We were spending the summer up on a lake somewhere (I was 10?)
Of course the family cat has to come everywhere with us as well.
Somey and Precious were Siamese cats. They were good cats and did not destroy too many things, they like to lay around and rest allot as cats do.
I did remember that one time Somey found a fishing lure that summer and dad Hans had to remove the hook from her paw after that she was okay.
Friends for life as they say animals are good companions but also have vet bills and cat pans and every day things cats are generally easier ? hard to say
Champy the Chesapeake bay retriever
I sort of remember going with mom and dad to pick him out he was a puppy at that time, never would have expected him to grow up into a 70 lb dog later (okay I'm guessing here)
He was chocolate brown and had curly hair and always active and wagging his tail. Loved to get a bath and would then give you a good spray after as if to say here's some water for you too.
The Chesapeake's are bred to be water foul dogs and retrieve ducks from the water while your hunting.
They will also retrieve just about anything else that you throw for them and point out any birds that you did not see at times.
They love the water, I mean love it they will sometimes swim in circles acting as if they are picking up a bird but they are actually having fun.
"Champy" was a great family dog we all loved him for the years he gave us and the times that we had with him. After he passed away I was sad and wanted to get another dog, this time I was older and well was time to be the "dog master" more on my own.
Enter "Happy" another Chesapeake bay retriever
He was dead grass color light brown and he truly lived up to his name
Very active and water sport dog would retrieve anything just about
anything even two by fours. His neck grew strong and wide and was also a good watch dog
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Next Chapter
Okay so where was I at?
Ah time passes on. I had not updated this story in a while. Perhaps I'm already forgetting what I was going to write. There was the next chapter okay...
Ah time passes on. I had not updated this story in a while. Perhaps I'm already forgetting what I was going to write. There was the next chapter okay...
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Family cars long drives Mom's Mustang and AMC picture
First the VW bus for the school Three bears kindergarten
There was the time I ripped the windshield wiper off of this one at 5(?)
West Palm beach FL company van for the school
Here is what the AMC sort of looked like
It has a push button shift on the dash. I even got to drive it once with her.This may have been the newer model it is sort of like this and could have been different.
The car held up good we had some long road trips and did allot of travelling with the car.
Another car we had was Mom's Ford Mustang same color it was not the "boss" but a nice car.
Okay not to be left out I later ended up with one myself some 10 years later a 26 window, it was hardly looking this nice but what the heck. No roof racks either.
We rally-ed it coming down a mountain .and survived a fence encounter too
Not very great cab heater but it had a gas heater add on, when it worked kept you nice and toasty.
Somehow this one made it to Michigan from Florida and back ...true story
I had one of these 26 window vans. It was one of the first cars (van) that I owned that ran
I was maybe 16 at the time and learned how to fix it a little, part of the joy of owning an old classic
Check the points, fix the gas heater and dress warm in case
There was the time I ripped the windshield wiper off of this one at 5(?)
West Palm beach FL company van for the school
Here is what the AMC sort of looked like
The car held up good we had some long road trips and did allot of travelling with the car.
Another car we had was Mom's Ford Mustang same color it was not the "boss" but a nice car.
I remember taking this one out for a late night ride when in ninth grade with my best friend in
St Louis Missouri at around 130 am in the morning
The stripes were cool, when we brought it back we had to put gas in it too.
Dad had one of these Chevy Chevelle 's 305 motor automatic transmission
Pretty good cruiser
He used to ride the brakes allot too not good for the linings
Drove this thing all over Tallahassee back in the day (77?)
Family 67 Impala *(less rims and nice paint)
When the car died I got it to tinker on, It sat in the orange grove near our house.
I was unable to repair it, lack of funds and more, parts were expensive
I learned how to take the heads off and dis assembly was a lesson. Off to the scrap :(
We rally-ed it coming down a mountain .and survived a fence encounter too
Not very great cab heater but it had a gas heater add on, when it worked kept you nice and toasty.
