The what if’s and what could have been’s.

[T-Bone]

I'm definitely going to miss you guys this weekend.

Thanks Ozzy. You have no idea how much I'm going to miss seeing you and Les and Alwaki Lodge this week. I feel like at any minute I may just start sobbing...it's not a good feeling.

We'd probably be approaching Angola, NY right about now too. Dag...I feel my sadness and self-pity turning into anger...just yelled at the dog from bringing me a toy. 

[fishtildark]

I feel all the pain on this post. I would have been back from my trip at this point under normal circumstances . Hodgey, your description of what you would be doing is so close my stomach aches. If misery loves company there is plenty to go around . Wish everyone better days ahead.

[Hodgey1]

I'm definitely going to miss you guys this weekend.

I have enjoyed are time there together and look forward when we can do it again Oz, enjoy your trip!

[Hodgey1]

@fishtildark & @T-Bone misery loves company! I am now moving into praying for September to happen.

[Hodgey1]

Day 2 off from work...and should have been in Kipawa. Scheduled a motorcycle ride with a buddy of mine to meet for lunch. . We meet at a central location since we live an hour apart. I get to our destination and I realize I don’t have my face mask. Back to grab mask... now we are on the road to lunch at a local lake. Part way there I feel my one leg is wet and look down and see my leg is soaked with antifreeze..... WTF! . we arrived at  our scheduled destination that included beers and lunch and I say...... I have to head home now, right now. I begin the 45 minute ride with a steady drip of antifreeze while watching the temp gauge the whole way. 3/4 the way home the drip becomes a steady stream and now the temp gauges is moving up towards high!!!!

I am now in an area that I know well, country roads, vast county. Once the temp gets close to high, I shut engine down, hold in clutch and coast. I do this until I hit another hill, restart and gain momentum till I hit a peak. Shut engine down, then coast and coast. Restart and do it again n until I finally make it home. Gezz, you cannot make it up.

My buddy shows up 20 minutes later, we laugh, talk old people shirt and laugh some more. No lunch proved to be a winner , winner , chicken dinner since beer began flowing in between the recap of the ridiculous.

Wish I was at Alwaki.

[Graphite]

I can totally relate!   I thought about a September trip.  The way it's going in the states I don't see that as a reality though. Hopefully next year.  Hope your coolant leak wasn't anything major.

[Hodgey1]

Thanks @Graphite , i am going to dig in today and see if I can find the issue.

I must admit that September does not look good either.

[Hodgey1]

So, 4 hours and a thousand different fasteners removed and I have discovered my coolant leak. Last fall the motorcycle and I had a run in with a deer on the way into work. Most of the damage appeared to be cosmetic and insurance repaired all of it. What was not seen was the deer had hit the radiator and bent it bad enough to where it now had the fan rubbing on it and eventually wore a hole in it . UGH! I am thinking my motorcycle day are numbered. What if a guy sold his bike and put that money toward a bigger boat 

[T-Bone]

I know a guy that will buy ur current boat.

[Greg]

Don't sell it Hodgey!  I miss my motorcycle - I had one most years since I was 18 and I got rid of mine a couple of years ago and I regret it.

Make insurance fix the bike again!

A radiator, if it can't be repaired and you need a new one, is cheap in the grand scheme of things.

Greg

[Hodgey1]

Thursday, I would have been way deep into my Kipawa groove of, fishing, drinking & visiting, eating, sleep and then repeat. Dang that would have been great.

Yesterday was rip motorcycle apart, today I went and blew some stimulus money on fishing gear. Two new poles and reels for trolling Lake Erie and some additional lures.I also made a 3 quart batch of refrigerator dill pickles and now off to my Thursday night golf league.

Oh.... Ask why the additional rod/reels? I now have my other son-in law showing interest in all this fishing hub-bubba. He been sniffing around asking question and talking about buying gear? Hmm... To early to say, but he maybe hooked "LOL" maybe a new member of the Kipawa crew for next year? I hope so! I have two really good daughters with two really good husbands, I am lucky.  I plan on taking him out on the big lake as soon as conditions permit. I will report back.

[Ozzy30]

Sounds great Hodgey, always nice to have extra fishing partners

[NortonJoe]

Well here it is, Friday of Canada week...the last day.  So I'm just gonna take a few minutes and imagine.  I just checked the weather and it is 77 and partly cloudy in Kipawa.  I'm betting there is a bit of a breeze blowing, creating that perfect chop on the water, making conditions just right to do some "drift fishing" or dropping an anchor and jigging.

Sitting in the boat in a pair of shorts soaking in some sun, the breeze, the quiet...grabbing a couple of cold beers and throwing one to my buddy, "Time for a nice cold Molson, my friend."  TSSSST nothing better than that beer opening on the lake, the sound of the waves hitting the side of the boat...and then it's "FISH ON."  Bringing in a nice walleye at just the upper limit of the slot.  At this point, it's just a matter of enjoying the time in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Just like other years its been a week of back to basics...the most important decision is "where to fish today" and "how many beers to take out."  We've hit all the old spots, the "fingers" for shore lunch, up the Kipawa River and through the rapids, by the big island, the far shore of the big bay.  We've had lazy afternoons of chatting, story telling, maybe a game of horseshoes on the beach.  Swimming, sleeping, a nice cigar in the evening with a good Irish whiskey listening to the loons call.  Poker games, Euchre games...

We've had some delicious fish dinners, home made meatballs and spaghetti, burgers...all good stuff; all time tested. Then Saturday morning comes early and the trucks are packed and its time to head back...but its okay, we've had a good week in a place we love.  Next year my friends, next year.

[Chazz]

Norton Joe - you nailed it

[Jay Thomas]

Great post NortonJoe. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Jay