Mike and I felt fairly comfortable at the start of our sailing adventure today, despite not having a bow chaser in case of trouble. After we approached the middle of this Colorado Lake (about 6 acres of water), we saw another side of Gary which we just hadn't seen before. We were becalmed for quite a while and while Mike and I were very patient and calm, Gary began to show some frustration with the wind. Meanwhile a huge thunderhead began to cover the countryside to the west of the pond. It was really big, about 25 miles north and south and who knows how deep. Rain squalls followed it and we began to look for bailing buckets. There were none. Mike headed for shore, but it was still quite far when the stinging rain came. The chop increased and peals of thunder boomed across the water. Suddenly Gary shinnied to the top of the mast and raised a closed fist to that angry, black, roiling mass. He shouted above the spashing of the waves and the hiss of horizontal rain, "Spoil my afternoon outing will you!! Here I am!!! Come and get me!!!! He was suddenly on deck yelling above the din. To the tops, men. Rig the top-gallants! More canvas, men!! More canvas!!! And when he said the following, we were quite sure he had really lost it. "I'll follow him around the Horn, and around the Norway maelstrom, and around perdition's flames before I give him up." Triple grin and triple winks.
All in all it was an adventure we will not soon forget!
Tracy and Mike