Somehow this one made it to Michigan from Florida and back ...true story
I had one of these 26 window vans. It was one of the first cars (van) that I owned that ran
I was maybe 16 at the time and learned how to fix it a little, part of the joy of owning an old classic
Check the points, fix the gas heater and dress warm in case
YMCA Lifeguard and scuba classes
I guess that mom wanted me to learn how to be a certified scuba diver.
Her and my dad were both avid swimmers water skiers and divers at one time.
We watched Jacques Cousteau and Sea Hunt like it was a religion.
The order of these stories of course is off but what the heck.
I went to the YMCA and took a lifeguard class first and it was fun, we rescued each other and did allot of swimming in the pool.
The diving class was more information we learned about nitrogen and saturation tables more swimming more gear and more techniques as well.
I was happy to get to use the diving skills later on, because a pool is not very much like real didving in the elements.
Once, later on I even got to use my newly learned skills to bring a panicked kid back from a swimming pool deep zone.
Her and my dad were both avid swimmers water skiers and divers at one time.
We watched Jacques Cousteau and Sea Hunt like it was a religion.
The order of these stories of course is off but what the heck.
I went to the YMCA and took a lifeguard class first and it was fun, we rescued each other and did allot of swimming in the pool.
The diving class was more information we learned about nitrogen and saturation tables more swimming more gear and more techniques as well.
I was happy to get to use the diving skills later on, because a pool is not very much like real didving in the elements.
Once, later on I even got to use my newly learned skills to bring a panicked kid back from a swimming pool deep zone.
Too many stories? so it is a reflection so far 11-6-14
Life is full of experiences and stories so many that after a while you start to realize that maybe you could never write every single thing down that happened all of your life.
Maybe I should stick with the best things and work to the end staying focused on them over the rest of the mundane and boring stories?
Not sure now as I have tried to remember most of the ones that stick out in such a long and lively childhood and adult life. I wonder if I will get to the present and stay there.
This is a journey one that I find myself thinking about even when I am not writing about it.
I hope that one day I can use this to remember the things that I will forget in happier times as I go on or leave for my family and friends to read if they dare.
Maybe I should stick with the best things and work to the end staying focused on them over the rest of the mundane and boring stories?
Not sure now as I have tried to remember most of the ones that stick out in such a long and lively childhood and adult life. I wonder if I will get to the present and stay there.
This is a journey one that I find myself thinking about even when I am not writing about it.
I hope that one day I can use this to remember the things that I will forget in happier times as I go on or leave for my family and friends to read if they dare.
Monday, November 3, 2014
8th grade science fair project and "Problem Propulsion"
For my science fair project that year (think that it was the eight grade(?)
Decided to go over some of the different methods of propulsion. I had some steam engines some gas engines and then a nuclear powered moon rover model.
I had steam gas ramjet turbine and nuclear engines on the project. Maybe covering more items just wanted o go over them as they were developed.
My downfall was not having more data for this project that is what the judges want I think. I was asked what the statistics were and other questions that should have had more information about but the whole process was good learning and of course allot was done at the last minute.
The state science fair is looking for innovations, one of the projects that I remember winning one year was the pointed car because it was safer and bounced to the side if it hit something. Nice idea.
A few major car companies already have side panels that come off so that the car is more pointed if it collides with an object.
I went to the University of Florida science department to do a little research for the nuclear moon rover and learned a little about how they measure radiation and had to wear a badge at the small reactor there.
I also saw a small hybrid car project that they were working on. I thought the design was a good one.
Basically an electric car but it had a small gas engine battery charger and power supply so that it could also run on the gas as well. I forget exactly but it was very good one gas and probably more suited for urban short distances.
I did not win the science fair that year but did okay and learned allot from working on and studying different propulsion engines.
Decided to go over some of the different methods of propulsion. I had some steam engines some gas engines and then a nuclear powered moon rover model.
