Lake Guntersville - Day 3 - This Is What We Signed Up For

The rains have parted and the sun screen is in use. After two days of rain impeding our view of this massive body of water, today we were finally able to get out without the rain gear and see it. And I must say, this is one beautiful lake. I would call it Dunham on steroids. Very few houses on it and some gi-gundis (not a word) trees and hills surrounding it. Thankfully, it doesn't fish like Dunham as Doke had his hour of power right around high noon and pulled in three fat bass with one topping four pounds.

I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to John O. for taking the money of four innocent poker players last night in cards. "How does this Texas Hold 'Em game work anyway?" John asked as he casually laid down a straight flush for the tenth time of the evening. Enjoy that money John; there is another game tonight.

Trail Head

                                                                                  



cool morning sun getting through

morning fog burning off

 

 

AFTERNOON/EVENING FISH UPDATE (10:30 PM EST)

The "biggest" claim now goes to John O. as he pulled in a 4.9 pound bass this evening on a swim bait. The production is growing with each session as we get acclimated to this largemouth pond.

Trail Head 

 

Lake Guntersville - Day 2 - Feeling Like Seattle

Below is the radar of the lake this morning and yes, that green is rain. To the north is some more rain doing circles down our way. The social hour is starting early today.

Trail Head

 

MORNING FISH UPDATE (2:30 PM EST)

The clouds parted for a few hours (read: minutes) and we were able to get the lines wet. Al pulled in a nice 2.5 pounder on a spinner bait. The rains are back and we are in social hour mode again.

Trail Head

 

 

EVENING FISH UPDATE (8:30 PM EST)

The rain has moved out and in celebration of the occasion, Al and Jerry yanked about a dozen or so with these two nice ones to show for their efforts.

Trail Head

 

Lake Guntersville - Day 1 - Settling In After a Rainy Trek

every exit

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes it rains. And rain it has in the Tennessee valley over the last 24 hours. A gold star goes out to Al and Doke for pulling their boats through the downpours that hit right about the time the Tennessee mountains made their appearance near Knoxville. It rained, then it rained some more. 

One thing I did learn about Tennessee from the drive. You only need five things to survive in the state; Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, Krystal (the White Castle of the south), Shoney's, and last but definitely not least, fireworks! Every exit had at least three of the five and every firework store claimed to be the biggest. The American dream!

Anyway, Doke gets the boat trailer parking experience of the year award for his job at the hotel in Chattanooga. His high school driving instructor would have been proud of him for how he tucked that boat between a curb and a 4X4 pickup. Amazing.

So we are now here on Lake Guntersville. Another great house find by John O. as the place has everything we need; a boat house, ample splace and the boat launch is less than a mile away.

The boats are in and the first fish goes to.....THAT'S RIGHT MO FO'S.....THE BIG HEAD!!!! The rain came back right about the time the fish picture below was taken. Al and Doke are being troopers and battling the rain drops as I type this. The forecast is looking promising for the remainder of the week, however. More to come.

Trail Head

front lawn of the crib

John tweaking the equipment on the back porch

nice boat launch

country road to place

 

the fishing machine ready for 2013

 

cool boat house as part of the package

first

rear of house

New Member of the Four-Eye Club

It was only a matter of time. My dad has glasses, mom has glasses, sister has glasses; maybe that "milkman" theory is true and the blind gene won't hit me. Yeah.....no. After 45 years of 20-20 vision and never having an eye exam besides the test at the Secretary of State, the signs were there for me to finally see an eye doctor. When extra squinting is needed to read directions (yes, guys really do read directions) and having to ask the wait staff the amount on a bill you can't read, it's time. Well, after getting confirmation from the eye doctor that I was in fact blind, today I purchased my "readers" and wore them for a bit. I think I might go back to squinting though as I felt nauseated after about 10 minutes with them on. 

As the song goes, I'm a work in progress. 

Trail Head

Six Hours of Blues - Thrill Is Not Gone



B.B. King. As the Samuel L. Jackson line in Pulp Fiction goes when he finds out that the "Wolf" is coming, "shi* negro!, that's all you had to say!"

B.B. King; that is all you have to say. So when the offer came from Slick and Tommy (there with their better halves) to journey to Mt. Pleasant Friday night to see King, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and two other groups, it was a no-brainer. While buying the tickets, I overheard another ticket person telling an elderly lady that the show is six hours. Tommy didn't believe it but when it was all said and done, they were plucking the guitars from 7 PM until 1 AM. With a small venue such as Soaring Eagle for viewing, you couldn't ask for a better scene. You get your hand stamped, walk out in the casino area, lose $40 in black jack (yep), grab a beverage, hit the can, and come back with the same song still playing.

The 87-year old King can still pluck with the best of them. Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the other two groups (Larry McCray and Ana Popovic) were no slouches either.

Thanks to the McMahons and Meltons for letting a fifth wheel hang with your posse.

Trail Head

lot of stories

 

 

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

 

 

Ana Popovic

 

 

Dry Trails, Word Spreads Fast

Like Christmas Eve for a child, spring for the mountain bike rider can't get here soon enough. Some riders, however, choose to open their presents too soon and end up riding in the mud and messing up the trails. No good. Most of us don't do that angle and wait for the "all clear" from the tower (the MMBA site has a forum for that information). With that, most of the trails in the area, while thawing nicely, were not quite ready. One trail, however, got the "good to go" and based on the number of cars in the parking lot yesterday, I wasn't the only one wanting to open their presents. Hickory Glen is not a nut-breaking trail by any means but is a nice scoot through the woods.

Spring on!

Trail Head

random rider

 

Pedal, Pedal, Pedal....Don't Fall, Don't Fall, Don't Fall...

The 14th year of the mountain bike tour is upon us. There will be no preaching by the commissioner to his former riders now posing as soccer dads. You fellas do what you need to do and we'll see you in the fishing boats.  

With that, the 2013 schedule (and some way back machine riding pictures):
 


1988 - NYC with Mark C. and Johnny B.

April 11 – rider’s choice

April 18 - Island Lake

April 25 - Brighton

May 2 - Pontiac Lake

May 9 - Highland

May 16 - Milford

Chicago - 8/98

May 23 - Island Lake

May 30 - Brighton

June 6 - Pontiac Lake

June 13 - Highland

June 20 - Maybury

June 27 - Island Lake

July 4 - Brighton

July 11 - Lakeshore Park

July 18 - Highland

July 25 - Pontiac Lake

August 1 - Island Lake

August 8 - Brighton

August 15 - Pontiac Lake

August 22 - Highland

August 29 - Hickory Glen

September 5 - Island Lake

September 12 - Brighton

September 19 - Pontiac Lake

September 26 - Highland October 3 - banquet, location TBD

Trailhead meeting time is 6 pm. Times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Non-riders are, as always, welcome to join in for post ride hanging. Sunday morning riding (the Church of Tim) will again commence this year at various locations throughout the area. Hope to see you all out there on the trails or in the parking lot.
Trail Head

1990-something, bent fork, chin bloodied, stitches pending - good times in the U.P.