Hey Everybody, I had a much needed weekend getaway even if it was a little rough around the edges for me. It does a body good to take some time off work, hook up the boat, take in some different scenery, hang out with the SA family and make some new friends along the way.
I would like to give a huge
---THANK YOU---
to Dan and Steve from the Seminole Airboat Club. While we were taking the Saturday ride out on Lake Harney, the starter gave out on my boat. Most of the group had already taken off, but in true airboater fashion, a couple of guys waited to see if I was alright or if they could help. We pulled the starter off and it couldn't be repaired on the water. In no time at all Dan was on the redneck network (Nextel) to Steve, who had just gotten off from work, and asked if he has a spare chevy starter (there are two different styles) in the workshop. Steve asked who it was for and Dan told him "this guy from down south" he called back in a few minutes and said he didn't have a new one on the shelf, but he did have an old pickup in the backyard that might have one on it. Being A TRUE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN Steve got out his tools and crawled under the old truck and removed the starter just to see if it would work. Well I sure got lucky because it bolted right up and worked perfectly. I gave a big smile, shook his hand, and asked if there was anything I could do to repay him. He said it was nothing and all he asked is that if I saw someone else who needed help to stop and give them a hand if I could. ( I have done and will continue to do that anyway, thats just how I was raised and it is nice to see others were as well )
Safari Rick thanks for sticking around to make sure we got it worked out, sometimes you never know.
Skeeter thanks for leading the way and showing us out-of-towners where to go in your neck of the woods. The ride around the lake and Econ River was way different than what I'm used to, that is exactly what I believe these monthly runs were meant to be. Seeing the houses on the lake, the people fishing on the bank, and the different kinds of boats that have to share the river makes me understand a little better some of the issues that airboater all over the state are facing. When you only ride in one area you only understand the things that affect you, for example down here in the Glades airboat "sound" means next-to-nothing to us because the boat ramp I normally use is almost 15 miles from town and we go even farther out from there, You guys are literally doing it in peoples backyard. The only other boat traffic I usually see is in the deep-water canals that border the hundreds of thousands of acres of sawgrass, I bet I saw thirty boats other than airboats on the lake and river. I also understand that sometimes there are jet skis, canoes, or kayaks that share the river, if you want to talk about having to display flags for safety here you go, I can see where things could go bad in a hurry coming around one of those bends in the Econ with 3 feet of riverbank on the side and suddenly you see / or don't see a jet ski coming at you. I think there should be a flag law-not just for airboats.
Stan you outdid yourself - that was some of the best fried food I've had in years (it reminded me of Grannys cooking, you can definately take that as a compliment), alot of restrants cant do it even close to that good. Thanks to everybody who pitched in an brought food it was awesome, Big'ol frog legs, catfish, hush puppies, gator wings, succulet shrimp coctail, baked beans, potato salad, dinner rolls, it was an impressive spread anywhere you put it but it was even better at the pavillion on the Econ with good friends.
Bandit & better half (sorry I forget names) you have a very nice boat and an impressive tow vehicle, I hope they serve you well and often.
Uncle Bubba & family it was nice to meet you.
Cntry, you and Stan have got some luxury accomidations to stay in (with the ladies of course) while on your airboating adventures across the state, I hope to be there one day. I'll keep working for it.
Laura & Matt, Ms.Wizard & Basketcase, Dakota & CC, and Bravo it was good to spend some time with friends away from the hassles of everyday life and pop-a-top on a cold one or two, I hope to do more of it soon. The "therapy" is just what the doctor ordered.
Waterthunder & Laney, I hope the little one feels better soon. Congratulations you are the first and current Quiet Airboat Champ. I was extremely impressed with the performance of your ride. (and it looks clean too) Quiet is nice but applied horsepower is what it is really about, a few other boats put in where you did and made the 1/4 mile trip over dry ground around the lake before slipping across the black mud hit to get to the water, but none of them did it with only partial throttle. I wish I could have been on the ride Sunday to actually see how it cruises, but I have some cooling issues to work on with my boat so I decided to cut it short and head home early.
If I forgot to mention anybody, it ain't personal. It is the people that make this group something special.
I've said it before and this last weekend proved it... some of the best people I've met have been out on the airboat. There doesn't seem to be nearly as much ego or attitude, most are willing to help if they can. Florida and the people who live here are changing and I don't feel it is getting better, it feels good to know that this part of Floridas Heritage and "the old south" is very much alive and we should do everything posible to make sure our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy it as well.
Rick...even though you couldn't be there, Thanks for making this possible.
