Someone on some board, I travel so many boat boards, just said "he has now lived longer without his Dad than he had with him".......I had never thought of that and it made me cry. I have now lived more years without mine than I had with him. Funny how I had never thought of that and the math was easy, I was 23 and he was 46 when he drown. Though we never had a boat growing up, we spent time camping and on the water in friends of my Dad's boats. They were flat bottom V-8 speed boats of the late 60's. He was a mechanic and so he spent a lot of time at the lake working on their boats for them, getting them tuned in while we all waited to go for rides. I remember this one time up at what was called "Red Mountain" named after the wine the adults drank making "Twinkles" which was a leased place on the lake his friends had. They even had a raised stage there to act goofy on at night......and after the "Twinkles" the parents sure did act silly! LOL! That weekend there were 5 boats waiting for Dad's attention all lined up in the water! Dad got the first got the first ski pull of course. Dad only doubled, shoot most of us only doubled back then, and he would amaze me by never getting wet! He would take off from the dock and when he was done slide into ankle deep water and step out of the ski's.........seemed like magic to me back then. Dad taught us kids many things about camping rules which I have taught my kids and my kids have taught their friends who had not a clue. One of the biggest is that you always help out someone in need. Dad's last good deed was just before he died. Some guy on the launch ramp was having trouble with his outboard. Dad went over there and worked on it for over 30 minutes before heading out. He only had about 1 1/2 daylight left by then to get a little fishing in since he had arrived in late afternoon for the Memorial Day weekend. Dad's boat capsized about an hour later. I don't like Memorail Day weekend and don't like Lake Cachuma! Oh, and I have had many a conversation with my Dad over the years when I had to put worms on my kids hooks! I hate putting worms on hooks and he should have been here doing that for his grandkids! LOL! I still hate fishing, but I taught my kids what Dad taught me and they all love to fish! He would be proud of them.
Small world Mark: I learned to ski on Lake St Croix back in the summer 67' (I was 6 yrs old). My Grandfather had a cabin on the west shore and we'd visit every summer until my folks got their own lake property near Hayward, WI in 1978. I can remember being pulled around the island on the south end of the lake and how my arms felt like they had stretched a half a foot by the time we were done. Rumors about 6-foot sturgeon in that lake kept us hanging on for dear life. We ski a lot harder now (for me, 3 to 4X a week when there is no ice on the lake) and probably don't have as much fun when life was simple. Something about being towed around the lake behind a redish brown 18 hp Johnson Seahorse on an aluminium row boat....life was good.... As for Solon Springs, my grandfather passed away in 87' and left the cabin to the "Aunts" but its still in the family! Kevin-
Mark, I know that guy. He is my dad too. The other great story about this guy is that he pulled his kids out of school early every year so that we could live at the cabin in N. Wisconsin all summer. He wrote professional textbbooks while we kids played. Oh how hard it must have been for him to keep typing on those sunny 80 degree days. But he took time every day to pull us skiing...3 trips each! Talk about a guy who has his priorities right.
Sbano, Yes.......welcome. Your brother Mark is a real asset to this site with his knowledge of these boats and his willingness to share it with other members. To say he knows the 18 footer from inside out it puting it mildly. I have spoken to him on and off this site and he is s a real straight up guy. Guess your dad really taught you two well. Bob
I really appreciate the kind words. I've really enjoyed meeting new friends here and I really look forward to meeting you guys in person. Sbano is my older brother Steve. We are the youngest two of 5. Over the last year, Steve bought and is in the process of completely restoring a 1959 Crosby Sportsman boat, made by Ab Sr, I suppose. I hope he posts some pictures of it. It really looks great. Steve - Welcome aboard. If you need help posting pictures, let me know. Steve is my partner in crime. We've been off-road motorcycling buddies, we snowmobiled together for many years before we got old and had kids, and we still enjoy being up at the family cabin together. Now we enjoy pulling our boys waterskiing. We share a love of boats, particularly. Steve is a agricultural biologist (hope I got that right) and lives in Wisconsin. To the best of my knowledge, although both of my older brothers live in Wisconsin, they remain Bears fans. Go Bears. (Sorry, for those of you who live in Indiana).
I thought it was the Cubs and the Ponies playing on Sunday! LOL! Not a fan of either, in fact the only game I watch of any sport on TV is the Super Bowl.....why, I don't know as I don't watch sports but like to play them. Pulled you guys out of school eh? Days gone by here of that without a hassle. In 22 years of having kids I have only pulled my kids out of school 5 times and yet now I get a letter from the DA's office threatening me because of it. This is the first year I finally lied and told them my kids were sick. I never wanted to set a bad example of lying for my kids, but I don't want to go to jail either! So now it is "cough, cough, we are all sick" and then off to the lake before the weekend we go! You know the school told me if I keep them out 4 days instead of 3, I wouldn't get in trouble and could have a homework packet?? So, take them out more than needed and it is ok, but only what you needed go before the DA????? Great logic huh! Well, if they hadn't cut our summer vacation days by 5 weeks for all their in-services, holidays, minimum days, shorten days and late start days........this would not have been a problem. Humm.....while at the cabin with Dad writing text books, did you have to proof them? LOL!
