Austin's One of the National Top Ten!

If you’re ready to make a move, Lake Travis is the perfect choice! Austin is one of the top-10 fastest growing cities in the nation. Lake Travis living lets you ‘get away from it all’ while still enjoying the convenience of being only minutes away from the heart of Austin! Check out this article from the Austin Business Journal…

Single-family home sales in Austin jumped 6 percent last month compared with November 2005, according to the latest report from the Austin Board of Realtors.

The 1,902 sales set a record for the month of November. The median price for single-family homes is also on the rise, increasing 3 percent to $175,000 compared with last year. Meanwhile, the $455 million those sales generated for the local economy represents a 12 percent increase.

Active listings increased by 3 percent from last November to 7,354, while new listings decreased by 3 percent to 2,340. November homes spent an average of 68 days on the market, no change from a year ago.

"These numbers support reports that Austin is one of the top-10 fastest growing cities in the nation," says ABoR Chairman Charles Porter.

Austin Business Journal – December 20, 2006

Polar Bears in Lake Travis...

2007 Polar Bear SwimMansfield Dam Park, Lake Travis, TX, USMonday, January 01, 2007Starts at 11:30 am
Who: A few brave men and women. (Adults: 18 & older. Youth: 15-17.)

What: A Splash (plunge into the cold water)
A Dash (200m open water swimming race)
A Double Crossing (Open water swimming race, less than a mile, across Lake Travis and back

Where: Mansfield Dam Park, Lake Travis, Texas.

When: Monday, January 1, 2007.
Check-in: 11:00-11:15 a.m.
Splash: 11:30 a.m.
Dash and Double Crossing: 11:32 a.m.

Why: To test your mettle, to greet and meet the challenges of 2007, to commit to health and fitness for the New Year, and for fun.

Rules: 2007 ASA Open Water Rules will govern this event. No fins, snorkels, heart monitors, wrist watches or any other artificial aids permitted. No wetsuits permitted.

Eligibility: Adults 18 and older, Youth 15-17. All entrants must be 2007 ASA members in good standing.

Membership: If you are not yet a 2007 ASA registered swimmer, include a completed ASA 2007 Swimmer Membership Application (found at http://www.AmericanSwimmingAssociation.com) and $20 fee for 2007 ASA membership.

Safety: Safety is our prime consideration. While there are no qualifying standards for this event, you should have previously completed a mile swim in 40 minutes or faster in order to swim the double crossing. You should be healthy and in reasonably fit swimming shape. This is not the time to test your open water swimming skills. You should not enter a swim if you doubt your ability to complete it. There will be a 45 minute time limit for the double crossing.

T-shirts: T-shirts for every on-time entrant swimming the Dash or Double Crossing.

Directions:
From Mopac or 360: Take FM 2222 west to RR 620. Go south (left) at 620, Travel 4.9 miles.Turn right onto Mansfield Dam Road, just after you cross Mansfield Dam. The park entrance is on your left.
From Hwy 71 & 620 intersection: Go North (right) on 620 approximately 9 miles (immediately before the dam). Turn left onto Mansfiled Dam Road. The Park entrance is on your left.

Parking: If you enter the park by land, there is a park entrance fee.

Entry Fee & Deadlines:
Splash: Free. Splash entrants may order a Polar Bear Swim t-shirt at $12 ($14 for XXL) by signing up prior to 5pm December 26th.
Dash or Double Crossing: $25 fee for all entries received by 5pm December 26th. After that add $15 late fee.
T-shirt not guaranteed for late entries.
Download Entry Form

Volunteers: Please contact Sandy Neilson if you are interested in volunteering (on land or on the water): 327-1280; sneils@austin.rr.com

Direct Questions & Comments to:
Dr. Keith Bell, Race Director; 327-2260

All information subject to change.

Contact Phone: (512) 327-2260
Event Site: Web site
Registration: Registration site

How Much Do '12 days of Christmas' cost?

Talk about news of the weird... Someone actually tallied the cost of everything in the ’12 Days of Christmas’ song, and it was printed in the Austin Business Journal…
Here are the nitty gritty details for your shopping list!

'12 days of Christmas’ costs $18,920

A partridge and a pear tree will put a larger hole in your pocketbook this year, according to PNC Financial Services Group Inc.'s annual "Twelve Days of Christmas" survey.

