IT

We took the boat out on the lake this past Saturday for the first time this season. Bud and Kat were on the water early to do some fishing. Burrito and I got to sleep in ‘til a little later. (An early Mother’s Day gift!) We packed a picnic lunch and met them around 11 AM at the dock where we exchanged fishing gear for the picnic lunch and tube.

You wouldn’t know it by the pictures, but the water is still hovering around 70 degrees. That’s a “come up screaming” temperature! But, we hit a record-breaking 98-degrees on Saturday here in central Texas so, after the initial shock, the water felt really good. We spent the day alternating between pulling the kiddos on the tube and finding little coves to float around in whenever we needed a rest.

We also made a “drive by” of one of our favorite spots, The Oasis. This restaurant is perched on one of the cliffs overlooking the lake and boasts the best views. It’s hard to see in the picture, but most of the restaurant is outdoor seating on decks that line the side of the cliff.

The Oasis is called the “Sunset Capital of Texas” because it is perfectly situated facing west to capture the sun as it sets over the lake and the hill country beyond. It’s one of those places where the sun visibly “drops” into the horizon each night. A dinner guest is selected each evening to help the dinner crowd count down the descent (think of the ball dropping in Time Square on New Year’s Eve!) and then ring a giant bell when the last sliver of the orange ball disappears. This was one of the places Jim, our realtor, took us to when we were here for our house hunting trip a little more than five years ago. It’s one of those must-see places we’re compelled to take out-of-towners who visit us.

In 2005, The Oasis was struck by lightening and most of the decking was burned. As you can imagine, all that wood made great kindling for the fire! Most of the restaurant’s outdoor dining area was closed while the owners rebuilt all of the decking. The old decking had been added onto numerous times over the years – decks staggered here and there as needed to accommodate the ever-increasing number of guests. That was part of the charm. It’s since been reopened and is all shiny and new. Almost too perfect. But, it’s still the best place to watch the sunset in Texas!

The kids would swim and tube until they were exhausted. Getting back on the tube is no easy feat in the water!

“Hold it, Kat! I think I can get on!”

"Almost there…"

Nope.

We anchored in a cove at one point to let the kids float and rest. As a matter of safety, we always have one person remain in the boat, even when anchored. Bud was just about to jump into the water with the kids when I noticed something very strange beside the kids on the tube. Air bubbles. Lots of bubbles. I stopped Bud from jumping in and made him take a look. He offered several explanations including disturbed vegetation from dropping the anchor. An underwater pipe for run-off water. An underground spring. The spring theory was Bud's favored explanation. The bubbling continued. Then, the bubbles began to increase. The kiddos had now noticed the boiling water beside them and they weren’t too happy to be hanging out in the water like live bait. We quickly pulled the kids into the boat and continued to watch. My Prince Charming even suggested at one point that I get the camera ready as we might be about to get some pictures that we could sell to one of those tabloids you see in the checkout line of the grocery store.

Suddenly, the boiling bubbles began to move. (The last time I checked, springs don’t move.) Bud decided it would be the appropriate time to pull the anchor… and follow IT. While he was pulling the anchor, Kat and I saw something. What was IT? IT was big and just a few feet under the surface of the water. The bubbling water moved right. Then left. Bud cranked the motor and followed a few feet behind while IT almost made a complete circle then headed toward the rocky cliff that lined the cove. We had IT cornered now! The water really began to boil.

Camera was ready… Turned on… Lens cap removed... In focus…

And then IT surfaced!
I screamed and sank into my seat. (Because I’m always calm in situations like that!) Kat screamed. Burrito was dazed. I could see the “fight or flight” decision process taking place in Bud’s muscles.

IT casually waved and yelled “Sorry!” across the water to us. Then slipped under the surface of the water again and disappeared.

We don’t know where IT came from. There weren’t any other boats in the area. There were no dive flags floating anywhere. There were no homes at the top of the shear cliff surrounding the cove.

Later that night in the safety of our own home, it occurred to us that we could have killed IT. Props on boats can certainly maim and kill. Not to mention the twenty-pound anchor we dropped.

The excitement just never ceases around here. So, how was your Mother’s Day weekend?

P.S. – The photo of IT? I found it on Yahoo images. I didn’t take any pictures of IT. During my intense assessment of the situation (panic), I forgot to press the shutter button.