For our most recent jaunt (today), Hobbes and I decided to travel our common route…from our home to the Espyville Marina. Not a GREAT distance, but a more than sufficient journey for the two of us.
Anyway…as we approached the marina, we were greeted with a view which DEFINITELY heralds the beginning of the new Spring season…the “emergence” of several watercraft emerging from their winter slumber, and being transferred into their more appropriate place of residence at the docks of the marina.
How wonderful! The boats, and their piolets, are beginning to return to where they really belong.
Of course, we spent much more time viewing these arrivals than our time frame permitted. SO WHAT!!! This is what was truly important! Dinner, paperwork, bills…ALL could take a backseat to this momentous occasion.
Naturally, after a short while, my mind started to drift back to the time which Carolyn and I shared on the waves through our various watercrafts, and to previous times shared with my Father upon the waters of our beloved Pymatuning.
1953...ROW THOSE OARS!
When my Dad and I first pushed-off our rented craft from the “old” Espyville Boat Rental, we were both more than excited. WOW!! Walleye, Perch, Crappie, and maybe, just MAYBE, even a Muskie, were anxiously waiting for our fishing lines and bait to be cast, Dad was insistent: the BEST fish resided only on the North end of the lake…beyond, way beyond the Causeway.
OK…so, that’s where we headed. HOWEVER, what Dad seemed to forget was that the North end of Pymatuning was somewhat “restricted” in those days. In other words, as one’s boat finagled through the Causeway overpass and headed northbound, one was required to cut the boat’s motor. YEP! No motors on the North end of the lake in those days. So, what did Dad do? He shoved those two oars into their holders and began to row…row…row.
Naturally, that exercise didn’t last too very long. I tried to help out, but being merely five years of age, my muscles were not yet up to the task.
Through the years, we never gave up. Rowing eventually gave way to the permission of motors on the entirety of the lake. Dad and I continued to travel and fish Pymatuning up until the final year of his Life. Even though, at that time, I was living on the East Coast, I traveled back to my REAL home several times each year. Dad and Mom would always welcome my visits with a Family trip to our true home in Espyville. Dad and I would (as always) rent a boat for the day, and spend our time with each other fishing the waters.
When Dad journeyed-on in 1975, Mom passed Dad’s fishing gear on to me. It is still part of my most precious possessions.
1985…A DAY TO REMEMBER!
One of my, and Carolyn’s, fondest wishes was to someday own our own boat.
In the Spring of 1985, our Dream came true…somewhat.
After visiting several of the regional watercraft sales venues in our current Region, we decided to purchase our first memorable watercraft from a local Ohio merchant. How excited we were on the day we finally hitched the boat’s trailer to our tiny truck.
This was, indeed, the moment of which we dreamed since the day we were married. Our own boat! Which would, within moments, we would launch upon the waters of our beloved Pyma!
The craft was, as we soon fully realized, not necessarily designed at best for the waters of our lake. It was a rather shallow tri-hull composed of fiberglass. It was, naturally, fitted with the 9.9 horsepower motor required in those days. Not fit??? YEP! Nevertheless, we were more than excited…and, unaware of our naiveté.
So, we traveled to the Manning boat launch located near the northern end of North Lake Road. AND…backing –up the trailer and boat into the waters of the ramp, I proceeded to untie the craft from its resting place. Carolyn, meanwhile, stood on the ramp with the single lifeline of our new boat secured in her grasp.
THANK HEAVENS for her grasp! For, as the boat gently began to drift onto the lake, I tried, without success, to start-up the engine.
WITHOUT SUCCESS???!!! WHAT!! The motor simply would not start. Anxiously, I tried again and again to fire-her-up. No Luck!
Fortunately, Carolyn held tight to the rope. I quickly jumped into the water and managed to drag the frail craft up to the side of the ramp. After securing the boat, I tried once again to start the motor…failure once again. Then, the wisdom of my wife came into fruition. She asked me to check the gasoline. I did…and, much to my amazement, the gas tank was TOTALLY empty! No one at the boat dealer’s site informed us that we needed to fill the gas tank. Naturally, we assumed that the boat was “ready to go.” NOT SO! To this very day, I still recall that omission every time I pass by the dealership.
1987…BIG TIME!
Our miniature tri-hull lasted us only a year and a half. Extremely disappointed, we decided to trade-in our little boat for a craft more suitable to our desires. Once again, we visited the same dealership (believe it or not!). We fell in love with another fiberglass boat; but this one was more suitable to our environment. However, after a few weeks, of puttering along, we decided to trade our 9.9 HP motor for a BIG one…90 plus HP. Of course, we could not use the boat on Pymatuning; but, we COULD sail her on Conneaut Lake, and maybe, just maybe, on Lake Erie!
We tried Conneaut Lake…but the traffic was tremendous. Couldn’t fish…couldn’t anchor or sit still without the numerous other watercraft ruining our day.
SO..we tried Erie. WOW! The bay on Lake Erie was just what we wished for. Open water, lots of areas to cast our lines into the water, and no one seemed to come too close to our boat.
One day, while parking the truck after launching our boat, we noticed that several boatslips were currently available on the bay. We took a chance and applied. SUCCESS! Our little boat now had a home on the water.
Our satisfaction did not last long, however. For, as the season progressed, we longed, and LONGED for a larger craft.
Eventually, we made a visit to the old Brockway Marine which was located near the foot of State Street. After a few hours, we decided to trade our little boat for a 30 foot SeaRay vessel.
ECTASY! ECTASY!
Several seasons of complete pleasure followed our purchase. We docked our new boat near the bottom of State Street. Through the course of Time, we met and made numerous Friends, who although a major portion of our Life in those days, are now merely memories. WE traveled the length and breadth of Lake Erie…Dunkirk, Canada, the Ohio Islands, etc. Fishing was MORE than wonderful! Life seemed to be perfect.
We named our craft LUNATIC FRINGE…suggesting that we always lived on the edge of total insanity.
That Life came to an abrup end in 1991, when I fell victim to a devastating automobile accident, WE could no longer enjoy Lunatic Fringe. SO, after two years of abstinence, we decided to part company with our beloved “Lady,” and she journeyed into the Life of someone else.
WOOF…WOOF!
As always, Hobbes’ voice called me back to the reality of today’s present moment.
As we watched the last watercraft being moored into its seasonal resting place today in Espyville, I could not but ponder all the memories of my Life upon the water.
You know what? Now that I have been granted a New Life once again, I fully appreciate the wonders of the waves and waters nearest our home. Pyma calls-out to me once again, whispering its Magic into my ear. Maybe, just maybe this is the Season to reclaim all the Beauty of our magnificent surroundings.
I think that Dad is out there somewhere casting his line into the water…waiting for the catch of his Lifetime…and sending that message back to me.