According to the 22nd annual survey, the cost of the items from the well-known song is $18,920 in 2006, a 3.1 percent increase over last year. The change in gift prices mirrored the U.S. consumer price index.

Pear trees had the largest percentage price increase, up 44 percent from last year, from $89.99 to $129.99.

"The Christmas Price Index reflects trends in the broader economy," says Jeff Kleintop, chief investment strategist for PNC Wealth Management. "After years of stagnation, wages for skilled workers, including the song's dancers and musicians, have increased as the labor market has tightened."

The nine ladies dancing earned $4,759, 4 percent more, according to Philadanco, the Philadelphia Dance Co. The lords a-leaping got a 3 percent pay raise, while the drummers drumming and pipers piping earned 3.4 percent more. The seven swans a-swimming cost $4,200.

The partridge remained the cheapest purchase, at $15, according to Pittsburgh-based PNC (NYSE:PNC).
Austin Business Journal – November 27, 2006

"Best Little City in America"

Check out this recent ABJ article…National Geographic (and a few others) have discovered how cool Austin is, and they’re spreading the word!

From National Geographic to Conde Nast, Magazines Lauding Austin

Some national press highlighting Austin is set to hit newsstands in November and December. Though Austin is growing at break-neck speed, some locals might be happy to learn that one publication considers Austin the "Best Little City in America".

In its November/December 2006 edition, National Geographic Traveler highlights Austin's diverse population, endless music, eclectic shopping and regional cuisine as defining factors.

"The glass isn't half full in Austin; it's spilling all over the table," writes Carl Hoffman. "Austin is not just the capital of Texas, but also a place where misfits fit and creativity is unbridled."

But National Geographic Traveler isn't the only national publication touting Austin's amenities. In the November issue of Travel + Leisure en Espanol, the magazine names Austin "the secret jewel." Journalist Analia Ferreyra writes that "Austin is the self-proclaimed Live Capital Music of the World, and the truth is: they are right. With more than 150 venues for live music and concerts in strange sites like supermarkets and the airport, I don't believe the town has any equal."

Additionally, Conde Nast Traveler will feature Austin in its December issue, thanks to Graham Boynton, a London-based editor for the magazine who arrived in the city during South by Southwest in March and immersed himself in the Austin experience.

And over the past month, the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau's communications department has hosted journalists from Germany, France, both the London Sunday Mail and the London Independent, and will welcome a group of Canadian travel writers to the city on Sunday.

Austin Business Journal – November 3, 2006

Best September Ever!

Best September Ever for Austin Real Estate -
Steady demand for homes pushes prices higher!

Austin, Texas, home sales set another record in September as single-family transactions rose 2.7 percent over their year-ago level, the Austin Board of Realtors reported.

According to the latest Multiple Listing Service report, 2,341 single-family homes were sold last month, up from 2,280 sales in September 2005. Last month was the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains, according to statistics.

The median price of single-family properties gained 3 percent from a year ago to a September record of $167,000, up from $162,000 in September 2005.

The 8,203 active single-family listings in the MLS represent a 5 percent increase from September 2005, and were up from 8,137 in August. At an average of 58 days, the amount of time these listings sat on the market decreased by 15 percent, which is the shortest amount of time single-family listings have waited to sell since September 2001, when the average was 46 days.

"If you want proof that Austin is a real estate hot zone, all you have to do is look out your window," said ABoR Chairman John Rosshirt. "The construction cranes that have become fixtures around the skyline underscore the city's desirability. In North Austin, for example, the area around the Arboretum is the target of serious commercial development, and the home sales data complements that fact."

The 1N section of Austin, which encompasses ABoR's northwest Austin neighborhood, posted particularly noteworthy numbers in September. The area's single-family home sales increased 47 percent to 69 and earned a median price of $240,000, an 18 percent increase from last year. Averaging 38 days on the market, these properties sat for 40 percent less time than they did in September 2005.

The Austin Board of Realtors is a nonprofit, voluntary organization representing more than 8,500 licensed Realtors in Central Texas.

Inman News - Friday, October 27, 2006

The Travel Channel films Lake Travis!

Lake Travis Vacation Homes get National Exposure

Austin and Lake Travis will be in the national spotlight when The Travel Channel airs an episode of Vacation Home Search, featuring waterfront homes on Lake Travis. The Travel Channel chose Austin for its growing national reputation for a healthy economy, vibrant social scene and picturesque scenery, and cited Lake Travis as one of the most popular outdoor recreation areas in Texas.

