After work, the daughter and I hooked up the 18 ft'r and headed for
Carlyle. She followed me in her car. I mean I have confidence in the
wagon and the boat trailer, but she cant' stand my car. We took a
small cooler with some bottles of cold water, and got to Carlyle by
6:30.

Perfect! a few people out but hardly anyone that you'd notice on a
lake that size. there was virtually no breeze and the lake was about
as smooth as ice, and the temp was just about right. We just went
blasting around the lake on smooth water and chased a few ducks. Those
buggers can fly pretty quick, and we'd never try to hit one, but it
was fun. We didn't pester them too much, though. we went too all the
nooks and crannies and little coves we could find and some we jsut sat
out in the middle of the lake listening to WSIU-E jazz radio out of
Edwardsville,, and munched on a couple subway sandwiches we picked up
on the way.

About 8:30 it was starting to get dark. ( I LOVE the long slow
daylight!) so we started heading back. But just getting started, I
noticed that my back nave light wasn't working. We probably could
have gotten in with out any miss-haps, and the authorities don't bug
people though the week, but I thought i should rectify the problem
anyhow. So I took my emergency clip on light and hooked it up to the
battery and clamped it on to the back railing so it could show
vertically. By that time it was getting dark anyhow, and we hauled
back to the loading ramp. An absolutely gorgeous sunset .

I let the daughter pilot back It's really weird being out in the
middle of a large lake in the dark like that. Its fun! And it was
really neat watching the lights along the shore, and looking to the
west and seeing the glow in the sky from the towns toward the St.
Louis area. We approached the no-wake zone and I stood lookout and
would occasionally check out the shore and docks/ramps with the 3
kazillion candle power spotlight.and I had her ease off the throttle
and we idled in. funny those I/O's don't steer straight at idle, but
we made it in just fine. she eased the throttle gently, and hit
reverse at the dock really well. just a slight 'bumb' on the dock.

No wrecks.

Loaded up and strapped down the boat and headed home. By now it was
about 10:15.

I was really glad to get the break in the weather so we could have
gone for a cruise. It was really an enjoyable evening for the both of
us. I'm hoping the weather will be good for the weekend. because Fri.
we'd hit it again!