BOC Floating Headquarters After Year One

We had an enjoyable memorial day weekend race and pot-luck barbecue last month and are all looking forward to the annual Independence Day weekend event on Saturday, July 5, 2008.

We have 26 paid family memberships for the BOC so far this year and expect that there may be a few more as the season progresses.

In recapping some of the work and improvements that have been done on the headquarters this year and some of the work still in progress, we'd like to acknowledge the volunteers who have so generously donated their time, skills and sweat to make visits to the HQ so enjoyable for all.

Completed Improvements

Interior work, amenities, art, lighting, new stereo sound system, cleaning and cooking supplies: Almost everyone has contributed in this area... special thanks for major contributions above and beyond the call go out to Paul, Kathleen, Dusty, Mary and Greg.

Exterior work, painting, bilge repairs, anchoring/mooring system, solar panel charging systems, rear porch awning, front porch table and chairs, diesel generator removal and sale, new BBQ grill purchase and installation, hard dinghy (lifeboat) purchase, on-shore BOC Bay and Blue Frog Beach signage:

Major volunteers in this area were... Tom, Chuck, Stephey, Greg, Dale, Paul, Kathy, Ed, Carol, Charlotte, Dusty, Cochitiman and Steve with many others in supporting roles.

Ongoing Improvements

The upper deck shade structure and awning is being designed and built by Greg with many materials provided by Ed. Greg hopes to have the phase one design of this completed and installed before July 4th.

A new rear boarding ladder extension for swimmers is being designed and fabricated by Robert. He plans to have this built and installed fairly soon (mid-summer).

New golf cart batteries to store the electricity generated by our new solar charger will soon be installed and connected by the BOC Super-Electrician, Steve... probably by July 4th. He's also installing a charging regulator and an 800 watt AC inverter that should handle small to medium 115 volt AC loads and appliances.

Tom is planning to reposition the HQ a bit further south in BOC Bay to get it away from the tangled weed growth (Spinach Patch) that gets thick in the late summer in the NE end of the bay. He hopes to have this completed by July 4th also.

If you haven't been able to participate in any of the sweat equity projects this year, don't fret... your dues money has also been a tremendous help in making all of these improvements possible.

Muchismas gracias to all the volunteers and members for their time, efforts and dues that are making the BOCFWHQ a comfortable and safe mini-marina and an invitingly friendly place to visit and hang out on the water.

We're also happy to report that after one full year on the water, there has not been a single instance of theft or vandalism reported on the floating headquarters and accidents have been limited to minor band-aid variety scrapes and bruises normally expected with recreational boating activities. It was a very good year.

The Blue Frog on the Sign May Get His Knees Wet This Weekend

As of Thursday, June 5, 2008 the lake elevation is 5343 ft. MSL (above Mean Sea Level) two feet above the normal recreational pool level of 5341 ft. MSL. The inflow is currently 5,600 CFS so the lake is rising. We may see the level rise a couple more feet this weekend. After Saturday the Corps of Engineers intends to increase the outflow, take the lake level back to the recreational pool elevation of 5341 ft. MSL and then go back to their normal procedures of matching outflow with inflow to maintain the lake elevation at 5341 ft. MSL.

In summary, here's the prediction... the lake level will be up 3-5 ft. this weekend and will start to come back to the normal level Saturday night through early next week. Some very shallow draft boats may be able to make it up the river about a half mile to Bland canyon on Saturday but most will not. If you beach your boat Saturday night, you could find it high and dry Sunday morning.

Reference for the above information: Don Gallegos of the Albuquerque District Office of the US Army Corps of Engineers - Phone 505-342-3382

Lotta gnooze to report. We'll try to make it as brief as possible without leaving out any of the important details...

Saturday, May 24th:

Prez Ed and the web dude made a morning BOC Bay patrol in Second Wind to pick up all three mooring buoy floats and a stray white fender from shore. Evidently they had broken loose from harsh treatment by spring winds and storms. They also rescued Mr. and Mrs. Pink Flamingo from Blue Frog Beach for some medical treatment from the BOC vet. They survived some minor surgery and are now safely housed in the stern hold until the runoff season is behind us (Juneteenth?). Mr. Blue Frog was strapped to the Blue Frog Beach sign in a simulated drowning experiment to keep him from escaping if the water does rise (and also to see if he will decide to talk about the circumstances of the molestation of the male pink flamingo - he had to have seen it - he was only three feet away).

Two big white ducks with very long lips were spotted in the middle of the lake Saturday morning.

Big White Ducks with Long Lips

Saturday weather and sailing was beautiful with light winds increasing to around 14 knots around 1 pm then dropping off slowly to about 5 knots by 7 pm. Several BOC members brought family and guests. Evening meals were done on an individual basis with members sharing the BOCWHQ grills and galley facilities throughout the late afternoon and early evening.

"Blue Frog Too" takes on "The Badger" in the 2008 Cinco de Mayo race at Cochiti Lake.