The 30-minute episode features Dr. Derek Tieken, a cosmetic dentist from Houston, and his family on their search for a vacation home on Lake Travis. The episode was filmed in late February, and airs on November 6, 2006.

Although prices are quickly rising and Lake Travis boasts many million-dollar-plus homes, the Travel Channel chose to focus on homes in the $500,000 to $600,000 range, which was a challenge for the Tieken’s Realtor, Mick Hooper. Three individual homes in Jonestown, Point Venture and Spicewood were filmed, along with a couple of popular waterfront restaurants.

The Travel Channel chose real estate broker Mick Hooper to host the film crew from Authentic Entertainment because of his expertise in Lake Travis real estate. Hooper, broker/owner of Crosswind Realty, routinely tours waterfront properties with clients in “The Office”, his 37 foot cabin cruiser. Hooper’s unique insider’s tour of the lake often includes cruising through Devil’s Cove and wraps up with dinner or cocktails at a boat-up restaurant. This unique aspect of Hooper’s real estate practice caught the attention of the Travel Channel.

The Lake Travis episode of Vacation Home Search will air on Monday, November 6 at 1:00 PM CST (and simulcast at 2:00 PM EST/PST). Locally, the Travel Channel is on Time Warner Cable, channel 33. You can also e-mail Mick for a copy of the show on DVD!

Groundbreaking Promises...

In case you missed it, this article was in the North Lake Travis LOG 09-21-06…

Groundbreaking promises new grocery store

New shovels dug into the dirt on the site of the new Super S Foods not far from backhoes and other heavy equipment digging up dirt and rock in preparation of the grocery store’s opening early next year.

“We are thrilled to be part of Lago Vista,” Alan Buxkemper, Super S Vice President of Human Resources, said.

Lago Vista’s first grocery store, near FM 1431 and Lohman Ford Road, hopes to have its doors open by March 1, 2007.

“I think it’s a very exciting day for Lago Vista, “Lago Vista Chamber of Commerce President Rita Parker said.

Land clearing for Super S’ fifty-first store started last month and Super S officials said laying the foundation will begin Monday.

Lago Vista’s Super S will be one of the largest with nearly 25,000 square feet. Its state-of-the-art building will include an extensive fresh meat department, farm-fresh produce, a large wine selection and specialty and organic foods.

Buxkemper thanked the City Council, Mayor Dennis Jones, the chamber of commerce, City Manager Bill Angelo, property developer Mark Currey and others.

Councilmen Bob Bradley, Hugh Farmer, Fred Harless, Randy Kruger and Mike Thornton were attendance, along with Mayor Dennis Jones.

As parts of Super S are finished, Ace Hardware will be constructed on the same site.
Ace Hardware plans on opening a month after Super S. A Domino’s Pizza will also be in the Town Center.

Super S, which gained Council approval in April, will have 25-30 full time jobs, and Ace Hardware will have 10.

Residents agree that a grocery store in Lago Vista is a long time coming. Some may recall when a Piggly Wiggly considered coming here 20 years ago or when a Super S store fell through three years ago. The store’s progress is reassurance that will not happen again.

by Kimberly Bates, Staff Writer, North Lake Travis LOG

Hot Market!

Central Texas new home market stays hot!

Central Texas continues to buck signs of a cooling housing market seen elsewhere in the country. Area builders started 4,266 homes in the third quarter, up about 8 percent from the same quarter of 2005, and closed on 4,518: a record, according to Residential Strategies Inc., a Dallas-based firm that tracks new home activity.

In Sandy Springs, Ga., and most other places across the country, chilled housing markets are turning away both builders and buyers, but in Central Texas, no such letdown is in sight.

Thanks to strong job growth and moderating mortgage rates, Austin's housing market has been healthy all year. In contrast, markets are cooling rapidly in many other parts of the country.

"It seems to be the rest of the nation is doing poorly, and we tend to go against that," said Mark Sprague, Austin partner with Residential Strategies.

Over the past 12 months, Central Texas builders have cranked out 16,973 homes, up more than 20 percent from a year ago. The construction pace indicates that builders are confident that there are plenty of buyers either already here or moving in.

