Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Fall Ushers in Changes


This past Friday and Saturday evening I rode God's breathe on the water.  I windsurfed the North Pool at Twin Buttes.  Friday I rode my Mistral Equipe courseboard powered by a 6.6 sq. meter sail.  Saturday I started on that but switched to a F2 higher volume shortboard with stronger gusts.  I zipped across the water on that rig. The water was warm enough to be comfortable waiting for gust to waterstart.

On Labor Day I paddle boarded from the temporary boat ramp at the North Pool to the Twin Buttes dam.  The water level was down about four feet from its peak earlier this year.  That drop is a foot shy of our annual evaporation toll.  Shorter days and cooler nights help keep water in the lake.

Before that I windsurfed the outer bands from Hurricane Harvey.   I was on a light air course board with a 6.6 sail.  The gusts would've been fun on a shortboard but the lulls taxing on my hands.  This aging thing is tough.

With the city using Lake Ivie and Hickory Aquifer for our daily water needs pressure is light on moving water out of Twin Buttes Reservoir.  The city released Twin Buttes water in the past to keep Lake Nasworthy at a safe level for boat races.  It also releases water to meet the needs of downstream water rights holders.

San Angelo's two-day Lucas Oil Fall Shootout event, originally scheduled for September 30 - October 1, was cancelled in mid July.  Lucas Oil decided to cut three events to ensure the viability of the race series.

The South Concho River, Spring Creek and Dove Creek keep flowing into Twin Buttes.  Our rains are a blessing in light of our longstanding blistering heat.  I pray for all God can grant us.  The water will be cooler when I get back out.  It should be invigorating.