Beautiful day in Northern California. Blue Skies. Very light winds.
Mid-afternoon temps in 60's. So I prepped my Sea Ray 185 and my wife fixed
me a turkey, cheddar, avocado, and mayonnaise sandwich on an onion roll (my
picnic basket turned out to include chips, soda, water, and a Hostess
cupcake). She's a good wife.

Well, it was a great drive through vineyards, orchards, and hills thick with
rich green colors and some mountains in the background dusted with snow. I
was driving to a lake I've never launched at, Lake Mendocino (Bill McKee
knows the lake). It was such a nice day and I assumed the lake would have
minimal traffic today. I just wanted to drive my boat around for awhile.
As soon as the lake was in view, I knew it would be great: I was going to
have the whole lake all to myself - not a boat in sight!

Much to my surprise, when I rolled down to the launch ramp I noticed the
complete absence of boat trailers. Finally, there it was, the sign: Lake
Closed Due to Flooding and Hazardous Debris. Well, so much for a nice 75
mile Sunday drive.

I thought I would salvage the day and stop at the lake closest to my house
on my way home. I saw lots of boats coming and going on the road to Lake
Sonoma, so I was glad for the chance to get the boat in the water, but not
looking forward to a crowded ramp. Not a problem. When I pulled onto the
ramp, again, not a boat in sight! The cables to the dock had broken so
there was no dock for me to tie off to for my solo launch.

Well, a nice 175 mile Sunday drive with a boat tied to my tail and not a
drop of water. You gotta love it. I did get something tangible out of the
trip: now I know what my gas mileage is when I'm towing the boat; 12.5 mpg.

Here's to the next sunny day free of any responsibilities.

On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:26:37 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

Beautiful day in Northern California. Blue Skies. Very light winds.
Mid-afternoon temps in 60's. So I prepped my Sea Ray 185 and my wife fixed
me a turkey, cheddar, avocado, and mayonnaise sandwich on an onion roll (my
picnic basket turned out to include chips, soda, water, and a Hostess
cupcake). She's a good wife.

Well, it was a great drive through vineyards, orchards, and hills thick with
rich green colors and some mountains in the background dusted with snow. I
was driving to a lake I've never launched at, Lake Mendocino (Bill McKee
knows the lake). It was such a nice day and I assumed the lake would have
minimal traffic today. I just wanted to drive my boat around for awhile.
As soon as the lake was in view, I knew it would be great: I was going to
have the whole lake all to myself - not a boat in sight!

Much to my surprise, when I rolled down to the launch ramp I noticed the
complete absence of boat trailers. Finally, there it was, the sign: Lake
Closed Due to Flooding and Hazardous Debris. Well, so much for a nice 75
mile Sunday drive.

I thought I would salvage the day and stop at the lake closest to my house
on my way home. I saw lots of boats coming and going on the road to Lake
Sonoma, so I was glad for the chance to get the boat in the water, but not
looking forward to a crowded ramp. Not a problem. When I pulled onto the
ramp, again, not a boat in sight! The cables to the dock had broken so
there was no dock for me to tie off to for my solo launch.

Well, a nice 175 mile Sunday drive with a boat tied to my tail and not a
drop of water. You gotta love it. I did get something tangible out of the
trip: now I know what my gas mileage is when I'm towing the boat; 12.5 mpg.

Here's to the next sunny day free of any responsibilities.


Now *that's* a sad story. I went to a fishing show up in Maryland. Listened
to a talk by one of the renowned striper fisherman in the area who gave a
couple of good tips on trolling techniques. Then went down to the various
stalls to check out the prices this year. Not bad. Picked up a few Bass
Assassins for jigging and casting, and ordered a set of rod holders. These
are aluminum, fit into a side rod holder and hold two rods each. Much
better than clamping rod holders to side rails.

