My New Toy

Some of you guys probably remember Jack Smith, who was our Home Teacher when we lived in Sutter. He was always faithful about coming, and you kids always enjoyed listening to him tell stories. He was a rare man who really had been everywhere and done everything. He served on submarines in WWI and was in the Air Force in WWII. He taught elementary school, and college courses in history. He was a farmer, rancher, and in recent years, a kick-ball enthusiast. (He kept coming to me with plans for getting a stake kick-ball league started.)

Pam and Kim will likely remember (not so fondly) the horse riding experience at his ranch north of Sutter. I've always enjoyed riding horses, and thought the girls would have a blast on one of his ponies. I got Pam seated bare-back on the pony, then just as I was putting Kim on behind her - the pony bolted! Kim just slid off its haunches and landed on her feet on the ground in front of me. But Pam was hanging on to the pony's mane for dear life as it raced around the circumference of the field and into the barn - where it puled up next to the hay trough and calmly started to feed. Pam just as calmly slid off the side of the pony and walked into the front yard, saying she would never get on another horse again. I don't think she has. And I don't blame her.

Anyway, Jack and his wife are no longer able to care for the home, and as their family was cleaning things out and clearing off the property, they called and offered to give me Jack's 16' Hobie Catamaran. Mostly, they knew I had room to store it next to my garage, and that I have some small interest and experience (okay, very small experience, but more than anyone else they knew had), so it was an easy way for them to dispose of it.

The price was right. So I took the plunge. I had to buy a couple of new tires for the trailer, but I got it home alright and it awaits some minor reconnecting of lines and stays, plus a little cosmetic fix up, and I'll take it out for a trial run probably next summer.

Rich was kind enough to help me dig it out from it's resting place on the ranch in Sutter.

Note how good he is at supervising. Actually, he was a great deal of help, and provided much needed moral support.

Here it is in it's "berth" at home.

 

I guess what I really need to do is to coax Trevor into coming down and helping me get it in sailing shape. I think he knows about things like this, and would probably enjoy sailing it.