Lake Isabella - Unpleasantness at the Ghetto

superkraut · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 346

I understand that there was an altercation with waterskiers over the weekend, who blocked access to the water for the windsurfers in the Ghetto. Now we have a chance to do something about this and other conflicts in that area: VOLUNTEER!
Sue Vose and myself have just been installed as volunteers with the Forest Service in the Aux Dam area, and I have agreed to fill in at the Ghetto temporarily, until a full time camp host can be found there. Anyone want that post through September? Just think what a difference we could make if we can install one of our own to monitor, mediate, enforce and call the authorities when needed!!
Anyone interested, please contact me!!
Eva
eva at boardlady dot com

jp5 · Joined: 19 May 1998 Posts: 3394 Location: OnUr6

I am curious as to the reason for the altercation? Typically waterskiers like the morning glass and retire for the day once the wind picks up and the water is too choppy so it wouldn't seem like an on the water issue.

surfskimd · Joined: 08 May 1997 Posts: 38

Makes no sense to me either. What makes for good skiing, makes for crappy windsurfing and vice versa.
This seems like 2 groups of people who should be able to get along; as they would be using the lake at different times.

superkraut · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 346

I wasn't there - Gary or David, could you illuminate? I understand that windsurfers carried their gear through a gap between parked RVs, that the occupants (waterskiers) strung tape between their units to prevent such access. Windsurfers called Forest Service, who came and had the waterskiers remove the tape - only to park trucks and trailers in the gaps the moment the Forest Service drove away.
Does not surprise me one bit: I had a friend try out my outrigger the other day. he paddled past a couple of jetskiers. "you need a motor" yelled one of them (shaved head & beer gut). "no, not really". "then you don't belong on this lake"

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

superkraut · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 346

I volunteered - I do bother

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

isobars, our vigilante from Eastern Washington, wants to rag on windsurfers in Southern California. Is he thinking about volunteering down in SoCal? Not a chance really. Yet, he can't help but do a "Monday Morning Quarterback" routine just to get under folks' skins.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

madmax7 · Joined: 07 Mar 1997 Posts: 561 Location: So Calif

I was returning from Sherman Island Saturday July 3 due to no wind and because sensors were going off at the Lake I chose to make a "stop By" though I knew it would be very busy.

However, I have spent holiday weekends at the lake before and usually we have no problem getting access to the lake. When I got there I parked away from the water and walked over to talk to the wsurfers that were within 25 feet of the water. Wsurfers were grouping their camping.

The mood was terrible, they informed me that they were having problems with the folks that were parked by the water, their quote was "no we are not giving you access to the water, you wsurfers take over this area but not this weekend...this weekend is ours".

Thus, a couple of tarps were laid down by the rocky area in a 20 by 16 area next to some campers that gave us a little bit of room on the other side of the rocky mound. So we would walk west side of the "rocky area", rig on the 20 by 16 area at waters' edlge and go in, I thanked those campers several times for "allowing" us to share the lake with them.

I chose to leave the next morning, the mood was pretty bummed, and the lake was full of trash, I'm always amazed how even the "locals" don't respect their own community ( my girl and I went around picking up some of the trash that was left within range).

The irony was that the previous weekend I parked behind 2 large trailers of "locals" camping and they shared how much they enjoyed the entertainment that we provided for them and how peaceful we were at night. They said they quit camping by auxiliary dam because of rowdy boaters...

Maybe I can donate a weekend in September to hang out and assist...

Max

spennie · Joined: 13 Oct 1995 Posts: 975 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

Debi & I have been helping Robby, the Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer this year by reporting misdeeds by cell phone, and once by taking photos of an altercation and e-mailing them to him. If everyone does what they can to help, the Evildoers will eventually get the idea that they have to behave or leave.