It rained for forty days and forty nights – not constantly but in an intermittent sneaky sort of way so that the optimistic would be caught in the rain and soaked to the bone pursuing their favorite activities. The weather forecasts have been eerily reminiscent of the beer sign in the Florida keys “Free Beer Tomorrow!” Yes its more like “Beautiful Sunny Weather Tomorrow!” But today’s weather is extremely consistent – cool with intermittent showers with periods of bone soaking rain! Oh well. But there have been several beautiful bright mornings! (so I have been told)
The card games, darts, drinking and bean bag games haven’t suffered much though and the fishing has been just fine. But I would recommend that raingear be a permanent fixture in every-one’s boat this summer (using the term summer in a purely empirical way). The rain has made the threat of forest fires nearly nil as it would take saturation napalm bombing on the order of the allies bombing of Dresden to start anything self sustaining! Taking this into mind, I decided to have a small “bonfire” on a warm rainy windless night. It would serve to amuse us and to remove the the fuel from the bush that may cause a problem some dry hot summer. I have been told they existed by the old timers! It usually goes like this “Yeah, yeah, I ‘member when the Tin-mill was goin’ strong back in aughttree and I was ridin’ home in mah buggy from midnighturn and the night was so hot that the lightnin bugs was eatin’ the bats…”
So the fire managed to provide some meager warmth and the moon managed to peak out just as it was dying down and the revelers were leaving.
The lake temperature is hovering around 68-69F and the weed beds are lush but we haven’t had a decent night for jitterbugs yet this year. The walleye/pickerel have been quite active. We are planning an expedition up the Grassy tomorrow to take advantage of the projected beautiful sunny day. (Yeah right! I’ll believe it when I see it!) The trip should generate some cool pictures and a report on the possible breeding success of the painted turtles up that way.
Well I believe I must now gird myself as this day may yet develop into National Vodka on the Beach Day!
Ask, Sharon, and ye shall receive.
Muchas Gracias. Still wish I was there, Ark or not.
Since I am stuck in Illinois rather than camp for National Vodka on the Beach Day, I propose we change it to the International Vodka Wherever You Are Day. I’ll be joining you in spirit as I partake of the raspberry variety, mixed with the good kind of cranberry juice.
If you need help with the Ark, let me know. Just a few tips. I know there’s a lot of pine, but gopher wood is your best ark building material. Screw the metric system, measure in cubits. And finally, don’t worry about the huge gaping holes in the side. That’s what all the pitch is for.
Yes Rev – I have realized for many years that the essence of all religion is “The Pitch”. Its there to fill the massive all encompassing gaping holes.
Yes, Jack, that’s what it’s for. As a matter of fact, there is a massive, all encompassing, gaping hole right there, hold still, it’s just below your nose. Let me fill that in for ya.