Vacation 2010 – Amistad again!

We made our vacation to the lake place again this year. It was fun and relaxing, as we had hoped it would be. There was swimming, fishing, and fun all around for us. There is always the work too, part of owning the place you choose to go on vacation. George used to go down once a month to take care of the place – I think we’ll start doing the same to lessen the breakdowns and yard work when actually there to have fun. None the less – We did have fun.

To make a little re-cap, and fill in the blanks – we’ll start with last years hunting trip.

The boys and I went down late in season for a hunting trip. The fishing boat died on us about 2 miles down river. I initiallythought it was the carbs, but after this trip down there, and seeing it go through the same scenario, I leaned more toward something electrical. George and I pulled the boat out of the shop, and it started fine. We launched it at the ramp, and it ran fine – about 2 miles up the river – then we ran into the same thing as we did during the hunting trip. Would not start.

This is where it gets some what funny.

So, we decided we had only one choice – launch the ski boat to pull this one back to the ramp. We needed to launch it anyway, so we could all go swimming, tubing, and just pleasure riding. We launched it, ran up the river, hooked on to the old fishing boat and down river we went back to the ramp. It ran like a champ up to the river. The 140 HP pulled the fishing boat without much problem as well. In fact we broke the pull rope several times – which caused the ski boat to take off in full speed ahead. The look on Georges face was priceless, because he was standing up when it did it. Funny!

Once we got it to the ramp, I pulled it up on the trailer, strapped it down and hauled it back to the house. Then I went down to the old ramp, near the house, to pick up George. He had driven the ski boat back to the old ramp so we could access it easier. When I got there he said that it was messed up. Said it started knocking real bad right before they reached the ramp. So we were in a bit of a pickle, as Kaden would say.

I never started the ski boat up, so I never heard it. He said it was knocking pretty bad, and it sounded like a physical knock. I just took his word for it and we started talking about how we could get it back to the ramp at Rough Canyon for loading.

George called the Parks & Wildlife Department. They came down and opened the gate to the old ramp. I trailered the ski boat there and pulled it home. The P & W guys were very friendly and helpful.  It sure saved us from having to find someone to tow us back down to Rough Canyon. The P & W guys did say if we called them they would come tow us though. That was nice, and good to know.

Then George and Jace started to look for a new boat to buy. They found one in Del Rio at Two Guys Marine. It was an Invaded ski boat with a Volvo inboard/outdrive. Super clean, and well taken care of. They immediately started negotiations. We all ended up with a good deal in the end.

We did some swimming and fishing in between all of this as well. I caught small mouth bass and perch right there at the old ramp just wade fishing.  The swimming we did was a little cold to me, so I did not do as much as Jace and the kids. We took the boat up to the springs and man they were cold… I barely even got wet there. It never slowed Kade down though – that boy is half fish.

Other things I want to note and remember – While fishing late one evening down at the ramp a snake started swimming toward me. I though “it’s just a water snake – He’ll go by his merry way and not bother me” Wrong…it was a little rattle snake that decided he needed to come right toward me…thatwould have been funny had someone been there to see it. I started thrashing my fishing rod all over him and running out of the water….very funny. Jace heard a rattlesnake near the same ramp the next evening. We knew they were down there, but never gave them much thought near the ramps.

Top water baits are fun when the 3 pounders are hitting them. I was tearing them up in the evenings at the ramp. Can’t wait for the weather to cool back down and then next spring too…I am gonna tear ’em up.

Anyway, we do like the new ski boat. I hope we can take care of it and it runs for another 20 years. Who needs big fancy $70k boats? Dang sure not us. LOL All we need is a place to get away and a way to get around the lake. LOL In fact I love that old fishing boat – it is a 1958 Starcraft aluminum hull with a 1979 70HP out board. Can’t wait to restore/update it. Whoo hoo!

Kaden learned how to make a doe bleat sound. Here is a short clip of him mastering the art. LOL