The People

When you read the boating books about traveling you always read about the people met along the way. Statements are the people are wonderful, the people make it so much fun, you meet the most wonderful people, etc etc. Well I want to expand on that a little. The reason we are staying put here in Demopolis this summer is because of the people. We had originally decided to travel to Knoxville but we had done that before so Jan and I decided to just stay where we were and enjoy the people we had met and actually became friends with for life. Not just people you meet and soon forget. This summer has been marvelous. We could not go to the Gulf because of obvious reasons , we were not real excited to repeat a big leg of our previous journey so we stayed put. We have had a ball. The good food, the friendships, the swimming, the activities, the skiing, the tubing, the fishing, the boat rides, the exploring, the anchoring out, the jobs we have completed, etc. This has been amazing. There is plenty of water to explore in this immediate area. We can go 100 miles South, 50 miles North, and 100 miles up the Black Warrior. A little quick math and one can see a possibility of 500 miles of traveling with return trips included. Here at the marina the WALL stil happens almost every day with people like Dale and Joy who have been here for a couple of years. They are from Fla and he is a very hard worker with a wealth of knowledge and she is one of the nicest people you could meet and is also a hard worker. I think there is a misconception that these live aboards are lazy and just here for the fun. Not true...their boats would soon be a shambles if they were not constantly caring for it. Everyone we have met seems to work hard and to be very sharp and knowledgeable. Now do not get me wrong they do like to relax and have fun but it is first things first. Another couple from Montgomery, Jim and Jeannie C, come to their boat for a few weeks each month . They are very nice people who are as sweet as can be and are always game for a lunch at the local Mexican restaurant. Archie the nite watchman who is Black American is really a great gentleman who always has a minute to philosophy about just about anything. Always with a big smile and Southern humor. Smitty is out of New Orleans at the present moment . I say that for he has been everywhere by boat . I can not think of any place to tell you that he has not been. As an example he bought his present boat in South Africa. He is another one that is very, very smart. You students reading this need to realize the importance of knowledge. With knowledge you can do anything. A lack of knowledge will hold you back and keep you from reaching your dreams. Get out there and learn all you can about anything and everything. The owner of the marina restaurant is from the East and is a very friendly guy and quite generous with his continuing band parties at Rattlesnake Bend. Another coming up in early August. Mark Davis is the diesel man I have mentioned before. He owns his own business and has a place on the B W River complete with pontoon, ski boat, and all the shelters and fish tubs and swings and docks etc etc. He has a very nice family. They stopped by yesterday in the ski boat and took me with them to pull the son Justin, on the wake board. We then went on a nice long boat ride around Rattlesnake Bend. Rattlesnake Bend is where the river originally made a 7 or 8 mile U shape and the Corp of Engineers made a cut thru to cut off the U. Well the U is called RSB. It is still the river but is not used very much. That does not cover all the nice people we have met but that will give the idea....also....Southern Hospitality is alive and well. Do not forget Jan met the mayor and his wife uptown and they were very nice to us as complete strangers. Great Summer...thanx for tuning in Tom