Galactica's trip north: SOUTH DAKOTA!!!

June 22, 2012 - Heading To South Dakota.  Destination: Brookings then Lake Oahe!

Galactica leaving the ranch on her next big adventure!

Miles sailed:  31 miles
Miles driven so far on this leg of the trip: 700

We enjoy the romance of exploring different environments with our own boat.  Last summer, Galactica sailed on the Atlantic off Florida's coast.   This year, we set our course for Lake Superior!

Driving up through southern South Dakota was definitely a different environment than our normal cruising grounds!  As we approached Brookings, I started hearing a 'different' sound on the truck and it felt a little sluggish.  

Definitely different!  Was very fun.  We tend to take back roads while traveling.

Our youngest son graduated and is spending the summer with his eldest brother in South Dakota so we first visited them with the goal of sailing Lake Oahe. Derek, our eldest wanted to go sailing.  With Lake Oahe 4 hours west of his school, we decided to select a lake less than half the distance away so that we could spend more time with Derek on the Water.   We needed to have him back before Monday.  After checking over the truck and not finding anything obviously wrong, we left early for the lake.

Sailing westward!  Derek sunning on the foredeck.

We chose Lewis and Clark lake at Yankton, South Dakota.    This turned out to be a great choice.  The lake is about 2 miles wide running east to west for about25 to 30 miles.  It gets quite shallow the last half dozen miles.   Damon, had to work so he stayed back at Derek's place; plus, he truly does not like any boat that leans with the wind. 

This turned out to be a great sailing lake with lots of sailboats along with good wind!

Sailing was fantastic with a constant 15-17 mph south wind so we were usually on a reach sailing towards either end.  We spent a couple days reaching the length of the lake and back.

Swim break...Derek cooling down in the heat of the day!

On Saturday afternoon, we anchored early enough to enjoy a relaxing swim in the heat.  Derek and I swam to the shore where we explored looking for special shaped drift wood.   We came across a beaver eating a branch in the shallow water.

Beaver feasting on a branch....

Angie relaxing while Derek and I swam...

Driftwood series.... picture of Galactica from shore...

I like to frame pictures with something interesting in the foreground.  The 170 degree lens on this camera added interesting shape to the pictures...

Driftwood series....Galactica viewed from shore...

Derek hiking the shoreline...looking for special shaped driftwood...

We spent time hiking around, exploring the shoreline while looking for staff shaped driftwood and checking out the rock formations.

Derek swimming back to Galactica...

Derek and Angie drying off prior to cooking dinner.

After grilling dinner, we kicked back and enjoyed the sunset along the north coast about 2/3 the way up the lake.  There aren't many protected coves on this shoreline.   We were in a tiny indent.   The winds picked up and though I know our anchor would hold in the bottom soil with our 24' of chain, I wasn't liking the idea of being on an unprotected lee shore all night--even though it was only six foot deep here.

Saturday night sunset on the north shore.

In the end,  I chose to raise the anchor as the sun set.  We decided to motor back to where we put in and either beach Galactica near the sandy swim beach or anchor her just off the shore.   Murphy's law, after about a mile or two, as the water began to get a bit deeper again, the depth finder fried.   It lost all power and went permanently off line.    There we were, in the middle of the lake about 8 miles to go and blind.    I followed the bread-crumb trail on the boat's marine garmin.   We couldn't leave that path for the beach as planned since I had no idea on the depths on the approach.

Dawn, at the courtesy dock "our safe harbor"

I brought us back to the courtesy dock near the ramp.  It was very late, the ramp was closed and we tied up to the courtesy dock for the night.   With derek on the bow with the night scope and me following the bread crumb path, we put Galactica in safely without any groundings. 

Galactica at the courtesy dock at dawn.

I planned on shoving off at first light before any fishing boats arrived at the ramp for the day....which we did.  After sailing around for a short time, we approached the beach near the swim beach where we saw boats the day before.

I like this picture of Galactica, beached for breakfast.

We took turns running up to the facilities in the campground then made breakfast and relaxed.

Path to the Campground from the recreation area's beaches.

This was my birthday.  Angie had brought a gift and birthday cards which I opened after breakfast.  A great birthday!  On the boat in a different sailing lake in a state far from home, my wife and one of my sons with me!

Captain Douglas...a year older...well...physically...

There is a fairly large sailing marina near the dam; however, there are quite a few power boats.  http://www.lewisandclarkpark.com/   It was quite windy coming in.  You can see the wind shadow near the harbor entrance.   We secured Galactica to the courtesy dock and hiked up the hill to the marina's restaurant for a light lunch!

View of part of the marina from the restaurant's deck.  Galactica at the courtesy dock with power boats.

The boaters at the ramp while we were coming in were orderly, patient and courteous...a bit different than many of the boaters in Missouri.   When leaving plus with the 17 mph winds, tight ramp and breakwater, it was difficult lining up for a ramp pier.  We were on final approach and an idiot in a fish and ski overloaded with people cut me off causing me to have to power quickly in reverse.  The wind spun us towards the breakwater and the left rudder stuck into the bottom.  We pivoted on it and it slightly bent the rudder bracket.  Other boaters exclaimed about that person.

After de-rigging, we headed back towards Brookings.  The sounds from the truck were getting far worse.  I knew it was mechanical and in the drive train.   At slow speeds, I figured it was either a broken axle or a U-Joint going bad.   I couldn't feel and play in the Ujoint when under the truck so I figured it was the axle. 

The vibration and sound grew steadily worse.   Fortunately, the Brookings Ford Dealer is right next to my son's apartments so we were able to take it there as soon as they opened. 

At the Ford Dealer for repairs.  Galactica in the field in the distance.

 We fixed the brakes on Derek's car and replaced worn tires on Damon's car while awaiting the truck.   I picked up a walmart-special hummingbird depth finder to replace the fried Eagle depth finder.   The old Eagle unit truly fried.  The plug was melted and it had blown a fuse on the boat.

old and new depth finder.

 I had enough time to rewire for the new unit and transducer properly.  Angie read while I worked on Galactica in the field behind the Ford dealer.   Let me say.  The folks at the Ford dealer's service department were great!  The U-joint was the issue.   It was an expensive day but if we had to break down on a long trip while pulling the boat, this was truly the best place and time to do it!

In the Ford Dealer's back field.

We lost an 'apostle day' repairing our truck along with needed maintenance repairs on both boy's cars; however, by Monday evening, we said farewell to our sons and were back on the road bound for the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior!!!