We started off on an “iffy” note. We left the Trash Tracker at the dock while we cleaned Bullfrog Bay in the vicinity of the marina.
The Eliminator was running very badly. The motor was missing, running rough and had no power so we returned and had the mechanic look at the motor while we had lunch. The diagnosis was a couple of broken coil wires. He reassembled the broken coils so it ran, but gave no bets on how long the “fix” would last. I had the Parts Department research the inventory of replacement coils. I then found out that the motor and all parts were obsolete. Wonderful! However, after a computer search, they found out they (supposedly) had three coils somewhere in the warehouse on a palate of obsolete parts labeled “B-1”. They would try to find the coils while we were gone on our trip. We pulled out and headed uplake to Moki Canyon with crossed fingers.
Arriving at Moki, we set up in a picturesque spot and got settled in. We jumped into the Eliminator and cautiously putted around the local area to pick up trash. We quit at 5:00 and went for a well-needed swim. After the swim, I was sitting on the back of the boat, minding my own business, when the stripers started boiling like mad. I yelled at Claudia, grabbed my striper rod, and jumped into the runabout. Claudia drove me to the closest boil and I let fly with a Krokodile, a silver spoon that imitates a shad, the fish they were feeding on. The first cast resulted in a “bump”, a strike where the fish didn’t stick (get hooked). The second, third, fourth and fifth casts each netted a nice striper which Claudia netted and dumped into the ice chest. Let’s see…six people and a dog on board. Each striper produces two fillets. Two times four equals eight fillets. That’s enough! Fun’s over for the night! We returned to the TT where I grabbed my fillet knife, the four fish,
and headed for a nice flat rock in front of the boat. The stripers were soon transformed into a full baggie of fillets which was put into the refrigerator.
The next morning, Claudia broke out the cooking oil, a couple of eggs and some Zatarain’s Seasoned Crispy Southern Fish Fri (Yes, that’s the way it’s spelled)
and we all scarfed down a great fish fry for breakfast. We had two pieces of fish left over which Claudia and I later had for lunch. We then finished Moki, using the runabout, as the Eliminator motor was now almost not running. When we returned, the ladies and I went swimming. The ladies went off on their own and soon returned with a huge cottonwood log they found floating near the TT.
They named it “Puff the Magic Dragon Log” and were soon singing “Puff, the Magic Dragon” at the top of their lungs. They were having a ball! When we returned from the swim, Claudia had the CD player going full blast. The song of the day was “Puff, the Magic Dragon”, being sung by my Brother-in-Law, Joe Ghiglia on a “Walking Wounded” (the name of his band) CD. The ladies loved it!
The following day, we moved to Hansen Creek. Claudia went ahead of us, exploring in the runabout, and found a spot on the very small side. I almost had to get out and grease the pontoons to get the TT into the spot but, after one false shot, I did get it parked and we set out two stern anchor points, one around a big rock and one to an anchor wedged in some big rocks. As soon as we anchored up, we got hit with a thunderstorm but not much wind. We had to wait out the storm before we took off for work.
Due to the problem with the Eliminator motor, we split up into the two work boats to trash track. If the Eliminator crapped out, Claudia could tow me back with the runabout.
I was putting along slowly, minding my own business, picking up trash and doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing when I came across what has to be the “best” find so far…a dead wild burro.
Since a burro is a “natural” product, as opposed to being man-made, we did not collect it as trash. We did log it as a “find” in the log though. The Eliminator started running much better so we finished Hansen and crossed the main channel to Crystal Spring. We barely finished it when we were chased back to the boat by an approaching storm.
Thank God the motor had decided to run, at least partially. I was able to hold it at about ¾ throttle and we (almost) flew back to the TT…JUST in time. N.P.S. was blaring weather warnings on the radio so I strung out two additional stern lines as soon as we got back. We got slammed! Lightning, thunder and wind to about 45 knots. We buttoned everything up and rode it out. Everyone was VERY happy I had put out extra anchor lines. The storm soon subsided and the girls were able to spend the night on the top sundeck.
Day Four found us in the runabout, headed uplake. We visited several canyons, cleaning as we went. We stopped by to see the Peregrine Falcons but they had fledged and were now gone. The dinosaur tracks on Tapestry Wall were still there and we did see them. After the dino tracks, we headed for Warm Spring Canyon to “trash it”. Once again, I was just driving the boat, doing what I was supposed to do, minding my own business when I spotted a young male at the base of the cliff wall merrily drawing graffiti on the face of the cliff. We pulled up and very politely told him what he was doing was illegal (as if he didn’t already know it). I got a smart-assed reply. Not smart! I took his picture
and another of the boat he was with. We then told him we were employed by Aramark and associated with the N.P.S. and told him to knock it off. He sat down and we left. As we pulled away, he flipped us the “one finger salute”. Big mistake! BIG, BIG mistake! After the trip was over, I turned the pictures and a nice detailed report over to the N.P.S. rangers and they are going to file on him. YEAH!!! We then headed for the Defiance House ruins in Forgotten Canyon. We just got there and, once again, had to beat feet home ahead of another storm. Again, it was short-lived and the ladies spent their last night on the roof.
On Day Five, we took in all the anchor lines at 9:00 and headed for Bullfrog. After the usual pump-out, wash-down and clean up, we said goodbye to the ladies and the end of another great trip.
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