Boating Season Is Here . . .

Boating season is here and so the FUN BEGINS!

The fun began with our 2nd Annual Spring Cruise.  This year most folks trailered their boats down to Hale's Bar Marina and enjoyed a couple of days on Nickajack.  Thank you George for planning our little trips and adventures.  Some began the weekend on Thursday, some on Friday and even a couple on Saturday, but no matter when the journey began, a good time was had by all with only a couple of minor incidents (both of which DebbaritaVille was involved in -  a slight grounding down at Guntersville Marina and a submerged log in the water - OUCH!). 

2 dogs .  .  .  6 boats .  .  .  22 amazing friends .  .  . 

John and I were fortunate enough to start our trip on Wednesday with a nice ride down to Alabama to visit with Dennis and Pat (thank you both for your kindness and hospitality).  Now, as this is the beginning of our boating season, it seemed only appropriate to launch the boat and enjoy some time on the water before settling in for the evening with good friends, good food and good times. 

We were up and at it early on Thursday.  Breakfast at a local favorite, boats launched and Northbound we were.  A beautiful ride up Guntersville and through the lock and dam to Nickajack where we met up with everyone at Hale's Bar Marina.  Three fantastic days on the water including a cruise Saturday up river to Chattanooga.  After last year's night time adventure, the general concensus was to avoid night time boating, so our evenings were spent hanging out at the cabins.  A huge thank you to David for preparing a fabulous Low Country Boil on Friday night - you da man!  As always with this group, food, drink and fun are never lacking.  Tall tales were told, much food and drink consumed and a few surprises thrown in just for fun.

TALL TALES BEING TOLD . . .

MUCH FOOD AND DRINK BEING CONSUMED . . .

AND A FEW SURPRISES JUST FOR FUN . . .

Sunday found us saying our farewells and counting the days until our next gathering (which is now only SIX days away!!!)  We traveled back down river with Dennis and Pat.  A wonderful day on Guntersville topped off with another great evening at the Rainey Ranch. 

And the icing on the cake, so to speak, was finishing this fabulous trip with a visit to see my Niece and her Mom, both of whom I had not seen in 39 years (pics to follow at a later date).  Thank you Christy, Maria and Chris for a fantastic reunion, great food, lots of laughs and a wonderful trip down "memory lane".  Looking forward to getting together again real soon.  Love you guys .

When Life Hands You Lemons, Grab The Tequilla and Salt

The truck catastrophies continue and the truck will be going back to the repair shop for the 3rd time now since the engine rebuild at the end of last year.  The first trip back we were told there was nothing wrong with the engine and that we needed a new clutch fan.  Hmmm, not overheating and fan working properly, so why?  We were told the "inoperable" clutch fan was causing overheating and that was what was causing the over pressurization in the overflow coolant tank.  Well, that was wasted money as we soon found out.  Now, not only are we getting over pressurization, but we are loosing coolant, loosing oil and leaking fuel and there were metal shavings discovered in our oil pan when we had the oil changed.  After a week in the shop, we are informed that the head is cracked (OK, didn't you all just replace that?????) and that it will take about 2 more weeks to get the truck back to us.  Apparently defects in re-manufactured heads are more common than not.  In the meantime, while they are working on it, the mechanic drops a tool down into one of the injectors, so this now has to be replaced too.  Finally got her back after 3 weeks.  Within the first week of having her back, we noticed oil leaking from both sides of the engine and once again exhaust leaking from the turbo charger.  Sooooo, back to the shop when we get home next week . . .  wishing we could take it someplace else, but they insist on doing the warranty work. 

Thus far, we have lost 10 weeks of work and revenue in addition to the $20,000 that the rebuild cost.  Sheesh, I think we could have bought a new truck by now!  If there is a bright side to this, atleast it is all tax deductible.  I know that doesn't even begin to compare to what we have spent, but I always try to find the silver lining in any situation, so .  .  .  WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS, GRAB THE TEQUILLA AND SALT!