- Messages
- 54,107
- Reaction score
- 8,254
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
All in all, things went well, it was a qualified success, and I think a good time was had by each. It was funny, though, how easy it was to miss people in a tiny town, in a small parking lot, or even a really tiny sinkhole!
Informal as the weekend was laid out by mutual agreement, heres the directions I posted for others to avail as desired:
I worried about this working out: Hardly anyone involved has ever chowed in a mess hall, but how much can I do ?! Enough or not, I left it at that, and it worked out okay
JER & I closed our respective stores early on Friday, headed out over the High Plains & Gullies, and got there without incident this time about sundown, delighted to learn that CYN was already there. In fact, as we unloaded and checked gear, she joined us in our smoking suite with a choice of beers. Talk about your top-notch dive trips buddies!! We did a quick tour of Josephs, grabbed a snack, then turned in for early reveille.
Turn out went well Saturday morning, and we were renting tanks and filling my pony by, or about, 8am alright. BB, a veteran of many mess halls, even met us as we pulled into park, and JER & I were soon sharing the joys off warm water down the back of a wet suit with BB & CYN. Next, into The Hole for Dive 1, which quickly turned into a dive into the dark pit. I dont know if AOW students had been hitting the bottom hard already that morning, or if the haze was left from night dives before, but it was murky. I get a kick out of such challenges, first enjoying a mystic feeling, then stretching to see how well I can do under the conditions, but it was not our first choice. Nonetheless, it was a dive, and we had fun as much as one can have diving in the five corners area. BB & I both had golf balls, mine personalized but his dedicated to his recently departed Dad, but neither of us found The Idol on the first dive; next time!
JER had encountered an equipment challenge that I think weve all experienced if we think back, and I found him looking sheepish on the side when I surfaced: Got my deflate and inflate buttons confused, and blimped to the surface. A quick discussion with his buddy CYN, and we decided that even though Padi disagrees with some other agencies and entities, they should go back for a Safety Stop, and they did. After we finally all got back to the pickup, I ran a few diver-to-diver tests by JER, and his mind & reflexes all seemed intact, so we waited & watched for possible change. No more problems.
CM and DF had worried about getting thru Colorados winter storms, but we finally found each of them, working with their respective classes and unable to play. My computer almost cleared all Nitro bubbles on the long following Surface Interval, as TG encountered some delays that morning, but she finally arrived with her bubble watching friend, CAT, and they drove right to our pickup with the only Texas & Alpha flags on site.. All right! Two more lovelies to flirt with on the SIs!! We got TG tanked & weighted, introduced her to a warm water back, and were back in the by 11:23am.
Not only murky, but crowded now by all of the students and teachers, we tried to stick together as we descended thru the herds, but soon it was Same Hole, Same Day diving, with everyone just trying to watch for anyone with problems. Down, around, and around, and easy up and out. Back at the pickup, I shared that I never found The Idol, so I just stuck my ball in a crevice. CYN responded that she found one on the floor that made her want to cry in her mask: R.I.P. Dad I carried it up and put it with The Idol. Seemed that BB found the spot, but had dropped his ball, and was sad at not finding it until he heard CYNs story!! Super! But TGs tank was still full ?
In a newly rented 6 mil Farmer John suit, shed tried to descend with 20#, but couldnt. After we got split up by the crowd, shed turned back and waited for us back at the truck. Im okay, TG, Ive got 1200# left, and my pony. I explained. Get six more from Stella and Ill go back with you!
I held her hand as we descended thru the crowd this time, and we got down okay. I was mindful of my 18 minute SI after a full green load, but I had plans for slow, safe ascents, deco if needed, and was playing it safe. I turned lose of TG on the bottom, pointed my light at the graves, then looked back for her, and around, and up! No, Don! No fast chases up. Get to her when you can carefully. She got control halfway up, okay, we met up, and I held on for the rest of the dive, short stops, safety stop, and all. Still had one bubble of yellow when I got out, but felt fine. Everyone had faired well in the 62 degree water, but I was happy that everyone felt like a long lunch before The Lake.
