Boating!

July 29^th and my brother and I finally went boating.  Last year the first day we went out on the lake was July 21^st but that was due to a very rainy June.  This year it was a combination of thunderstorms and Ted being very busy with work.  Today all the stars aligned and he e-mailed me this afternoon to tell me to get there as soon as I could because we are going boating.  YEAH!!!

It was a wonderful evening on the lake.  Warm but no humidity.  A little windy but not too choppy.  Well, not choppy except for the two jet skiers who went at super speeds up and down the lake causing problems for everyone else.  We tried to steer clear of them but a couple of times they were going past us before we even noticed they were coming up behind us.  I don’t think we need to impose speed limits but I would think a little common sense would prevail and people would be a little more considerate.  Apparently that wasn’t the case this evening.

We did our standard boating procedure in that Ted drove the boat at the beginning, from his dock on Goose Pond, through the culvert (which he always does that part since it requires the trolling motor), and from the top of Mousam Lake to the bottom, under the bridge and into Lower Mousam Lake. At this point, we switch and I steer the boat around Lower Mousam, back under the bridge and up Mousam Lake to the top.  I stayed in the driver’s seat while Ted used the trolling motor to get us back through the culvert then I started the motor back up and took us around Goose Pond.  When we get done, we usually switch sides so that Ted can dock the boat. Tonight he taught me how to bring it into the dock without slamming into the rock wall or hitting the jet skis at the neighbor’s dock.  It took several attempts for me to get the hang of it…backing it up, going forward, backing it up, going forward, etc. but I managed to slide it into the spot without damaging the boat.   I asked him why he let me do that and he said that now I can take the boat out by myself.

I e-mailed Ted when I arrived home to tell him I had a good time and thank him for the boat ride and I mentioned that next I need to learn how to run the trolling motor.  He e-mailed back to say that was his plan.  Once I learn the trolling motor and how to start the motor at the beginning, how to check the level of gas and any of the other sniggly details it takes to go boating, I should have the confidence to solo. I probably would have more confidence if it was my boat but since it is my brother’s boat, I am a little more cautious about it.  Hopefully someday soon I can take it out and maybe take some friends with me.  It might make for a fun activity after church someday.  Go out to lunch and then go for a boat ride.  Maybe someday…