The Pink Flamingo in Arizona

2/13/2025

The first two are still in the work so this one we’ll call Rodney’s Ramblings #3, unscripted, unfiltered, most definitely grammatically incorrect.

It came to my attention on Facebook that once again the Town of La Valle Board is looking to limit a specific recreational activity on Lake Redstone as are many lakes and I’m guessing even many states are. On a lake that I was lucky enough to grow up on and lucky enough to probably spend more hours on the water then any other kid. A lake that back in the day I was lucky enough to be part of the Lake Redstone Ski Club that made lifelong friends, many of whom still either have parent(s) that still own their place on the lake and others who have bought on the lake. Other’s who have sold and some who own homes on other lakes. We still get together occasionally and still tell the same stories and have the same laughs of the wonderful and crazy times we had growing up on Lake Redstone.

And for another topic (Rodney’s Ramblings #1 that I hope to release soon) I had read my letters that I wrote to the Town of La Valle Board and to the Lake Redstone Property Owners Board almost 25 years ago now. I’ll include them at the end and I hope you take the time to read them all.

You see back 25 years ago they wanted to limit the hours for waterskiing and personal watercrafts to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I think it was from the State law of sunrise to sunset. And even though I myself wasn’t getting up at sunrise to ski anymore I felt I had to do all I could to fight for those who where still enjoying it. To fight for the minority.

Letter’s that I think helped preserve those rights that I so cherished growing up. Back when I was growing up there was absolutely no better way than to start the day then on a slalom ski run on a glass calm lake or a barefoot run where the lake is so calm it feels like your feet are being sliced open.

And this past Labor Day when I was at a low point mentally it was some random skiers that came slalom skiing down Lake Redstone while I was out for an early morning ponton ride that reminded me why I fight the hard fights, and it inspired me to work on Rodney’s Ramblings #1. I thought 25 years ago I was fighting to protect sunrise waterskiing for future generations, turns out I fought for the generation before me.

And even though I don’t own a wakeboard boat I have tried it a few times, I have friends on the lake that own them, and I see the attraction to it, especially in my older and out of shape years. So I might be a bit biased but if you fully read my letters I don’t think so. To me it still falls far short of the exhilaration of crossing the wakes on a slalom ski at 60 mph or barefooting the length of the lake on a calm morning.

And while I do realize that they do create a huge wake and at time make it difficult for me on our old pontoon boat to take a slow easy cruise without turning into their wakes they do have just as much rights to enjoy the lake how they like as anyone else. The funny thing was back 25 years ago they were after the water skiers and personal watercraft users for being loud on the lake in the morning. Nothing was said about banning the fishing boat many of who had more horsepower then the 90 HP Johnson we spent countless hours slalom skiing and barefooting behind.

And I hope that those who do enjoy the wake boats take a proactive stance and get together and give the Town Board some options. Propose a further distance from shore that you will stay away from. Be conscious of other boats and try to stay in the center of the lake. Go slow or dump your ballast to reduce wakes when not pulling someone. Actually research the facts and prove to the Town Board what causes the major shoreline damage. I pretty sure my father would have said that the ice shifting in the spring could cause more damage in a week or two to our shoreline than the entire year of boats and wind.

Because if you are not proactive your rights will be gone in no time. You’re the minority, only you can fight and prove them wrong.

And if after reading my letters below you are still set on banning the wake boats from the lake then fight away. Not just with I want them gone because I don’t like them, get the facts to back up your feelings.

We all enjoy this lake in our own way and we all have to learn to live together and protect not only the lake but also all of the activities on the lake for everyone. Had waterskiing been banned back when I grew up I probably would have missed out on becoming friends with some of the greatest people I know.

And if you do read these letters and it changes your views please let me know. If it doesn’t please let me know also, give me your facts, change my mind that we shouldn’t give them a chance to find a solution first.

And above all enjoy the hell out of your time on Lake Redstone!

And here’s the PDF of the letters I had written to the Town of La Valle Board and Lake Redstone Property Owners against restricting the hours for water skiers on Lake Redstone back in 2000.