When we got to Perch Lake, I ran into KEV & his bud, whod been looking for me earlier at The Hole. KEV, how may Texas & Alpha flags did you see there? Well, its good to see you; sorry we missed lunch together. Hows The Lake, and where is that plane, anyway? They were already removing their dry suits when we arrived, but they stayed to watch us stride in, for some reason? I think they want to here us scream when we hit water.
Five divers made it to the plane okay, but CYN & TG quickly decided that 56 degrees was too much (see: http://www.scubaboard.com/t54529.html ) and turned back to the dock, and JER the chronic gentleman followed them in, leaving BB & me to look for the car. We found it, the ridge, the current which was odd feeling for a lake, but the spring runs in, out before deciding that 50 degrees in the flow was too much even for our preparations.
With gear set to dry hither and yon in the rooms, we five disappeared into the same rooms for Siesta, until someone finally passed the word room to room that we had 15 minutes before we were going to be late at Josephs, so we rushed around, and we got there soon enough. CM was dining with her students, but joined us in the bar for a nice chat as we waited for ours. They had to go back for a night dive, though, and although wed invited everyone else in the parking lot, all the other classes had been banned from our party by their instructors. Prudent calls, I suppose, but some fun could have been had? Oh well
BB & JER got the ladies drinks, I got their suppers, and we compared dive tales from the day, from Cozumel together, from BB & me in Key Largo, and it was still a nice time. General Patton here was the only one to get to sleep sober before midnight, though; youll have to ask them about their deals ?
KEV had returned to Albuquerque for the night, planning on coming back early to dive in the morn with his young daughter, PENGUIN FRIEND, and I didnt want to keep them waiting. The other four went to breakfast, and I returned to The Hole with out needing to buy air again - having three nearly full tanks from a quick trip to The Lakes plane. I did locate KEV and his charge okay, but then we missed each other at dive time; how we do that amazes me. I thought theyd given up on me and gone in, so I set out to search, and finally they came in searching for me. More technology needed
Warm so-longs said here and there, and we split up for our homes until we can do it again. Who knows what will happen next time?
Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico May 15, 16.
Informal as the weekend was laid out by mutual agreement, heres the directions I posted for others to avail as desired:
I worried about this working out: Hardly anyone involved has ever chowed in a mess hall, but how much can I do ?! Enough or not, I left it at that, and it worked out okay
JER & I closed our respective stores early on Friday, headed out over the High Plains & Gullies, and got there without incident this time about sundown, delighted to learn that CYN was already there. In fact, as we unloaded and checked gear, she joined us in our smoking suite with a choice of beers. Talk about your top-notch dive trips buddies!! We did a quick tour of Josephs, grabbed a snack, then turned in for early reveille.
Turn out went well Saturday morning, and we were renting tanks and filling my pony by, or about, 8am alright. BB, a veteran of many mess halls, even met us as we pulled into park, and JER & I were soon sharing the joys off warm water down the back of a wet suit with BB & CYN. Next, into The Hole for Dive 1, which quickly turned into a dive into the dark pit. I dont know if AOW students had been hitting the bottom hard already that morning, or if the haze was left from night dives before, but it was murky. I get a kick out of such challenges, first enjoying a mystic feeling, then stretching to see how well I can do under the conditions, but it was not our first choice. Nonetheless, it was a dive, and we had fun as much as one can have diving in the five corners area. BB & I both had golf balls, mine personalized but his dedicated to his recently departed Dad, but neither of us found The Idol on the first dive; next time!
JER had encountered an equipment challenge that I think weve all experienced if we think back, and I found him looking sheepish on the side when I surfaced: Got my deflate and inflate buttons confused, and blimped to the surface. A quick discussion with his buddy CYN, and we decided that even though Padi disagrees with some other agencies and entities, they should go back for a Safety Stop, and they did. After we finally all got back to the pickup, I ran a few diver-to-diver tests by JER, and his mind & reflexes all seemed intact, so we waited & watched for possible change. No more problems.
