I want to tell you a few things about visiting Lake Powell which straddles the states of Arizona and Utah. First thing is if you ever get to visit Lake Powell, consider yourself very lucky. The family has just spent the day there and I feel like one lucky girl right now. Lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky. (I’ve been meaning to say that for a long time now because I feel so lucky to even be on this trip, but I am feeling particularly lucky today). Second, having been through a massive storm last night, I want you to know that when thunder and lightning hit the canyon, it can be a bit scary. The lightning explodes in the sky, illuminating the clouds like a great glass light bulb and then comes the thunder which rumbles on and on forever as it echoes and rolls between the canyon walls. (It kept us up for quite some time last night.) Third, the couple at Lake Powell Water World (where we rented our pontoon) are nice people and are both very interesting. I had a bunch of questions for the man who helped us. One of them was “What do we do if a lightning storm crops up while we’re out on the water? Do we try and pull it (the boat) over for a few?” His answer: a simple, ‘No. If it’s your time, it’s your time.’ Hmmm. They are also huge animal lovers. The kids enjoyed visiting their 17 pooches (all but 4 are rescue dogs) and a virtual aviary of tropical birds (some from Michael Jackson’s Neverland) as we filled out paperwork. Fourth, having spent a day pottering around the lake, I now know that I absolutely, without question want to rent a houseboat for a week! Fifth, make it a point to get to Lake Powell some time before you die. Perhaps you can swing in on your way home from Carlsbad. Sixth, be sure to stop off at all the cozy coves that are hidden around the lake. We had a wonderful BBQ lunch at one of them. It was a place where we could grill and have a drink or two, Aidan could fish, the boys could rock climb and the girls could swim around in the water. Seven, be careful about swimming just anywhere in the lake. Although there are a lot of tubers, waterskiers and jetskiers around, it is still a huge boating community here and some spots are better choices than others. Find yourself a smooth beach so the kids can feel the soft, red sand or throw the anchor over at one of the inlets and the kids will have a blast jumping off the boat into the warm water. Eight, when cruising on your pontoon through Lake Powell, be sure to take it slow over the larger waves caused by the drivers of bigger boats (there was just one we came across the whole 8 hours we were out on the water and initially he did slow down for us but he then sped up a little too close – not intentionally and this was a massive 3-level, 50-ft yacht – but he left us with huge wake). Nine, take time to read the faded signs on your boat that have the safety precautions your renter did not tell you about and whatever you do, don’t allow your kids to sit at the front of the boat, as a giant wave (caused by the massive 50-ft yacht that may happen to pass you) may swallow them up and threaten to pull them in to the lake, along with your pontoon. Ten, smile, because you’re in Lake Powell.
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