The median price in the quarter rose 8.5 percent, to $196,933, as builders shifted their emphasis to higher-priced homes, in part because of an influx of buyers from more expensive markets. For example, starts of homes costing more than $300,000 have risen 64 percent in the past year, triple the overall increase in starts, according to Residential Strategies.

Starts in the $151,000 to $200,000 price range rose 14.8 percent. The escalating price of construction materials also is driving up the cost of many new homes.

Although Sprague was upbeat about the state of the Austin housing market, he raised one caution about sales to investors, which can give a false sense of market demand. "The hope is that investor interest will subside in the coming year so as not to overhype the market, as has occurred elsewhere in the nation," he said.

Local real estate consultant Charles Heimsath agrees. "The market is inflated by investor demand, which doesn't actually put bodies into houses; it just turns a sale," Heimsath said. "Then, eventually, you create a bubble, and eventually the bubble will burst. I'm not saying that will happen in Austin, but it's something we need to carefully monitor."

Sprague said he thought the Austin market will remain strong through 2007, unless the job growth picture changes. The region has been adding jobs for 32 months in a row. In August, the local work force reached 714,000 jobs, up 2.8 percent from the same period a year ago.

NEW HOME SALES
Nation: Through August, sales were down 14 percent
Austin: On track for a record year

SUPPLY OF UNSOLD NEW HOMES
Nation: 6.6 months
Austin: Less than two months

AUGUST RESALES
Nation: Down 0.5 percent
Austin: Up 6 percent


By M.B. Taboada AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Lago Vista Welcomes 'The Falls'...

Lago Vista Development Planned for 510 Homes

Construction is expected to start within six months on The Falls at Lake Travis, a master-planned waterfront community that will eventually grow to 510 homes and townhomes.

WY Atlantis, a Dallas-based mixed-use development company, bought 315 acres in the Lago Vista area for the project. Homes are expected to range in price from the $300,000's to more than $1 million.

WY Atlantis recently bought land for two other residential master-planned communities in Fort Worth and Houston.

WY Atlantis is owned by Wyatt Henderson and Allen Jones, co-founders of Marlin Atlantis; Dallas-based Westmount Realty Capital LLC; and The Yucaipa Companies LLC, a Los Angeles private equity investment firm.

American Statesman Staff - Saturday, September 23, 2006

Marina Causing Waves!

UPROAR OVER PROPOSED NEW MARINA!

For those of you who may not have heard, there is a huge uproar about a proposed new marina. Here are some of the nitty gritty details…

The LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) received a facility permit application in August from Harbor Ventures, Inc. The $53,299 permit is seeking construction of a marina off the bank of Graveyard Point at the end of Hurst Creek Road. This is in the extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the City of Lakeway, not in the city limits, which means Lakeway is very limited in what they can do to oppose it. If approved, in its first phase, the marina would cover 401 square feet of water with 262 slips along with a 131 car parking lot and two boat ramps – one at the end of Hurst Creek Road and the other at the end of Graveyard Point. The project would include floating septic tanks to hold sewage, public restrooms, two above ground fuel storage tanks with three fuel dispensers, a marine service station and ship’s store, according to a press release from Brooks Hollow HOA. Phase II is slated to be a floating yacht club and another 50 slips with parking ultimately for 250 cars.

Opponents say that two 10,000 gallon steel fuel storage tanks will rise roughly 35 feet into the air, disrupting views and disturbing habitat, adding that gas tanks could prove vulnerable during floods.

“While the application states ‘all tank openings shall be above the design flood elevation,’ the submitted drawings show the tanks at a height of 715 mls, seven feet lower than FEMA’s required flood plain elevation of 722 mls,” the release stated. (That’s also a full 34 feet higher than a full Lake Travis at 681 mls)

Opponents of the marina have voiced concerns about road and water traffic, as well as toxic hazards, noise and light pollution, and water quality degradation among its concerns. Other concerns include increased run off from the parking lot, as well as the preservation of the archeological site of Lohman’s Farm.

The LCRA is holding a public hearing on the matter Oct. 3rd from 6-7 p.m. at Vintage Villas, Sunset Room, 4209 Eck Lane.

