Hey Tsubaki

[fishingwithblue]

I will be at the gun hunt.

[tsubaki]

Well this trip was uneventful for us as far as shooting anything. But trying to get there and back alive was a bonus (as usual).
Packed the boat and was ready at 8am on Wednesday, figured I might as well crank the motor to make sure it would run. It would spin over but not fire. After pulling the plugs and drying them off 3 different times, I realized it was oil and not gas keeping them wet. I ended up disconnecting the fuel bubble and draining ALL six carbs that was full of oil. Once I did that, checked the filters and primed it, it cranked up ran fine with the exception of it smoking, letting it clear the cylinders of excess oil.
At 9:30am, off down the road we go. 2 blocks from the house, something didn’t feel right with the trailer, so I stopped to check the wheels. They were contacting the fenders, got TWO broken springs.
Removed the fenders and pulled it back to the house, off to the hardware store for springs and hardware. After replacing them and eating lunch, it’s now 1:45pm and I’m bolting on the last fender, the Civil Defense horns go off all over the county. We now are under a tornado watch, what else can go on today?? By about 4:30pm seems all is clear, figured we would not have enough time to get to the ramp, get to the island, set up camp, etc before dark. Well this might be a sign not to go today, so we leave Thursday morning.
We got to the island at 9:30am set up camp and were off to do our (now) couple of days hunting. If you haven’t been there, it would take too much time to explain all the little stuff that just didn’t mesh. Temps ranged from 35 to 70 degrees with one full day and night of rain and 15 to 20kt winds the whole time. We did at least see a couple of deer each but had no good shot opportunity.
While talking to the resident manager and telling him of our first day’s problems, he let me know it could have been worst. A father and sons group (from Atlanta) almost bought the farm, they had attempted on Wednesday to get to the island, swamped their boat, lost everything except the guns that were in floating cases. I felt better about listening to the signs and not going till Thursday.
Numbers for this hunt was about 50 hunters and about 25 deer taken ranging from a 130lb 9 point (my cousin took with a smoke pole), a 122lb 11 point and ranging on down to some near 25lbs.
We left the island about 10:30am Sunday to the welcome of 70 degrees and fog with a visibility of about 100 feet. Seemed to take forever to get through the sound and up the intracoastal where at one point we met a couple of snowbirds heading south. The 40 foot or so boat was throwing about a 3 foot wake (which was no problem) but the yankeejackassSOB behind him in his 30 foot or so boat was throwing a 6 foot wake, which we could not see till we were on top of it. Water washed over the bow, up the windshield, up and over us, gee thanks asswipe, we haven’t gotten wet the whole trip.
Guess it could have been worst; at least we did arrive and return without any REAL problems. Sorry about no pictures except the springs and camp. Just had too many distractions this trip.

[fishingwithblue]

That's how it goes! First your money then your close,,,,,I guess it wasn't in the cards for me this year because my youngest, Henry, got fever and snot and so I unpacked again......

Glad to hear you made it back safe. Try again in 2010!

What kinda boat was the family of boys from Atlanta in?

[tsubaki]

I'm trying to find some mention in the news, but can't.
Hearsay; was in a 15' boat and sank in Green Island Sound.
I believe the resident manager was notified by a local charter captain who did call them by name.
The first year I met them, their trip was also epic. It rained all the way from Atlanta, had two blowouts on the trailer and ran out of propane half way through the hunt. We had plenty and donated a couple of bottles.

[bradford]

Excellent report as always Tsubaki.

Glad nobody drowned! Thank God they had guns!

Your springs look better than mine! LOL! Probabaly should think about changing them out.