Our day started out perfect. We were on my aunt and uncle's houseboat with another couple, eating, relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors. After an hour and a half of cruising we ended up at a friend's cabin on Bayou Manchac.
As usual I was more interested in the dogs than the people. But riddle me this: why are most country dogs intact? In other words, the males were in serious need of neutering, or in dire need of some supportive underwear. :/ Even these little chihuahuas were packin'.
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| Chico |
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| Chico's little male friend who seemed like he wanted more than friendship. Ahem. |
This was Double D's first exposure to a coonass gathering. Pardon the expression, but that's what it was! The man who owned the cabin had just purchased it and said he was thinking of naming it Coonass Haven. Ha! (Hope no one is offended. They really do refer to themselves that way.)
Now for the adventure.
About an hour into the return voyage my uncle comes tearing down the ladder from his captain's perch looking like a crazed maniac, pulling up pieces of floor, throwing rope over his shoulder, desperately trying to get to the anchor. Apparently, he hit something that damaged his engine. We were stranded and getting dangerously close to the cypress knees and random logs jutting out of the shallow water, all a threat to the integrity of the boat. Next thing we know the sky's rumbling and we all looked up to see some bad weather approaching.
To make a VERY long story short, another houseboat came along and offered to tow us back home.
I re-learned a lesson that I've known since the cradle but the big city caused me to forget: a coonass will give you the shirt off their back if you need it. These people went to a GREAT deal of trouble to deposit us safely home. So if you see a boat on the bayou called YA ONT 2, be sure and wave at them, or if they need help, lend 'em a hand. Good, good people!
I hope my uncle's boat is okay. He recently spent $6,000 on a new transmission so he's a little anxious to know the damage.
Update on The Big Chill: we are thawing out around my house slowly but surely. We will get back to normal eventually. But the job search is on hold for a bit.
All photos taken with my iPhone.
Sharing with A Rural Journal: Rural Thursday:
24 comments:
First of all....GREAT pictures! This sounds like one fun day, and I really did have to stop and read this post to Sam, because he wanted to know what I was laughing out..I just love the description of Chico's and the other dogs NEEDS!! ha!
Put some ice under the sheets on his side of the bed...he will cool off real fast this way!
hugs
What an adventure, Gail, but more importantly, I am glad that The Big Chill is not so chilly.
xo.
Quite a drama! Please all ended well, hopefully the repairs will be minor both in extent and cost.
Wow, what an eventful day! I'm glad to hear things are warming up a bit ;)
Glad you're experiencing at least a little thawing out! And I'm so glad what could have been a dangerous scenario turned into just an adventure. Bless those coonasses!
Good fun Gail but being a limey i had to Wiki "coonass".
What an adventure! Great shots too...
I guess dogs are intact in the countryside as they don't bother anyone, have wide spaces to range in and are less likely to bother people?
My Oscar is the sweetest boy and he's intact. Indeed, most male dogs in Sweden are.
I had to laugh about the dogs! Even funnier being chihuahua's! Sorry to hear about the engine problem/damage, but glad someone helped you get back. You got some great photos with your iPhone!
Oh I so have experienced this adventure a time or two!!! Around here its the oyster bars that have me screaming at my husband 'turn/turn!!'. Oyster bars and engine trouble...my biggest fears about boating. We always carry a big white towel to call for 'help' and had to use it one time due to engine trouble. Thankgoodness for friendly boaters and really strong rope!!! Glad you are home safe and sound with a holiday memory!
Oh man I love swamps. Cool pics! Sorry the boat had an incident, but glad you got back okay.
People around here love to coonhunt. Not my cup of tea though ;-)
It's nice to know there a still some good people around!
Adventures make good blog posts!
Glad you guys got back safely and hope your uncle's boat only has minor problems.
Gail, sometimes if one doesn't have bad luck, they'd have no luck at all!
So glad those swamp natives are so hospitable!
Love that first picture! And speaking of packing, I recently took a pic of my daughter's horse for selling, and he was seriously packing. Couldn't even use that set of pics!
Can't wait for your next adventure...or misadventure! Have a great weekend.
Gail,
What an exciting adventure that you had and one you won't forget!
Know it was scarie at the time with the storm coming up - but you'll never nicer people that those on the water - always helping others on the water.
I was a river rat on the St. johns river in central florida and LOVED your photo of the cypress trees and lily pads. If you had some cane poles - you could have caught dinner while you waited.
Glad that you got home safe and sound and hopefully it won't take much to get your uncle's boat back on the bayou.
Pretty exciting holiday! Great photos! I'm glad it's a little less chilly around your house.
Too funny about the dogs! Glad everyone made it back safely! Great shots. Bet thee are some alligators lurking about those parts!!!
Though long story is made short, the adventure is well felt.
That first shot is a great one!
well you certainly had an adventure and hope the damage to your uncle's boat is minimal...folks do surprise you sometime with their generosity, glad they happened along at the right...err wrong time. Glad the Big Chill is thawing!!
What great pictures...this is such a beautiful place, I couldn't get over all of the waterlilies ~ amazing.
Hope the damage isn't too costly.
Quite the adventure -- people can be so giving of themselves -- wonderful that you happened upon these fine folks!
Our boat motor is in the shop too --
Happy things are getting warmer at home. Lol.
Thank you for sharing at Rural Thursdays this week, Gail. xo
Love the pictures. Thought I knew a little something about your state, but didn't know that term that's for sure.
I know something about the joys of boating (fear and $$$)... not surprised at the fact that someone came to the rescue ... boaters, I would imagine especially houseboaters, are kind of a fraternity.
OH my what adventures Gail! And I agree with Tex girl's comments re. the unsnipped dogs!
Glad to know things are thawing!
Oh, that sounds like a wonderful day, except the part about being stranded on water with crocodiles in it!!! I'm pretty sure I would have been creeped out by that!!!
Let me rephrase that. I ***know*** I would have been creeped out by that! :)
So glad helpful people came along to tow you to safety. I hope it's not too expensive of a fix for your uncle to get going again.
You had some adventure, Gail. Great photos and it's always a pleasure to read about the goodness of people.
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