Source: Excerpts from September 14th article in The Lake Travis View by Charles McClure, Editor

Travis County F.E.M.A. Map Information

The Travis County F.E.M.A. maps will not become final for a while. They are in a 90-day appeal/protest period that ends in September. Then any appeals/protests will have to be resolved before the maps are determined final. The preliminary maps are available at http://www.tcrfc.org/tcfmp/travis.shtml. In the second paragraph there is a link to the PDF versions of the maps as well as a City of Austin GIS viewer. The current maps are available at www.msc.fema.gov. Even though the elevation at Lake Travis is still 716', many communities are advising their citizens to consider the risks demonstrated in the preliminary maps and acknowledge the 722' BFE.

Now is the time for anyone abutting Lake Travis in zone "X" or in zone "AE" to get their flood insurance policies in place. Rates are nominal and you can get up to $250,000 insurance on single family residences. Once the new maps go into effect, homes not having flood insurance in place will be subject to new rates. Typically the rates average $1,000 for every foot you are in the floodplain. I know this is probably the last thing on your mind while we’re in the middle of a drought, but this is very important for everyone to know!

Top Honors for Lake Travis ISD

The Lake Travis school district was named a Gold Medal district by Expansion Management magazine, putting Lake Travis in the top 16% of the nation’s school districts.

The rankings are calculated on a weighted scale measuring 3 areas: student graduation rates, measurement of a community’s financial commitment to education, and a community’s adult education and income levels.

On a scale of 1 to 99, Lake Travis ISD received a composite score of 93.

Click here to check out their website for more details!

2005 Cost Vs. Value Remodeling Report

Say you had a dated, 200 sq ft kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinets and countertops. A "minor" remodel would be to replace the cabinet door fronts, replace the laminate counters, install new stove and oven and new faucet, repaint and replace the vinyl floor. In the Southern US, the average cost of that job would be about $13,500. The cost recouped at resale is about 96% of your investment.

What about adding a deck? A 16x20 foot pressure-treated pine deck with concrete footings, built-in bench and planter would run you about $8,700. You'll get back about 82% of that cost when you resell.

Want more facts and figures? Check out the online edition of the annual "Cost vs. Value Report", published in Dec 2005, in conjunction with Remodeling magazine. Click this link to go to the overview, and then look for the red links along the right hand side for a list of specific remodeling projects.

7 Deadly Sins of Remodeling

Think a pool is a good idea? How about a home office - everyone wants one of those, right?...

Avoid improvements that are likely to cost you when it comes time to sell. The 'deadly sins' are summarized as:

• overexpanding
• making your home into something it's not
• changing a room's functionality
• doing it yourself - when you shouldn't
• underbudgeting
• making unncecessary renovations
• neglecting regular maintenance

For details on what this all means, and what you should avoid, click this link for the full article.
Originally published by Amy Hoak, of MarketWatch

The Travel Channel Films Lake Travis for "Vacation Home Search"

In February, I was chosen to host a film crew from Authentic Entertainment. They were hired by The Travel Channel, and were in Austin to film a 30-min episode of "Vacation Home Search" featuring Lake Travis.

They filmed my clients, Lori & Dr. Derek Tieken from Houston, as they searched for their perfect second home on Lake Travis.

The Travel Channel wanted to focus on homes in the $500Ks - a feat that's become hard to do with rising prices in the past 18 months. But we did film 3 homes - in Spicewood, Jonestown, and Point Venture. Sequences were also filmed at Lakeway Inn and Iguana Grill.

The Travel Channel has been airing the new episodes the past couple of months, but they've changed the date of the Lake Travis episode. As of the time of this post, they were shooting for 4th quarter 2006, but no definitive date has been set.

The Travel Channel did mail me a DVD of the episode, though. I will be having copies of the DVD made in the next week or two. If you'd like a copy when they're ready, drop me an email with your name and mailing address!

Weekend Brunch Idea

One of my favorite restaurants on the lake is Lakehouse Cafe, in the Briarcliff Marina. I unfortunately don't get there as often as I'd like, since it's all the way up at lake mile marker 26, which is about 20 miles further up than where I hang out (and with gas at $4/gallon.....)

It's not your typical lake fare of greasy hamburgers and nachos. Relatively speaking, it's gourmet-level food - with a casual, laid back atmosphere. Go in your swimsuit - no dressing up here!

After closing this Spring for a remodel, they're back in business. They're open Friday thru Sunday, 9A-9P (later if there's a good crowd).
Go this weekend for brunch. Order Maggie's Migas and the Pappas Fritas - the best I've had anywhere!

