Bill, I relate very strongly to your story. I've worked with Doctors (with a 70' boat parked where our back fence would be) and just local folks - with forty foot fisher. Give me those local folks every time - they know how to 'appreciate' life. btw - when we had one Boat Surveyor work with us, he had just sold his 52 footer and picked up a trailerable. His statement being that he had learned 'bigger is not always better'. Enjoy, Gordon of Monterey Bay M8 Coba' (and a Snipe too) ----- Original Message ----- From: <BILLAMICASR@aol.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 6:20 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Working, working, working...
Hi Connie, Amen to trailer sailing. I also prefer the smaller boats. I know a couple of people who are partners in a Cat 320. Nice boat that sits in her slip about 350 days out of the year. Probably would have been better to invest in a beach front condo as the boat is basically used for social events at the dock. Good for them I guess... I think all of our pastimes have gone, or are going by the wayside. I used to do a lot of backpacking. Twenty years ago it used to be said all you have to do to get away from the vandals is get 1/2 mile into the forest and you'll be safe. No longer the case. I fear people more than I feal bears and mountain lions. At least the wild critters are predictable. I used to do a lot of river running (whitewater) and we felt safe to think we were among friends in a 50 mile wilderness river trip. Not any more. There are weirdo's out there too. I somehow thought sailing would be different. Now I find the (new) owners of the big boats are snobs or just plain inconsiderate. However... I've had my best fun with the trailer sailing crowd. Seems like, for the most part, all we want to do is have a little fun. You'll like this tale... I've been to Mexico a few times. The first was a tourist trip to Mazatlan, very nice, and very tourist like. The second time I flew down and met a friend with a 42' monster sailboat. We were treated with respect deserving visiting royalty. Sort of boring. Nice boat though. Third time, I went with a friend towing an aluminum bass boat. Nothing fancy, just a decent fishing boat. We went to a large lake (Bacaburito) east, into the mountains from Guaymas, MX. We intended to spend a week fishing for Largemouth Black Bass. Instead, we befriended a couple of commercial fishermen, who were after Tilapia (another fish) and we ended up staying for two and a half weeks. Eating dinners with their families, helping them with their commercial fishing, drinking cervesas (beer) until we couldn't stand up. And having the time of our lives. These people weren't rich and were just being themselves when they offered their friendship. I'll never forget that trip. I'm planning another trip to Mexico this winter. I can assure you, when I go... I'll go as myself. I don't want to be considered special, I just want to have a little fun. It's only been 5 years since the fishing trip. I'm hoping I'll be able to meet some quality locals while sailing my little sailboat into their fishing villages. I'll be keeping a diary of this adventure, to be assured. Regards, Bill SF Bay M-17 #496 "Tiperary" _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats