I'm gunna go out tomorrow and probably Saturday. I sure wish I knew the safe passage to get up to the northern parts of the lake. Didn't somebody post a map with a trail on it a few months back to show the safe route?

I'm going to tell a story on myself as penance for laughing at others who have become one the boat ramp follies.

Today I decided it was time to get the boat onto the trailer and take it over for yearly maintainance and installation of my new Lowrance. But my backseater was a no-show and I had to do it myself. Okay, no big deal. Done it a hundred times. So first I had to take the trailer over to the launch then walk back and get the boat out of the slip for the short drive over to the launch. Simple enough...he said.

By the time I arrived back at the launch, there was one other boat being pulled out so I tied off and helped him. The wind was up and his wife was busy on her phone so I lent a hand. I had asked him to help me and he agreed until his wife complained that she needed to go p-p really bad. So I was on my own.

I back the trailer down and went over to start the boat when I realized I hadn't tied off very well and the boat was slipped away from the dock. Fortunately the wind blew it back towards me and I hopped in, cranked it up and headed to the trailer. I noticed three people had showed up to fish from the other dock and I tried to keep my movements down to a minimum. But I missed my first try by a foot and nearly overran the trailer. Dumb mistake. So I went around for another shot and just as I eased up close the wind came up and blew me off the line. Attempt #3 was just as bad and I probably cussed a bit. The fishermen were trying hard not to giggle and I appreciated that.

Attempt #4 was so close...so close that I thought I was on the money but I was off by a foot again. Backing carefully and probably cussing some more, I turned for attempt #5. Somehow I missed again and this time the guys were laughing out loud. Attempt #6 was as smooth as can be and I jumped up to hook it up to the trailer. Now the guys are saying things like "turn off the motor" "Lift the engine first" "take the parking brake off" and other unhelpful jabs. But, heck, I had to laugh at myself and they were being good natured about it so I pulled the boat out with a wave and a shake of my head.

Boy howdy, I'm never gonna laugh (out loud) at anybody else when they are going thru boat launch follies.