Rockin the Docks, Lenoir City TN May 23rd

[PIRATES BOOTY]

Well,

Due to all of the rain we've been having in East Tennessee the past month, (rain every weekend for the past 3 weeks) it looks like the season kickoff here in the Knoxville area will be at Rockin the Docks. Boy, loosing almost a month of boating season really sucks, so making up for lost time will be the first priority. (Jello Shots all around...)

In addition to Rockin the Docks on Saturday, there is supposed to be some sort of music video shoot at Prater Flats on Sunday. I have not been able to confirm it, but hey, just another excuse to party, I guess.

If anyone can confirm the music video, let us know...

See everyone there......

Andy

 

[matthewmiller01]

We will be there at Rockin' the Docks again this year (hopefully no squall this year). As for the video, I don't know. But if you do find out, post up the info. Where is Prater Flats?

 

[PIRATES BOOTY]

Prater Flats is up the river toward Kville on the east side about halfway to Concord. Look at the map and you will see the largest series of coves in that section of river. Supposedly, the spot to meet is toward the NE section of the flats.

Matt, are you going to have the kids on this trip??? We could not find a sitter so we'll have the rugrats in tow.....

Andy

 

[matthewmiller01]

OK. I know exactly where it is. I just didn't know the name of that cove.

Yes, we will have the kids with us. Also, the admiral's parents will be with us. So we will be loaded up and ready to have some fun and kick off the summer!

 

[PIRATES BOOTY]

Well, as long as the parents don't mind a bit of drinkin, then look for us and we'll kick back a few of my wife's jello shots......

 

[matthewmiller01]

Will do. My father-in-law will have his Bud Light. No worries. We'll see you all there!

 

[matthewmiller01]

Had a great time with great friends! We'll replenish the jello for the shots next time. :grin: Our compliments to the chef!

 

[chuck1]

Ok, where are all the pictures for us that did not get out on the water this weekend?

 

[PIRATES BOOTY]

OK, here are the pics;

 

[PIRATES BOOTY]

OK, the last 2 pics are from the "Music Video Shoot" on that Sunday. There is a heck of a story to go along with the pic off the bow of the incoming front. When reading the following, just remember that my glasses were knocked into the water the day before at Rockin the Docks.

Rain was threatening all day of the video shoot, but heck, lets see if they do it anyway, Had fun all day awaiting Matt Stillwell and his band to start shooting. Just as the black clouds arrived on the horizon, people started bugging out. (Guess there will be no music video shoot today!). The front is supposed to just skirt us and a little rain never hurt anyone, so up goes the canvas. (blind with no glasses)

Our friends sold their old boat and have yet to get a new one, and the joined us on their bass boat (no canvass, cover, or anything), so they stayed with us in the dry, hoping for the weather to pass. As I was looking at radar on my phone, I realized that the front that was just to skim us, was going to slam us upside the head. (still blind with no glasses)

OK, simple plan, Rich in the Bass boat would make a run in the rain to Concord Marina (15 minutes at cruiser speed, and 5 minutes by 150hp bass boat). He would then drive up to Choto to meet us and the rest of the crew. (Choto is just across the channel from Prater Flats)

About 5 minutes after he left, I went topside to pull anchor and get us underway. "Boy, I sure set this anchor well" I thought as I was trying to get it pulled up, but this was not the case. Imagine, both feet planted firmly in the anchor locker, me pulling like some sort of wet tug of war champ, trying like mad with my flashlight in my lips. After about 10 minutes, I managed to get the anchor up enough to see what was making it so heavy. ( maybe not having glasses here was a good thing. no rain soaked specs to fog up)

Someone's lost 7 lb anchor was wrapped by 3(yes 3) compact car tires. I think the third tire was just luck on my part, but I have a Danforth type achor, so this was going to be interesting. After trying to shake them off, I gave up and cinched it hard to the achor cleat and broke aout the boat hook (finally found another use for it besides beating the crew/kids).

OK, got the anchor freed and we get underway. Now I know what the defrost option was for, and my next boat will have neither, because the defroster would only clear the way for the completeley ineffective windshield wiper. Well, I will get a little wet and zip open the middle Eisenglas. (still blind as a bat, and the only person on the boat competant to pilot a blow up rubber raft. Seems everyone else was finishing off the jello shots while I was pulling anchor)

I then discover why I needed the built in spot light vs the portable, as the spotlight battery was dead and the power cable did not let the spot work while plugged in. We were passed by several other cruisers both big and small, so I was in good company.

OK made it to Choto and was glad I had one of those overpriced LED flashlights. Seemed to work pretty well, but that spot light sure would have been helpfull. Got everyone off without dinging anyones boat, and headed for the home dock. (still blind as a bat, but wait! being a bat right now has it's advantages. A bat could see more that I could)

I did discover that my boat does not like trying to cruise with the full canvas up, so dropped off plane and did the slow and steady down river. Spot light finally had enough juice to give me the light to verify marker positions versus the GPS, and all things considered, was a pretty smooth ride. Would have preferred a 20 minute ride to the hour and 10 minute cruise home, but finally made it.

Moral(s) of the story;
Never trust a 5 hour old weather report
If you take your glasses, get some croakies and bring a backup.
Make sure your spotlight is charged or install a searchlight on the bow.
Float a bouy with a line attached to the forward hole on your danforth if your in a questionable mooring area.
Tell everyone to save you a few jello shots for he after the stormy ride home party.

Anyway, had a blast the whole trip, even in the rain and weather. Everyone was in great spirits and made a stressful situation work out well just by doing exactly what the "Captain" said. If you ask me if I would do it again, I would say maybe, but only if I had my spotlight and glasses.