Blockade Runners this coming weekend 11/14&15

Originally posted by Williep View Post

Sandy, glad I was able to put in my 2 cents worth of work on Saturday and I enjoyed meeting all the guy's that were there. Like you said, 2 years of invites, that's not going to happen again, I'll try to make it out whenever I can even if it's just for the day. I should have made it out there pre Ike, I bet those were some pretty good times.
If I only had 6 more inches

, of water that is, I don't think that prop would be going to the shop this week but what can I say, **** happens.
So until next time, you guy's be careful out there, have fun and work safe.

Dang Willie...next time you go, I'll let you just follow me, I know where all the shallow stuff is! LOL
Sorry about the prop...that chit ain't funny!

TMO and Fishbobr made it down on Friday night and by all reports had a great time, but didn't do so well fishing under the lights, just caught 4 specks. I picked up 007 Saturday morning and we made it to the dock around 10:30 and were immediately met by TXSHOCKWAVE. He brought his Chesepeake Bay Retriever, "Shock" out with him. First dog ever at Blockade Runners and he's a great one. It was great meeting you James, and we really enjoyed having Shock around.

Anyway, we arrived at the camp to find that WilleP had finally made it there after 2 years of invites.

We did some front porch sittin' for a while, and Willie broke out some snackage, which was awesome. James went out to explore the marsh a bit and Willie, 007, and Fishbobr lit out to fish for a while before we got to work. TMO and I stayed at the camp to prep for some work. When it was time for me to reign the fishermen in to get to work on the Ghost Camp, I called and got some song and dance about a spun prop. I was pretty sure it was a "story" and that they were on fish. So TMO and I headed over to get things set at the Ghost Camp and await their arrival.

James and Shock showed up soon after our arrival and TMO got up in the camp and started cutting pieces out. I noticed James was wearing waders, so I recruited him to cut the PVC pilings with the tube cutter I had just purchased. He dove right into the job, cutting one really fast, then tragedy . . . . It seems the $25 tube cutter I bought was designed to make only one cut before failure. No problem for James. He grabbed a Sawzall blade and wrapped some duct tape around it for a handle and went to work. He got all but one piling done! Shock was a great help too. He actually picked up one of the pipes and dragged it all the way to the boat for me. What a dog! Everybody was pitching in, except for the missing fishermen.

They finally arrived and I wasn't sure about their story until Willie held up the prop in question. Sucker had a blade folded over like a taco shell! Everyone dove in to work with 007 calling the shots on the scaffold. This is where I was really beating myself up for my camera idiocy. You see, unlike last weekend, I did bring the camera with me, but I forgot the dad gum memory card! After a little bit, TMO got the call that Greg was at the dock and ready to work on the camp. So Willie, Tom, and Bob headed that way to get some soffit up. Might I add, they did a great job!

James, Shock, 007, and I kept working on the Ghost Camp until we had more than a boat load. It was time to load up the truck and get supper started. Willie showed back up to check on us and we headed in to unload the debris. When Willie and I had that done, he headed back to the camp and I struck up a conversation with the oystermen at the dock. I walked up and said, "Caco see?", which means, "How are you?" I got the usual return answer, "Taco, taco.", which means, "Ok." (Also it's what gives Croatians their nickname, "Tacos", because they're always heard saying it. I asked who all were Croatians and they asked why. I told them I was half Croatian and I went on to talk about Louisiana and my family history. Turns out they were from La. and they worked in Bayou Cook! One of them knew my dad and they both remembered our old camp! We spoke about oyster issues for a while, and they offered me a free sack of oysters, but I turned them down because TMO and Fishbobr had bought a sack from them already. It was good to see some Tacos in Texas that weren't on a plate.

When I got back to the camp, I started getting dinner ready and everyone just sat around and enjoyed the great evening. TMO, Fishbobr, and Greg lit out for a suaree' at Sea Isle while James, 007, Shock, and I had a steak and chicken dinner. James and Shock had stayed wayyy longer than they meant to so they finally left around 8pm or so. VJER called and said he was on his way and passing Surfside, so I readied up the boat to go get him. As I exited Titlum-Tatlum, I saw some guys waving a flashlight at me. They had a dead battery, so I gave them my extra, but their motor wouldn't crank up. Luckily they had a long line, so I towed them in, much to the chagrin of the long waiting VJER.

Those guys were sure thankful, offering me money and such. As usual, I would have none of that and I told them to pay it forward. I wonder how many times I've towed people in. This was a new one on me though. I had never done it in the dark.

VJER and I got back to the camp to find 007 fishing the lights. His first words were, "It's on! It's on like Donkey Kong!" And so it was. We were catch and release only, docking about 70 or so fish between the 3 of us. More than half of them were keepers. It was really a fun time once I got into the catching part. I couldnt buy a bite for a while, whereas they were murdering them. I started switching lures until I hit the jackpot. A tandem rigged mini sparkle beetle in white was the ticket. I had two at a time on several times. 007 sacked out and I wasn't far behind, but VJER wanted to use all his scrimps, so he stayed up for a while. We left them biting.

Ahhhh, I slept 9 wonderful hours, that kind of sleep I only get at the camp. I awoke to 007 and VJER fishing on the dock. I whipped up a big breakfast and we had a visit from a neighbor down the bayou who is struggling to start rebuilding his camp. When it was time to decide what to do for the day, I decided it would be best to hit the Ghost Camp, rather than start rebuilding the front wall of the camp. So we shoved off to get it done.

Things went like clockwork with 007 on the scaffold. Again, I can't believe I forgot the memory card for the camera! B&P made it by with his pops, but almost as soon as he arrived, he got called back into work.

That didn't stop him from loading some debris in his boat to take back with him. Thanks Danny! Around 2:30 I reckoned it was quittin' time, so we headed back to Blockade Runners to get things cleaned up and put away. I always hate to leave the camp.

I was pretty darn happy with all the work that got done this weekend. Major thanks to all who made the work get done.

This coming weekend should be a big one for Blockade Runners. I'm planning on being out Sat/Sun/Mon, as I have next week off for Thanksgiving. VJER says he's in and he'd like to do the entire front wall AND get some work done on the Ghost Camp to boot. If anyone wants in, we sure could use some hands. 007 will need a ride down from Pasadena on Sunday if anyone can do that. - Sandy