The perfect weather weekend.
 

The weather was as close to perfect this weekend on the lake as far as I am concerned.82-84 degrees and big deep blue skies.The fourth was a little crazy as far as boat traffic goes though.I did stay out of the Wiers channel for that reason but there was a lot of traffic around the Governors I,Saunders Bay,to Timber I area.Most boats I have seen this year rafting at Timber.Also,By far the most crowded I have ever seen the Gilford Town Parking lot.I launched at about noon Monday and could not find a place to park.About ten of the "Trailer parking only" spots were filled with cars only.I had to get real creative to finally park.I had to park where I wasn't supposed to but didn't block anyone or hamper traffic flow.I was tempted to block some of those parked in the trailer only parking.But I thought better.Then there were the yahoos at the ramp.OK stop complaining.I expected some of this being the 4th and all.As soon as I got on the water all was right in the world again! Glorious! I love this place! SS

I agree......
 

I agree with SS. Traffic was very heavy around the Weirs, Meredith area. Braun Bay was packed. I went up to twenty mile Bay and it was very nice up there. I did have a problem with a couple of PWC's running across the graveyard right in front of me! Good thing I was paying attention as I slowed down long before they cross me.
While visiting friends at Glidden Cove a PWC buzzed right by me withing 30 feet, dowsing occupants in the boat. An MP boat was in the distance so we went up to make a complaint. Instead of going after the PWC, he decided to do a safety check because of the number of people in the boat. I have a 2005 safety sticker! We were fuming! After the safety check he took off in a different direction. We called the Marine Patrol and they told us to file an incidence report and they will investigate. Meanwhile the PWC is still buzzing around within 50' of shore. Maybe we should train the MP's??????
All in all it was an awesome weekend. The Alton fireworks was excellent and we did a little 2 stepping and line dancing. :cheers:

Broadhopper,
I had a boat pass me coming out of the Weirs channel as I was going in on Sunday. He was on plane, to my left, and within 50 feet of me (I was idling). Meanwhile a marine patrol boat was sitting in front of the public beach, to my right, within 50 feet of me. The MP officer was looking in our direction, but didn't move. My blood pressure hit the ceiling. Think that's bad? Two weeks ago I was approaching the Weirs channel from marker 1. Once inside the "no wake" zone, an MP officer (sitting in front of the town beach) yelled to the driver of the boat in front of me. The driver looked confused and switched places with his passenger. The gentleman began looking in the glove box of the boat. By this time we were Just passing under the bridge. A small MP boat passed us to port on plane and met up with the MP boat in front of the beach. Then the smaller MP boat did a u turn, cutting of another boat and came back up behind us on plane again. The officer passed me and pulled the boat in front of me to the side. As we went by I could see that the boat in question didn't have it's current registration decal displayed. Think that's bad? Another boat passed us to port (heading for the open lake) that had 5 or six years worth of registration decals displayed in a line (Im assuming this isn't legal). The MP boat that had the original boat in question stopped abruptly swung around, again cutting another boat off (this time a large cabin cruiser), and went after the second boat in question (again on plane). While I understood why the MP officer was going after these two boats, I don't agree with the method employed.

Windy Saturday
 

Saturday it was extremely choppy on The Broads. Not as bad as some days we’ve had, but there weren’t as many boaters as usual for a weekend day. Was the rest of the lake reasonably navigable?

Stickers?
 

My stickers are overlapped to suggest to the MPs my :cool: many years of experience on the lake. (Maybe I should attach one of my old aluminum NH boat-license plates, too).

It seems to be working, but I'm running out of room on the bow. :emb: (Having an "A" in the registration number is probably a good thing, too).

I was once ticketed (traffic/auto) and pointed out that the officer had violated traffic law to stop me. The judge said that "He was entitled to...."

End of story. :(

.

Most of the lake a some wind driven chop on Saturday, as you say not as bad as some days. Moultonborough bay was downright nasty. Actually I think it kept the crowds down. I found docks and sand bar anchor room on Saturday that where unavailable on Sunday or Monday.

Just got off the phone with a buddy of mine who is an officer for a police department on Winnipesaukee. He says the Marine Patrol usually fill vacancies with Police Cadets from the local police academy. That explains the reason why they are not up to specs on the maritime as well as NH boating laws. That also explains the reckless driving of some of the 'P-boat' captains. He says the marine patrol has a hard time keeping seasoned staff, so the majority of them are cadets. I think we should keep the little NH law booklet on us in case of a dispute. I had a big dispute and was ticketed last year for not having the red/green navigation light on. I was anchored! :rolleye1: