Day 6 - September 12th

Began cloudy, went partly cloudy, finally sunny and warm day.  Very pleasant!

Leg 4 - Day 6
North Central Cross Lake to East Arm of Cross Lake
(6 miles, 1.5 hours)  (click to enlarge)

Warmed up some coffee cake to have with coffee during my Bible study, prayer time, and reading. Afterward I had peanut butter on toast with some cereal.  I got ready to move by bringing back aboard the fire ring and propane bottle, then I paddled the kayak over from where it was pulled up on the SW shore around the point. Hooked up the tow bars. Got the tablet ready to navigate and then went out to pull in the lines and gang plank.  Backed away at about 10 am, which is normal. 

Kayak tracks well with tow rig
(click to enlarge)

Commentary While Heading Southwest Through Channel

I headed out a different way on my way back down lake just to check out a site to the NE of me. Could see it but could not tell whether it was a good one or not?  Too far away.  I kept moving and put out the solar panel on the fore deck since the sun was making attempts to be seen.  Saw some boat campers on the south end of this part of the lake.  I nice site on an island. 

Keeping the solar panel lined up with the sun
(click to enlarge)

Steering Station & Equipment
(click to enlarge)

I did some video of the narrow passage out to the main lake (see video above) and observed another houseboat ahead departing the lake.  A close but different design.  It had a deck on top and seemed to have production pontoons of some kind.  Took a pic but not sure if it will be clear enough since it was a half mile away.

Competing Houseboat Company
Has roof top deck with table-nice!
(click to enlarge)

I rounded the corner of the peninsula I was adjacent to and ran by a fishing boat as I headed NE up into another bay for the night.  My plan was to head to the end of this bay since it would be out of any traffic that might exist.  However, as I approached the site I found it not well used and could not approach close enough to get the gang plank to reach, too shallow!  So I turned around and headed back to an island site I passed coming in.  It looked good as I went by. 

First Boat Landing A No Go!

Island Site - Second Effort And More Successful!

Backup Island Boat Site-East Arm Cross Lake
(click to enlarge)

Walk Through of Island Boat Site - East Arm of Cross Lake

I ended up using the island site but the wind was brisk out of the SW so I had to put out a stern guy line to keep the boat from coming around sideways.  I had a heck of a time getting the throwing line to shore when throwing from the port stern.  Very awkward to throw from that side unless you are left handed, but I made it!

After I got settled in I went up on top of the island with a glass of wine and my chair and just enjoyed the warm breeze coming through the site.  Read a chapter out of my novel and then headed back to the boat to get ready for dinner.  I was supposed to make some Italian bread sticks and they have to rise for 45 minutes so I thought I would get those ready.  After much work I got them prepared and began to make dinner of spaghetti, coleslaw, bread sticks, and wine.

While the bread sticks were a failure!  They did not rise enough so I think the yeast might not have been good or I may have put in too much water?  The water was supposed to be warm but it was cool and was evidently not warm enough.  I threw them out and buttered and fried a ciabatta roll instead.  Good dinner in spite of the failure with the bread sticks!

After dinner I did dishes and then went up to sit again for awhile and read, hoping the breeze would die down some so I could fly the drone.  After an reading a bit I returned to the boat to take a shower.  Due to the warmer day, the water heated up almost too fast compared to the last time and was pretty hot!  Felt good though to be refreshed with a shower and clean clothes.

Finally got to fly! This is a drone overflight of this boat site area.

Afterward I went back up to sit on the hill to enjoy the beautiful view and read another chapter of my book and my post dinner desert of wine and chocolate almonds.  The wind dropped enough so I retrieved the drone and made three flights, all went well. Got some good shots

Then I put everything on chargers and went back to sitting in my chair up on the hill and read another chapter as the sun was setting.  Still warm but cooling off with the sunset (below).

Serene Sunset View From Island
(click to enlarge)

The solar battery got charged up today so I had enough sun for that, but I also found that two of my batteries from yesterday’s flights did not get charged!  Not sure what happened there?  So, I have a deficit on battery power again.  Hopefully some sun tomorrow will put things back on track?

Getting dark at 8 pm so I will hit the sack soon.  Although it may be warm enough to go sit and watch the stars tonight.

Beautiful Evening, No Bugs, Warm, Moon Shining Off The Water
(click to enlarge)

Actually, I did go out and sit for awhile and then came back for my camera and tripod to take some pictures of the moon shining on the water (above).  A sliver of moon setting in the west was beautiful as it shown on the water. Took multiple pics and finally went back to the boat when it got too dark. Read a another chapter in my book and hit the sack.