Welcome to the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

Lake Powell is the greatest place on earth. You may not believe me, but also, you may not have been there. Miles of perfection stretched out under the hot sun, surrounded by magestic red rocks and steeped in family tradition. Why do I love Lake Powell so much? Oh, I don't know...

One of the top draws is Ultimate tubing. I believe what you're about to witness is Team Beta. It's hard to tell how fast we actually are moving. At least, we like to think that we're moving really fast and performing unthinkable feats. Basically it's 5 tubes, around 7 players at a time, endless jumping, leaping, switching tubes, hanging on for dear life, and trying to prevent good 'ole dad from knocking us all off. If you challenge him you'll probably hurt worse the next day. When you fall off (because you WILL fall off) the boat doesn't stop. We just leave your little head bobbing in the vast lake until a sea-doo comes to fetch you. Ultimate is the only word that describes it. I highly recommend such an activity.

Another draw is the family. They are a dedicated bunch. Here's Kristen, dad and I posing after the Homemade Houseboat Olympics Awards Ceremony, brought to you by the moms of the Houseboat. Well done moms.

We are blessed to have good friends join us every year. Good friends make the world go round. I wish I could get the whole bunch in one shot. But we were never that organized. Here are 4/5th's of the 2008 crew.

I have decided that this should be a 2 part post. It might get too long and my gushing might get annoying, so I'll write more later. Probably tomorrow. If your appetite for Lake Powell charms is not yet satiated, Marilyn has a great album on her blog at http://robandmare.blogspot.com/2008/08/lake-powell-2008.html. Marilyn's the best.