Oops, should have checked those knots

[Escondido]

Well there is no boating in Central Texas this week. I wouldn't want my boat in the mess now anyway but all the lakes are closed. But its better news than this guy, he is done for a little while longer.

http://www.podcast.nu/node/129777

We have been collecting jet skis for the past week, had 4 at one point floating by. One guy came by looking for his brand new MC. It was tied to a floating dock, now its basically a bobber.

We are lucky, we only received 9" in 7 hours, the big rain was downstream or there would have been some much bigger problems on our lake. It is incredible what 18" (at one point it was coming down at 4.5" per hour) of rain can do.

In Marble Falls the damage is incredible. Boats still attached to their trailers sitting on top of cars. Cars stacked on top of each other. Could see from one overpass a boat left sitting squarley on top of the dock. One commercial building we saw, the large roll up doors were collapsed into the building and the entire back wall was blown out, only thing left were the frames for the windows. A road maintainer/grader was picked up and carried across a 5 lane road and deposited.

[CP3]

Man thats a lot of rain. did you get to keep any of the jet skis? :D

[dogbert]

We've been fortunate to be spared most of this. We got a ton of rain but were still able to get out and get some riding in.

[Domsz06]

holy cow!! that's insane!

[dogbert]

We get this about once every 7-8 years, usually right after the drought ends.

[Domsz06]

yeah, that's true isn't it dog?

[yllw20]

dog,

is your lake finally back to level? I know you were down some 20 feet? everylake is flooded up here except a few which they are draining out.

[dogbert]

Our lake is overfull, but only by less than 1 foot. We're still getting more run-off, but it's been pretty nice out there in between storms.

[bk3104]

Dog, your doing good on Buchanan. I wish I would have pulled my boat out of LBJ and put it on the trailer. At least I could then drive up to Buchanan and get some water time. We briefly had water over the dock on LBJ last week. Good news is the jet ski's and boat are up high enough. They are saying LBJ and the rest of the lakes are closed at least through Friday. I'm heading out Sat AM to mow, weather permitting, and to see how much crud is in the water.

[Ruune]

medina is looking good :D

still moving my dock back and loving every inch gained on the lake.

[Escondido]

Man thats a lot of rain. did you get to keep any of the jet skis? :D

The only ski still not claimed was a real beater with an out of date registration. Two nice sea doos had come up but they were by to claim those very quickly.

BK3104 - Where are you on LBJ?

[bk3104]

Sunrise Beach, on the cove behind Sandy Creek where it meets the main lake.

[dogbert]

They're now saying that this is the first time all the main river basins have been at flood stage since 1957. We had a bad drought (just like the last 2 years) just prior to that.

But hey, that's Texas for you. If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes. It goes from one extreme to the other...it's been that way forever. And no, it's not caused by global warming.

[Domsz06]

ha ha ha, very true dog

[da.bell]

It's caused by Al Gore!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[Ruune]

very, very true dogbert- the last time it flooded (2002) we were still "legally" in stage 3 draught water conservation. Literally the day after the water stage 3 went into effect it rained Medina came up 50 feet and they had to evacuate castroville, due to the possibility of the dam toppling over. That was the same storm that brought canyon lake over the spillway for the first time and carved out a canyon lake gorge: http://www.cceo.org/gorgesite/images/DCP_1386_JPG.jpg

yes, this was carved by water in one day. Thats Texas weather for you.

[Domsz06]

texas and ok weather is just crazy!

[dogbert]

I think it's mid-western weather in general. It's very violent. We have some people in from the Ukraine and they report the same thing in their country, which is similar to the mid-west climatewise.

[Domsz06]

yeah it has to do with inbetween two mountain ranges and then the warm gulf:)

[dogbert]

It's caused by Al Gore!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

All that hot air? :D

[Domsz06]

for sure!!

[da.bell]

All that hot air? :D

Yup, certain is... :D

[AustinSouthSide]

Ruune - I remember driving down River Road along the Guadalupe River the spring after that flood and the destruction was crazy! There was so much debris and trees everywhere, it was like the road was cut out of the middle of a tangled forest! Houses completely wiped off their foundations, cars stuck in trees, crazy...

Speaking of Canyon Lake, we are considering that as an option until Travis is back open, do you have any info on it, like where to drop in to get to the good areas to board? I went once a few years ago and there was not much cover so when it got windy the lake was all chopped up. What is it like up near the north end as it narrows into the Guadalupe River? Anyone know? I am going through withdrawals with my lakes being closed! Going to Decker this weekend to get a quick boarding fix. Me and every other wakeboarder in Austin...

[Ruune]

check out www.texaswakeboarders.com -I'm a moderator on there. Many of us ride on Medina, but there are a lot of people from Canyon. You might want to drop a line to Lakedude- he's been going out there quite a bit lately.

[Escondido]

Some of the lakes opening back up but not sure I would put my boat in yet. Still a lot of big debris coming down. Maybe a couple more days to let it settle. LBJ and Inks opened today and Marble Falls tomorrow. Nothing definite on Travis yet.

Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out this global warming thing. It supposedly caused the big hurricanes two years ago, so how do you explain last year?

2002 flood, I remember the pictures of the houses (not trailers) floating down the river. Unfortunately some of them were the same houses that were knocked down in the 1998 flood. I've lived in South/Central Texas 10 years and seen 2 100 year floods and 1 500 year flood. Each of those bracketed record droughts. Neighbor has been tracking the rain and we have had 38" so far this year compared to 25" the entire previous year which is why Lake Travis was in such bad shape.

As Dog pointed out, we definitely have the extremes. But at least I don't have to winterize my boat most years.

[Escondido]

Sunrise Beach, on the cove behind Sandy Creek where it meets the main lake.

Is that the cove back behind the big hill? We refuel at the marina on Sandy Creek since they closed Tropical Hideaway. We are in Highland Haven, the cove right past where Tropical Hideaway used to be.

There are several Tige's that come into the cove.

Do you have your service done by Ski Dock? I need to find a Tige owner on our lake that would want to split the trip charge with me for regular maintenance.

[bk3104]

Yep, come into Sandy Creek like your going to the marina but keep to the right. Once you go through the narrow opening we're on the right. Dock has the boat and 2 jet skis & picnic table on the water side. Heading there tomorrow (Sunday) AM to see how the lake looks and mow the grass etc.

For all my warranty/seasonal maint I use Ski Dock. If I need something simple I go see Mike at Sunrise Beach Marine.

[AustinSouthSide]

Ruune - Thanks, I will check out www.texaswakeboarder.com.

The good news is that the LCRA site says they MAY open Travis this weekend, I have my fingers crossed.

[Ruune]

dont forget the "S" in www.texaswakeboarderS.com! :)

[AustinSouthSide]

Whoops, wakeboarders!

[dogbert]

BTW, that boat going over is a Tige 21v. I guess the owner is looking for a replacement 2000 year model of the same boat. Wonder if they like the color red?

[chpthril]

BTW, that boat going over is a Tige 21v. I guess the owner is looking for a replacement 2000 year model of the same boat. Wonder if they like the color red?

Is it still MIA or have they found it?

[Domsz06]

i'm gonna go MIA unless you count pieces as part of it being found.

[dogbert]

Is it still MIA or have they found it?

I think it was a total loss. It got caught in the mixmaster at the base of the dam. Small chunks is what I'm guessing. I'm sure it's a bio-hazard as well.