I had steam gas ramjet turbine and nuclear engines on the project. Maybe covering more items just wanted o go over them as they were developed.
My downfall was not having more data for this project that is what the judges want I think. I was asked what the statistics were and other questions that should have had more information about but the whole process was good learning and of course allot was done at the last minute.
The state science fair is looking for innovations, one of the projects that I remember winning one year was the pointed car because it was safer and bounced to the side if it hit something. Nice idea.
A few major car companies already have side panels that come off so that the car is more pointed if it collides with an object.
I went to the University of Florida science department to do a little research for the nuclear moon rover and learned a little about how they measure radiation and had to wear a badge at the small reactor there.
I also saw a small hybrid car project that they were working on. I thought the design was a good one.
Basically an electric car but it had a small gas engine battery charger and power supply so that it could also run on the gas as well. I forget exactly but it was very good one gas and probably more suited for urban short distances.
I did not win the science fair that year but did okay and learned allot from working on and studying different propulsion engines.
Chris Craft joyride and Boathouse and the quiet river marina
So at this marina here in Palatka town we were near some super nice yachts
Crystal Cove Marina (?) looks like it on Google maps.
This is where the sunfish we had got stuck in front of *(or I think it was).
The 30K joyride
I'm really not sure what mom paid the old Chris Craft but it was probably close to what a house was.
It was always needing something but otherwise floated.
I really don't want people thinking wow he was a spoiled rich kid, because this boat was one of the "oldies" wood construction and at one time state of the art but now everything was fiberglass or aluminum or even concrete.These older wood boats may be fine in a lake or in a inland river but not to be trusted on the open sea due to the age of the boat and of course possible poor maintenance.
We had looked at a concrete boat too, strange how it would even float.
Getting back to the joyride.
I decided one afternoon out of boredom to start up the engines and get them running warm them up. Good to start them once and a while, this let to the not so bright idea to go out to the open water just to cruise then come back.After the engines were warmed up, I got some help with the last dock lines and taking about 5 tacks with the engines as steering made it out of the marina.
There were some far more expensive boats surrounding us and people were all out checking to make sure that I was not going to hit any of them. I made it backed out and heading out, now to cruise up the St. John's a little,as I got just a little bit out of sight of the marina, I started worrying about if the boat had a problem or developing a leak and got stranded how I would get in allot of trouble. This thought or thinking led me to a reality check and started turning back to the marina.
Getting back into the tight slip was much more difficult than leaving it, and took about 6 or eight turns to finally get it in there. Our "neighbors" came and threw a line and helped me get it secure after gawking that I was going to get too close coming in, making the adjustments to get back into the slip.
When mom got home I did not mention anything, wonder if she found out but never wanted to say anything...instead of a latch key I was a hatch key child, she was at work I think.
"City" Marina
The Boathouse Marina is in Palatka town and we were docked here I think then later moved to the Georgetown Marina on Lake George.
Georgetown Marina Bass pro's
They had a big Bass fishing contest here when were there. The fancy high speed pro bass boats were everywhere and after each day they would fill the swimming pool at the hotel next to the marina with bass which was cool to see all of them swimming in the cement pool.
2 hp lost
I had a small dinghy here and it was a clear bottom Plexiglas. While playing around with a fairly new 2hp motor one afternoon. It sped up in reverse "reared up" and unhooked itself from the transom, lost to the St. Johns river.
Divers came a day later and took a look but the drop off outside of the marina it was gone and the water a little murky here.
Rainbow Springs
We had been here before on the "bottomless boat" tour it was cool, you can see very deep even through the bottom of the boat. There was a certain time of the year that the park closed at the time, maybe manatee mating season not sure.
I took my dinghy up the crystal river and then to rainbow river. The cool spring water was clear and there was fresh water grass on the bottom. You can see fish everywhere. They are protected (no fishing) in the preserve.
