By MARIANA PEREZ-ISAZA, Contributor 

On August 14, my brother, Santiago, and I set out to do something never done before: take a homemade raft across Lake Austin from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam, a 21-mile journey. We launched from Jessica Hollis Park just after sunrise with only my immediate family, a teacher, and a close friend present. By 7:30 a.m., the raft was assembled, paddles in hand, and we pushed off, determined to finish.

The first stretch was steady despite my brother being sick, but by mile five the wind made paddling useless. We climbed off the raft and dragged it through hydrilla weeds that tangled the rudder and cut at our ankles. The raft, designed for rivers with current, proved too heavy for a still lake. The sail pushed us backward and progress slowed. By Quinlan Park, with seven miles to go and daylight running out, my parents lent us a small motor. Even with its help, winds forced us to haul the raft between docks. After 14 exhausting hours, we reached Emma Long Park in darkness and camped, sick from constant motion.

The next morning, we stashed the heavy rudder near Pennybacker Bridge, raised our small red sail, and became the most noticed vessel on the lake as boaters cheered us on. By afternoon, however, the wind turned against us again, pushing us backward. We jumped back in the water, dragging the raft through invasive weeds that sliced our skin. Mid-lake, a storm rolled in, tossing even speedboats helplessly. Lightning cracked as we were swept into a neighborhood cove, where a woman named Michelle sheltered us until skies cleared.

When the storm passed, my brother was exhausted after more than 25 hours on the water and ready to quit. Our parents used their boat to tow us across calmer waters and gave us a fresh battery, allowing us to push on. After another 11 hours of paddling through waves and wakes, we reached Tom Miller Dam at sunset. This time, when I jumped into the water, it wasn’t to push the raft but to celebrate. We set a record by being the first to take a homemade raft from dam to dam across Lake Austin.

We accomplished what we set out to do: the first dam-to-dam crossing of Lake Austin on a homemade raft. The expedition grew my Instagram project, @theraft_reports, and raised awareness for Austin’s lakes, parks, and outdoor spaces. More than an adventure, it was a mission—to show what’s possible, inspire others to explore Central Texas waters, and connect recreation with conservation.

Mariana Perez-Isaza, 18, graduated from Vandegrift in May and now studies in San Antonio as a student with the University of Texas Austin Coordinated Admission Program). Her brother Santiago,24, is a University of Texas Dallas graduate.