NFL

NFL baby! Ticket to ride! Well, not yet. First we need to learn how to run, catch, block, tackel, and dump buckets of Gatoraid on coaches, but it will come in time.

U have waited long enough!

Here are the pictures of my new fabricated rudder purchase and found items. The top left is the way Ellen remembers my boat and the one below is the engineering marvel that it is.

Please .... no applause or standing Ovations are necessary. Tickets will be on sale to sail Bodega Bay soon. That's right!!!! SALT WATER!!!! THE MESSAGE GOES INTERNATIONAL or could if one were stupid enough to sail it out of the bay ..... YES!!!! I AM STUPID ENOUGH!!!!

GET YOUR TICKES SOON, IT COULD BE A ONE MISSION SAIL!

CA OUT

The house where we gathered was right on the lake and this is the dock that went from the property to the water. The wind was high and the air was chilly for Midwest standards.

Here the boys chat of the adventures of life and the trophies gathered there from as El wonders how is was that she got on the wrong side of the umbrella.

Newest cousin/nephew! Good lookin boy who is about to turn 2 years old and has not seen most of his relatives. He seemed unconcerned.

Heather's husband who's name I do not recall because I am old.

It was a good day even though I was trying to stay awake all the way to Tahoe. I stopped several times for coffee and dumped on in my lap. There was no more need of coffee to keep me awake, the pain sufficed. If you are reading this and you are in the pictures ... Thank you for having me over. I loved meeting my new relatives and making new friends.

CA out.

Mo pictures

I know that there are repeat pictures but the place I stored them won't let be see what they are untill I have published them.

Family in the Mountains of CA

Oops got the same picture twice

Family Reunion

Here is a bus load of pictures of the gathering at Tahoe. I called Kevin Jason and felt like the old man that I am so just recoginze the people and enjoy!

NEW RUDDER!

That's right! I fabricated a new rudder out of found items in the lumber store! The blade is a thing that you put plaster on when you plaster walls, the spacers for the blade are drilled pennies. They want 20 cents apiece for washers! I did splurge and buy red oak for the transit. Found a piece of chain for the tiller extension and some screws in a box on by porch attached it well. I have a shoe string for raising and lowering the blade! I will show you pictures of it as soon as the Patin is verified.

Took her out today and sailed fine. It is tight so it is like having auto pilot on the boat! I sailed for several hours this morning and got sun fried in the process.

Keep you hopes up ... pictures are coming!

CA out

OK, I went to Harbor Freight and bought more parts for my rudder. I paid the same amount of money for a box of assorted stainless steal bolts as one would cost at Ace. I am ready to construct but I have too many obligations to attend to first.

By the way, I will be in Iowa on the 24th of August and will be there for the 35th anniversary party you all are going to surprise me with! I will receive presents so don't waist you money on a card ... I won't read it .... unless it contains money or a large gift certificate.

I plan on boiling a chicken or two and will make noodles but some body get the sweet corn picked! I NEED SWEET CORN Grimes variety preferred.

Later dudes got Bible Study

Building my Rudder in proper English.

Yesterday after church, I found myself at my "Happy Place" eating the food I have grown so fond of when the thought came to me ... today is the day! I have been grieving the loss of my rudder having tipped my sailboat over and it falling off into the lake never to be seen again. By some strange force I was drawn to the HOME DEPOT where I began to wander looking for something but not knowing what. People in orange aprons kept bothering me asking me if I needed help and I would explain to them I came to buy something that I had not realized yet as to what the something was. In California no one would think this was strange. I began gathering pieces of stuff from various isles until .... I had the parts to my new rudder! Made from red oak, gate hangers, angle iron, and an aluminum mortar board it came together in such glorious fashion I felt like TIM THE TOOL MAN TAYLOR!

It is not assembled yet and I don't know if it will work, but what a day! I wish they were all like yesterday in the HOME DEPOT!