As I got closer to the Rainbow Springs State park, the water got deeper in some sections and some manatee were at the sides. You can only go very slow in here due to the manatees, I'm sure now that you can probably only paddle a canoe and no outboards.
The manatees are slow and peaceful, eating grass and hanging out together swimming and hanging out with different species of large fresh water fish as well.Are they from here or are they our ancestors of a sort?They have been around long before us and now are endangered in numbers.
Perhaps humans have something to learn from these creatures, no war living life being happy.Will we ever?
As I write of this I want to have my daughter see them but it may be sort of sad , I mean an endangered animal now a spectacle of a circus show of sorts.
Crystal Cove Marina (?) looks like it on Google maps.
This is where the sunfish we had got stuck in front of *(or I think it was).
The 30K joyride
I'm really not sure what mom paid the old Chris Craft but it was probably close to what a house was.
It was always needing something but otherwise floated.
I really don't want people thinking wow he was a spoiled rich kid, because this boat was one of the "oldies" wood construction and at one time state of the art but now everything was fiberglass or aluminum or even concrete.These older wood boats may be fine in a lake or in a inland river but not to be trusted on the open sea due to the age of the boat and of course possible poor maintenance.
We had looked at a concrete boat too, strange how it would even float.
Getting back to the joyride.
I decided one afternoon out of boredom to start up the engines and get them running warm them up. Good to start them once and a while, this let to the not so bright idea to go out to the open water just to cruise then come back.After the engines were warmed up, I got some help with the last dock lines and taking about 5 tacks with the engines as steering made it out of the marina.
There were some far more expensive boats surrounding us and people were all out checking to make sure that I was not going to hit any of them. I made it backed out and heading out, now to cruise up the St. John's a little,as I got just a little bit out of sight of the marina, I started worrying about if the boat had a problem or developing a leak and got stranded how I would get in allot of trouble. This thought or thinking led me to a reality check and started turning back to the marina.
Getting back into the tight slip was much more difficult than leaving it, and took about 6 or eight turns to finally get it in there. Our "neighbors" came and threw a line and helped me get it secure after gawking that I was going to get too close coming in, making the adjustments to get back into the slip.
When mom got home I did not mention anything, wonder if she found out but never wanted to say anything...instead of a latch key I was a hatch key child, she was at work I think.
"City" Marina
The Boathouse Marina is in Palatka town and we were docked here I think then later moved to the Georgetown Marina on Lake George.
Georgetown Marina Bass pro's
They had a big Bass fishing contest here when were there. The fancy high speed pro bass boats were everywhere and after each day they would fill the swimming pool at the hotel next to the marina with bass which was cool to see all of them swimming in the cement pool.
2 hp lost
I had a small dinghy here and it was a clear bottom Plexiglas. While playing around with a fairly new 2hp motor one afternoon. It sped up in reverse "reared up" and unhooked itself from the transom, lost to the St. Johns river.
Divers came a day later and took a look but the drop off outside of the marina it was gone and the water a little murky here.
Rainbow Springs
We had been here before on the "bottomless boat" tour it was cool, you can see very deep even through the bottom of the boat. There was a certain time of the year that the park closed at the time, maybe manatee mating season not sure.
I took my dinghy up the crystal river and then to rainbow river. The cool spring water was clear and there was fresh water grass on the bottom. You can see fish everywhere. They are protected (no fishing) in the preserve.
As I got closer to the Rainbow Springs State park, the water got deeper in some sections and some manatee were at the sides. You can only go very slow in here due to the manatees, I'm sure now that you can probably only paddle a canoe and no outboards.
The manatees are slow and peaceful, eating grass and hanging out together swimming and hanging out with different species of large fresh water fish as well.Are they from here or are they our ancestors of a sort?They have been around long before us and now are endangered in numbers.
Perhaps humans have something to learn from these creatures, no war living life being happy.Will we ever?
As I write of this I want to have my daughter see them but it may be sort of sad , I mean an endangered animal now a spectacle of a circus show of sorts.
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