CM and DF had worried about getting thru Colorados winter storms, but we finally found each of them, working with their respective classes and unable to play. My computer almost cleared all Nitro bubbles on the long following Surface Interval, as TG encountered some delays that morning, but she finally arrived with her bubble watching friend, CAT, and they drove right to our pickup with the only Texas & Alpha flags on site.. All right! Two more lovelies to flirt with on the SIs!! We got TG tanked & weighted, introduced her to a warm water back, and were back in the by 11:23am.
Not only murky, but crowded now by all of the students and teachers, we tried to stick together as we descended thru the herds, but soon it was Same Hole, Same Day diving, with everyone just trying to watch for anyone with problems. Down, around, and around, and easy up and out. Back at the pickup, I shared that I never found The Idol, so I just stuck my ball in a crevice. CYN responded that she found one on the floor that made her want to cry in her mask: R.I.P. Dad I carried it up and put it with The Idol. Seemed that BB found the spot, but had dropped his ball, and was sad at not finding it until he heard CYNs story!! Super! But TGs tank was still full ?
In a newly rented 6 mil Farmer John suit, shed tried to descend with 20#, but couldnt. After we got split up by the crowd, shed turned back and waited for us back at the truck. Im okay, TG, Ive got 1200# left, and my pony. I explained. Get six more from Stella and Ill go back with you!
I held her hand as we descended thru the crowd this time, and we got down okay. I was mindful of my 18 minute SI after a full green load, but I had plans for slow, safe ascents, deco if needed, and was playing it safe. I turned lose of TG on the bottom, pointed my light at the graves, then looked back for her, and around, and up! No, Don! No fast chases up. Get to her when you can carefully. She got control halfway up, okay, we met up, and I held on for the rest of the dive, short stops, safety stop, and all. Still had one bubble of yellow when I got out, but felt fine. Everyone had faired well in the 62 degree water, but I was happy that everyone felt like a long lunch before The Lake.
When we got to Perch Lake, I ran into KEV & his bud, whod been looking for me earlier at The Hole. KEV, how may Texas & Alpha flags did you see there? Well, its good to see you; sorry we missed lunch together. Hows The Lake, and where is that plane, anyway? They were already removing their dry suits when we arrived, but they stayed to watch us stride in, for some reason? I think they want to here us scream when we hit water.
Five divers made it to the plane okay, but CYN & TG quickly decided that 56 degrees was too much (see: http://www.scubaboard.com/t54529.html ) and turned back to the dock, and JER the chronic gentleman followed them in, leaving BB & me to look for the car. We found it, the ridge, the current which was odd feeling for a lake, but the spring runs in, out before deciding that 50 degrees in the flow was too much even for our preparations.
With gear set to dry hither and yon in the rooms, we five disappeared into the same rooms for Siesta, until someone finally passed the word room to room that we had 15 minutes before we were going to be late at Josephs, so we rushed around, and we got there soon enough. CM was dining with her students, but joined us in the bar for a nice chat as we waited for ours. They had to go back for a night dive, though, and although wed invited everyone else in the parking lot, all the other classes had been banned from our party by their instructors. Prudent calls, I suppose, but some fun could have been had? Oh well
BB & JER got the ladies drinks, I got their suppers, and we compared dive tales from the day, from Cozumel together, from BB & me in Key Largo, and it was still a nice time. General Patton here was the only one to get to sleep sober before midnight, though; youll have to ask them about their deals ?
KEV had returned to Albuquerque for the night, planning on coming back early to dive in the morn with his young daughter, PENGUIN FRIEND, and I didnt want to keep them waiting. The other four went to breakfast, and I returned to The Hole with out needing to buy air again - having three nearly full tanks from a quick trip to The Lakes plane. I did locate KEV and his charge okay, but then we missed each other at dive time; how we do that amazes me. I thought theyd given up on me and gone in, so I set out to search, and finally they came in searching for me. More technology needed
Warm so-longs said here and there, and we split up for our homes until we can do it again. Who knows what will happen next time?
Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico May 15, 16.
