wakeboard all day then did some at night when the fireworks were going off..fun time..but i must tell you where we were there were few boats so it wasnt bad

[bergermaister]

Maybe hit the lake for a few hours in the morning as the river is still a raging/churning mess. Was the same way last year but we went anyway for a few hours - a guy drowned literally a few hundred yards from us. Didn't hear about it until the news the next day. Turned out the guy was an off duty sheriff deputy, no alcohol involved. Just a mean, nasty current and cold water so this year we're saying "no thanks."

Spend the afternoon at a buddy's splashing in his pool, drinking all his beer, and turning his cul-de-sac into a war zone after dark. Then hightail it outta there before it's time to clean up.

[Boonejeepin]

I am thinking that I might head out very early or not at all. Too many non skilled boaters for my taste.

I'd like to be off the water before the parties start.

[Boonejeepin]

Maybe hit the lake for a few hours in the morning as the river is still a raging/churning mess. Was the same way last year but we went anyway for a few hours - a guy drowned literally a few hundred yards from us. Didn't hear about it until the news the next day. Turned out the guy was an off duty sheriff deputy, no alcohol involved. Just a mean, nasty current and cold water so this year we're saying "no thanks."

Spend the afternoon at a buddy's splashing in his pool, drinking all his beer, and turning his cul-de-sac into a war zone after dark. Then hightail it outta there before it's time to clean up.

What lake do you go to?

[bergermaister]

Probably the same as the maiden voyage - Lacamas up here in the Couv. Small lake, but that means fewer boats, no wind, warmer water (I'd guess it was mid-upper 60's). All depends on the weather though.

If the family is iffy on going you wanna meet up?

[Boonejeepin]

Let me know.... I am always open to getting on the water. I am off Mon - Wed next week.

Any downsides to the lake? Seems like a good spot to me from your description.

[bergermaister]

One small launch, then a 10 min no wake ride through a marked channel out to the lake. Not a big deal. One other launch with no dock at all and a rocky beach I avoid. No real downside I guess. I was worried about getting an expensive reminder that there's a sound ordinance that I sort of forgot about. Got the stinkeye look from a few homeowners sitting out on their little private dock that I thought for sure were going to turn me in.

[kaneboats]

Looks like "No Way, too many idiots" won out by a slim margin. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. Next year the 4th is on a Thursday. Should make for an interesting long weekend.

[moombadaze]

We rode our bikes down to the park and ramp about 1pm, parking lot was overstuffed with trailers, park was jammed, waverunners everywhere zipping around, and for some strange reason most of the boats out were direct drive closed bow ski boats--very strange for our lake, and a couple bay boats pulling tubes. So glad we just hung poolside and bbq'd some burgers and dogs and spend the day in the swimming.

[jester]

My Mom did tell me not to play in traffic but we watched her cross a 6 lane street jumping over barriers on both sides.

On a plus note I hit the both ramp all 4 times with no traffic at the ramps. I had some good Karma. Two lakes in a day. First lake was for wakeboarding, second was for fireworks. Should have taken today off work.