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June 29, 2015 .... WALDO LAKE, OREGON
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Waldo Lake is located high in the Cascades of Oregon, east and slightly south of Eugene. It is a pristine lake where boat motors are forbidden. The lake is filled by rain and snow melt, but because of its altitude, there is very little soil run off to muddy the water. It is listed as one on the top 5 purest lakes in the world. This was a perfect place for a trial sail before our journey. It was the first time the boat had been in the water in two years.
We were sailing that day with Chris’ youngest sister and her husband, and it was the first time we were “putting in” the boat with the new truck. Thankfully the boat ramp was quiet and with only two attempts, we were able to lower the boat into the water. This is a bit tricky without a motor, (it had to be left ashore), but with two experienced captains (Chris’ youngest sister is a licensed 150-ton boat captain) aboard, we were able to sail off the dock and out into the lake fairly easily.
The wind was brisk, great for sailing, and we were the only boat and people on the 10 square mile lake. It was magical. The skies were partly cloudy with puffy clouds and sun breaks. The water glistened. Apparently it was damsel fly breeding time and we were constantly surrounded by a dance of beautiful tiny, lapis blue, miniature dragon flies.
We sailed to the end of the lake, around a small island and decided to anchor between the island and a peninsula for a rest and lunch. The wine hadn’t been chilled, so we carefully made a secure holder for the bottle of wine and lowered it into the lake to chill and enjoyed out lunch. As the afternoon was coming to an end, it was time to return to the ramp. We hauled out the wine, only to discover, it was barely chilled. Apparently the water let in so much sunlight that the deep water was warmer than the surface water. Wine is wine though, and we enjoyed our drinks on the way back to the dock.
Back at dock was where the trouble began. The ramp was not in the best of shape and consisted of two separate narrow ramps with different pitches that had been joined. It was difficult to drive the trailer back into the water in a place where the boat could be maneuvered over the trailer and the truck backed down to line up with the trailer and then pulled out. One thing you need to know about us Geankopli is that we are very opinionated and vocal. Chris keep trying to line up, back up the truck with the trailer attached, so the boat could be maneuvered far enough forward to set properly on the trailer. It must have taken 12 attempts with 3 people trying to give Chris different instructions (most conflicting) while he was battling mosquitoes in the cab. At last the boat was on the trailer satisfactorily and we were able to head back to Eugene. You have to give Chris credit for surviving the cacophony of instructions.
It was a memorable sail that we will not forget, and is certainly a place we would recommend to all small boat sailors.
Additional pictures