-- How y'all are? Sunday, the day prior to Labor Day, we were at Ute Lake, Logan, New Mexico, attending a bar-b-que with about 50 folks from Dalhart, Texas, at an annual event they hold. Jet skis and ski boats were prevalent. We brought our 14x7sb. There were 6-8 'rug rats' from 6-11 years of age that were enthralled with the raft (after the leaf blower inflated it; they did not have much interest in the slack rag bag). We'd take 4-5 at a time--all paddle. "Did they all have life jackets?" you ask. Wash your mouth(s) out with soap for even thinking such a thing. We'd get everyone paddling on the same wave length; doing various movements. "Port around", "starb'rd around" pivots, "'Moan back", "All forward". Using the KISS (Keep it simple stupid) vernacular. Then there'd be the command, "Rattlesnake in the boat!" and all the 'crew' would 'abandon ship' among peels of laughter. I'd use our 'bagged throw lines' to retrieve the lost crew. All the kids enjoyed going 'on the raft' even if it was only in the 'wake waves' of jet skis and ski boats. Just because there are no Class IVs around, don't leave your raft at home, give it a day when 'rock rash' is not expected. After lunch (while we were watching the Cowboys demolish Pittsburg), my cousin (has a ranch west of Dalhart) commented to Bette (my wife): "You know the difference between those three bobbing for apples over there? One of them is 6'6" and the 2 6 year olds are 3 feet shorter than he is." Heck, I like apples. Sticks and stones. I could not get too mad at him. He let us put his new 900 Kawasak through its paces--and it'll 'flat git'! I know this does not have a twit to do with GCboaters, and if you don't use it, I could care less. Just thought I'd lay it on you. Y'all be hang'n tough 'til the fat lady sings, (#1 Finest Kind) Walter Johnson in BATUSA (BeautifulAmarilloTexasUSA) Rotary--Amarillo High--Texas Tech--Cowboys---Yankees USS CURRITUCK(AV7)--USS EVERGLADES(AD24)--ASSN TORP MATES 11TH REUNION SAN DIEGO SEPT 24-28,'97 ('98 Charleston SC) ==================================================================== To subscribe, send email to majordomo@songbird.com, with "subscribe gcboaters" as the only line in the message body. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe gcboaters". For further information send "info gcboaters", or see http://www.songbird.com/gcboaters ====================================================================