Tough weekend....she wanted to go snorkeling, so we did that on Saturday. Tried a new spring- Juniper. As soon as we got past cooler check Dave, I managed to get it all back in there and saw that no one was wearing their masks. The water was somewhat cloudy, but cold none the less. Felt great at least. She kept diving off the platform and giggling.
They have a nature walk there, very nice. Back during Roosevelt's artificially prolonged recession, aka the great depression, the boys of the CCC made some things around there. One was a cabin with a paddle wheel, like flour mills have. It didn't ever make flour, but rather power. I liked that and wondered how much fun they must have had running their radio with the thing and dancing without girls. Maybe some girls were in a government work camp nearby, I wouldn't know.
Following the raised walkway,that follows the creek flowing out of the spring head, you walk about a quarter mile. Very pretty, but you are not allowed to get in any of that. At the end was a large bridge and lots of boils, which are places where water boils up out of the ground. That was interesting, and so inviting on such a hot day, after a long walk. Ranger said you get you five years for jumping in the enviromentally sensitive portion there. Don't know why she would come running up to me and say such a thing to me, but she did. Later she sat in her golf cart and watched us leave. So don't try swimming in there- you hear me ?
The picnic area wasn't crowded at all, and tables with grills could be secured. Family oriented and NO ALCOHOL ( they check everyone you know, even the good guys ). So if you got little ones, it is a great place to beat this heat and lay out and eat deviled eggs. Bring a roll around cooler with yah.
But it was a fairly long drive back home and I was sore from all the fun. So I let her sleep in the next morning and we got a late start to the beach. Bob's bait and tackle has moved across the street and I ended up having to circle back around. Their new building is pretty cool and I hope they have a great go at it. Very nice folks in there.
Arrived around 10am and it was H O T. As soon as I crossed the dune, it was obvious our plans for a fish fry needed changing. The water was murky brown, but the wave action was good. The tide was coming in and I had only brought three rods. Only needed a half a rod as it turned out. Managed one large whiting.
But....I got to play with some new stuff and that is always a good thing. The new sinker performed very well and I was pleased. It casts nicely, no perceptable wobble and it carried for distance. The tines dug in easily and it held in position against the longshore current, which was running North at a fair pace. In certain spots it got buried a bit, but for the most part released very nicely. That whiting had no problem popping it free. I noticed that it would ride up high in the water column as I reeled it back in, which makes for a nice retreive. The tips on my rods were bent over hard, so I knew it was a winner right there.
I did try some power casting, but she kept looking away at the last second. Said she couldn't see it. I wish she would encourage me just a tad here and there, but I suspect she is burned out with it all by now. I managed a few very good casts with the sinker. At 125 grams, it is probably the ideal weight. Heavy enough to load an average rod, yet light enough not to over power the caster's thumb. A real joy. I also settled on a price- $3 for club members, $3.50 for everyone else. That still beats the prices I have seen at the tackle shops, and while I believe it is worth more than that....I have settled on that. Now all I have to do is secure some lead, as I am plumb dumb clean out. Bad news......we'll see.
I did manage to reach some blue water just before we left. Using the Hi-Flight sinker and a scaled down pulley rig and my AFAW Big Beach rod. It came in with the tide, and was just close enough for me to reach it. Nothing that liked sandfleas was out there though. Just a bunch of bait fish. I am not sure what was out there, but the birds sure liked them. The surfer girls I asked were of no help, even if they were nice to look at. Dumb and pretty beats me everytime.
The mullet were so thick, that I suspect it has everything catawhoompass. Should have brought my shark stuff.
We left in defeat around 2:00pm and she looked like a lobster. Never puts the sunscreen on when I tell her to, it is always- "I'll put some on later". Lectures don't do much with that one. Another long drive home, nice shower, and some aloe vera and a nice nap, and now....it's back to work. I am spending the best days of my life working for the man, and that ain't right. I should have been born rich, instead of so damm good looking.
How's that report Bennie ?