Not a fantastic day, but perhaps better than yours. The Mustang, without a
trailer, got about 21.5 mpg. So I can't complain.
--
John H

******Have a spectacular day!******

"Bryan" wrote in message
om...
Beautiful day in Northern California. Blue Skies. Very light winds.
Mid-afternoon temps in 60's. So I prepped my Sea Ray 185 and my wife
fixed me a turkey, cheddar, avocado, and mayonnaise sandwich on an onion
roll (my picnic basket turned out to include chips, soda, water, and a
Hostess cupcake). She's a good wife.

Well, it was a great drive through vineyards, orchards, and hills thick
with rich green colors and some mountains in the background dusted with
snow. I was driving to a lake I've never launched at, Lake Mendocino
(Bill McKee knows the lake). It was such a nice day and I assumed the
lake would have minimal traffic today. I just wanted to drive my boat
around for awhile. As soon as the lake was in view, I knew it would be
great: I was going to have the whole lake all to myself - not a boat in
sight!

Much to my surprise, when I rolled down to the launch ramp I noticed the
complete absence of boat trailers. Finally, there it was, the sign: Lake
Closed Due to Flooding and Hazardous Debris. Well, so much for a nice 75
mile Sunday drive.

I thought I would salvage the day and stop at the lake closest to my house
on my way home. I saw lots of boats coming and going on the road to Lake
Sonoma, so I was glad for the chance to get the boat in the water, but not
looking forward to a crowded ramp. Not a problem. When I pulled onto the
ramp, again, not a boat in sight! The cables to the dock had broken so
there was no dock for me to tie off to for my solo launch.

Well, a nice 175 mile Sunday drive with a boat tied to my tail and not a
drop of water. You gotta love it. I did get something tangible out of the
trip: now I know what my gas mileage is when I'm towing the boat; 12.5
mpg.

Here's to the next sunny day free of any responsibilities.


Bummer. Should have kept heading east and visited Derby, Kansas.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Bryan" wrote in message
om...
Beautiful day in Northern California. Blue Skies. Very light winds.
Mid-afternoon temps in 60's. So I prepped my Sea Ray 185 and my wife
fixed me a turkey, cheddar, avocado, and mayonnaise sandwich on an onion
roll (my picnic basket turned out to include chips, soda, water, and a
Hostess cupcake). She's a good wife.

Well, it was a great drive through vineyards, orchards, and hills thick
with rich green colors and some mountains in the background dusted with
snow. I was driving to a lake I've never launched at, Lake Mendocino
(Bill McKee knows the lake). It was such a nice day and I assumed the
lake would have minimal traffic today. I just wanted to drive my boat
around for awhile. As soon as the lake was in view, I knew it would be
great: I was going to have the whole lake all to myself - not a boat in
sight!

Much to my surprise, when I rolled down to the launch ramp I noticed the
complete absence of boat trailers. Finally, there it was, the sign: Lake
Closed Due to Flooding and Hazardous Debris. Well, so much for a nice 75
mile Sunday drive.

I thought I would salvage the day and stop at the lake closest to my
house on my way home. I saw lots of boats coming and going on the road
to Lake Sonoma, so I was glad for the chance to get the boat in the
water, but not looking forward to a crowded ramp. Not a problem. When I
pulled onto the ramp, again, not a boat in sight! The cables to the dock
had broken so there was no dock for me to tie off to for my solo launch.

Well, a nice 175 mile Sunday drive with a boat tied to my tail and not a
drop of water. You gotta love it. I did get something tangible out of
the trip: now I know what my gas mileage is when I'm towing the boat;
12.5 mpg.

Here's to the next sunny day free of any responsibilities.


Bummer. Should have kept heading east and visited Derby, Kansas.

Eisboch


Someday. Maybe. While I'm out visiting Party Cove at Lake of The Ozarks.

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:01:26 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

Bummer. Should have kept heading east and visited Derby, Kansas.

Nah, way past there, all the way to FL.

We spent the weekend on the boat, nothing too ambitious but a nice
cruise over to Sanibel Island on Saturday morning, Saturday night
moored behind Ft Myers Beach, and a Sunday morning dinghy cruise
through the back side of Estero Bay. Very windy today but warm and
sunny, can't beat that for a January weekend.