"HI - HOW ARE YA?"
"Pull up D.A. - Pull up - don't go towards the light" (read further)
Well, another Meet has come and gone. What fun these meets are - if you have never gone to one, your really missing alot. There is nothing more enjoyable then sharing a week of fun among friends. Tuesday I was up at 6am packing the van and getting ready to hit the road so I could meet up with Joda, Lipripper, and Getdanet in Madison so we could caravan to Davesett's place in Pepin. Boy it was sure great to see the Boyz again. Well as it seems mandatory that I have some type of boat/trailer problem with every trip - I wasn't disappointed by the boat gods. One the way up to Dave's, I hear this clink, clink, clink, clink, clink and I know it is the safety chain hitting the road. Ok, no big deal - pull over and hook it back on the van. Sureeee, sounds easy enough but first you have to have the chain to hook up in the first place..........I get back there and it GONE!!! Yep - GONE!!!!!!
Well we get back the road and finally make it to Dave's in time for supper - once there, we see that Steve had made the trip to Dave's safe and sound. Dave served us up some ribs and fixings - man can he make some mean ribs. A great supper and some laughs, we were off to bed. Once we all got up, we made a trip to the hardware store and got some supplies to repair the safety chain.
By mid morning we all were ready to start the NAFC convoy to Hayward. But wait - not so fast there buddy. Davesett joined the boat/trailer problem club with a trailer tire just about coming off just a few blocks from his house. Pulled over and found he was missing a few lug nuts - good thing the hardware store was just down the block.
On the road again, some lunch and a couple hours later - we made it to the camp ground. Wow - what a beautiful place. Our spots were right on the water, the trees just starting to turn to their fall colors, loons making their beautiful call, the water lapping at the shore - what more could you ask for? Camp was set up, the Mossbacks rolled in, and evening was upon us. Tom (Mr. Mossback) the honorary keeper of the fire - got us a rip roaring fire going. Getdanet honored us with a retiring of the flag ceremony - very moving.
We had a beautiful night with a great view of the moon and stars not seen when you live in the city (the pic doesn't do it justice)
The Mossboobs (in-side joke)
Thursday most of us got the boats in the water but that was about it - winds kept us on land. Papa and wife Deb pull.
Sunrise
Dave and getdanet getting their boats out
Ok, so that evening we come to the next new catch phrase that will be ever famous among the meet attendees, along with Turnip's "Hi - How Are Ya". Sitting around the camp fire, the sillys get the best of us and the laughs are non-stop. But the best laugh came when a dandelion like seed pod comes flotaing above the fire and the fire sucks it into the flames. After a couple comments and sound effects, Joda comments on what a seed pod captain (remember - I said we had the sillys) would be yelling to the person flying the pod - "PULL UP DUMB ASS, PULL UP - DON'T GO TOWARDS THE LIGHT"........OMG - we ALL laugh so hard!!!!!
Friday........
Dave and boat issues - causing the reenactment of the crossing of the Delaware (thats Joda paddling)
Saturday and Sunday.........but Dave wasn't the only one still having the boat issues as my trolling motor finally took it's last breath. But I was still able to do some fishing. Canepole and Lou roll in as well.
Got to share my boat with Joda
That perch could have had that walleye for a snack
Shared my boat with Lipripper - he got a couple nice smallies under a bridge
Monday proved to be too windy again to be on the water so Deb, Trev (the Tossers), and I went into Hayward to the Fishing Hall of Fame Museum. There you can find the worlds largest musky..........
Where you can climb up to it's mouth (Deb and I)
The view from it's mouth
Deb and I in it's mouth
Deb and Trev catching the big one
Hey Angry Bob - how about this for a smallie?
Trev found a bushwhacker or two... (looks like someone we know - ya, you Dave)
All and all, the fishing was pretty slow but the beauty of the area, the times shared around the fire, the food and friends......it was well worth the trip. I have never laugh so much or so hard then I did around the capmfire some of them nights as we shared stories, jokes, or just plain got silly. Heck - even witness a M&M bushwhack Davesett (I'll let Deb tell that story). Boy the week sure went fast - I know I missed some great points of the trip but I know everyone will have their say as they chime in.
I just want to take this chance to thank all of you who attended this Meet. It isn't everyday you can run across such a great group of people who I am honored to call my friends and family.
Papa and Deb - it was great to finally meet you both.
Dave, Joda, Lip, Mossbacks, John, Tossers, Steve - thanks so much for all your help to not only me but to all those who need help with tent set up (make sure you have all the parts - in-side joke), launching and shoring of boats, fixing of boats/trailers, meals, and so much more.
Canepole and Lou - it was good seeing ya, to bad you couldn't stay longer.
Mossbacks - thanks for keeping track of me on the water there and sharing so much of your know how.
And a special thanks goes out to Davesett for hosting a super great meet!
I am also happy that the good Lord saw fit to allow us all to get together and make it there and home again safely.
Can't wait til the next meet.