By boat, they're at mile marker 26, in the Briarcliff Marina. There is boat parking.
By land, go west on Hwy 71. Turn right on FM 2322 (Pace Bend Rd). Go 2-1/2 miles and turn right on McDaniel Drive. The parking lot is straight ahead on the left.

Tell the owner, Brian Ezzell, that Mick sent you!

Count Your Marbles

One of the reasons I enjoy the laid-back lifestyle on Lake Travis is because I realize that life is unpredictable, and sometimes way too short. My wife and I try to live each day as if it could be our last. But the struggles of everyday life can sometimes lead even the most disciplined of us away from our 'life principles'. Sometimes, though, all it takes is a short story to re-focus your priorities. With that, allow me to share the following story that was passed along to me yesterday.........

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are the most enjoyable for me.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling around with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning, turned into a life changing event. When I turned on the radio to listen to a Saturday morning talk show, I heard the voice of an elderly-sounding man. He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named Tom. Intrigued, I sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well, but it's a a shame you have to be away from your family so much. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital. Tom, let me tell you something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of "a thousand marbles." "I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about 75 years. So, I multiplied 75 times 52 and came up with 3900, which is the the number of Saturdays the average person has in their lifetime."

"It took me until I was 55 years old to come up with this idea, and by that time I had lived through over 2800 Saturdays. I thought that if I lived to be 75, I had only about 1000 of them left to enjoy. So I went to three different toy stores and bought every single marble they had in order to round up 1000 marbles. I put them inside a clear plastic container and every Saturday since then, I've taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life."

"Now let me tell you one more thing before I sign off and take my lovely wife to breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it to next Saturday, then I've been blessed with a little extra time to spend with my loved ones. It was nice to talk to you, Tom, and have a good morning."

Even the show's moderator was speechless for a moment. I had planned to do some work that morning, and then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and awoke my wife with a kiss. "C'mon, honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we've spent Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

July 4 Fireworks on Lake Travis

Party season on Lake Travis is here! This photo is from Devil's Cove on Memorial Day 2006. Devil's Cove ("the" party spot) was closed off this July 4th holiday, as the sheriff's dept. was unfortunately still looking for the missing body of a woman who drowned the week prior.

Carlos 'N Charlies hosted their awesome (as usual) fireworks display on July 3 with a concert by Bad Company. We were anchored out in front of C 'N C, with about another thousand boats. It's crazy when the fireworks end and the boats all begin to move in unison - almost chaos, but with a certain ryhthm to it. Like a floating highway. A bit scary if you're the boat owner, requiring hypervigilance (after a pitcher of margaritas!) to protect your boat from the swells, hoards of boats just a few feet from you, and my pet peeve, reckless rent-a-boat drivers.

The weather wasn't as nice on July 4, and we skirted black clouds and brief rain showers all day by moving from cove to cove. The fireworks at Johnny Fins on the 4th were much more sedate, with a cool rain falling. The lake was calm with no winds or waves - a nice break from the craziness of the day before. Even though Fin's display is not as impressive as C 'N C's, I always like it there because you get a 360-degree display with the fireworks in Lago Vista and hoards of pyro's that live along the banks of Hurst Creek and in Costa Bella and Vineyard Bay. We had rain the preceeding week, which led to lifting the ban on mortars, and they certainly took advantage of that. One group near Graveyard Point had an incredible display- the whole thing looked like a big bang finale- but it went on for almost a half hour.

No photos of the fireworks - in hauling all the food and drink to the boat, I forgot to grab the camera. I have an unwritten rule that I NEVER head to the boat without the camera, but it somehow escaped me that day. Serves me right - there was a brilliant full-arch rainbow over the Costa Bella side of Hurst cove in the twilight - totally saturated in color. Tried to get a pic with my camera phone, but I'm sure it didn't capture the moment the way I remember it.

Poker Run Schedule

Fill 'er up and ante up -- it's Poker Run season on Lake Travis!
There are still 3 runs left this summer - the complete schedule is posted below.

Lake Travis Powerboat Association 2006 Poker Run Schedule

April 21st: Kick-Off Party (Johnny Fins, 7-10 PM)
April 22nd: Pre Season Run (Johnny Fins to Carlos N Charlie’s)
May 13th
June 10th
July 15th
Aug 12th
Sept 16th