Storm’s over.  Time to get on it!

Sal and I headed out early to position the boat.  While we were doing that, we spotted a lovely ‘floater’ and hitched that little dogie to the growing wood pile.  It’s like money in the bank.  Next year’s firewood just comes in on a whim and a wave.  Fabulous.

We positioned Sal’s little boat at the base of the log-ramp we built the other day and then went and had breakfast.  Tide was a bit too high to start ‘manhandle-ing’ the little vessel.  We’d just get water in our boots.  We know about these things.  We seem to always get water in our boots.

Temporary ramp ready to go

Water IN the boots contradicts the purpose of the damn boots but we seem to do that all-too-often and then have to walk around finishing whatever chore we have – usually the rest of it on dry land – with water swishing around our feet.  How stupid is that!?  I am going to design some proper boots someday.  I swear.

But, I digress…….

After breakfast we went back to haul the boat out.  Tide had dropped a foot or two and the boat was just about perfectly situated for a pull.  “Sal, I’ll get the winch set up.  You get down to the boat and push the stern over so that the boat will come up straight.”

“Why do that?  Shouldn’t I move this log out of the way first?”

“No.  Not necessary.  The log will act as a roller.  Just position the boat”.

“I am not comfortable leaving the log there.  I think I should move it.  Plus, I don’t know what the plan is.  Do you have a plan?  And why not tell me the plan if you have one?”

“Plan is simple”, I said, raising my voice slightly.  “Rope pulls boat.  Boat slides up ramp.  Got it?  Rope?  Boat?  Ramp?  Comprendo?”

“No need to yell.  But I am not sure that it will be OK.  I am worried.  I want to check out stuff.  Or something.”

“Sal, trust me.  I got this.  Just get the stern straightened and do as you are told!”

“What?!  What did you say!?”

“I said, get the stern straightened and then get a hold!”

She bought it.  I had dodged a bullet.

Ramp works like a charm

As the boat slowly came up the ramp, Sal clucked and shrieked and called ‘halt’ a couple of times for reasons inexplicable but we eventually got the boat up with little fuss or muss.

“So”, I said smugly, “that went well.  Compliments all around, I’d say.  Mind you, I think it should be you saying the compliments, myself………………….so……..?”

“Yeah.  Good job.  Ya did good……………..this time!”

I had already partially turned away and didn’t quite catch it.  “What?!  What did you say?” 

“I said you did a good job and everything was fine!”

Communication is the secret of a good marriage.  Remember that!

Fiddich watches from a distance