Dock Lines...

This is going to be one of those shorter posts that I said I would start doing from time to time. I had another entry planned, but technical difficulties have caused that one to be delayed.

It has been raining here everyday since Monday. That meant Trenton and I had to stay indoors for our two days this week. Aunt Sandy took him on a short shopping trip Monday, which broke up the day nicely. Tuesday it was movies and cartoons most of the day for both of us. I’m afraid I did a little bit of dozing in the recliner during all this. Trenton thinks it’s a hoot when Grandpa starts sawing Zs.

We are gearing up for a huge 4th of July weekend at work. It’s always interesting to see who comes out on the Fourth of July to use their boats. In many ways it’s the most dangerous boating weekend of the entire year.

There are many people who own boats but, because of busy schedules, do not use them at all during the year. The only day of the year these boats get put in the water is the day of the fireworks display on the Fourth.

I cannot tell you how many frozen steering cables and dead batteries I have to help with on this weekend every year, not to mention dead running lights or old gasoline. Then there’s the out of date or missing safety equipment that is required by the Coast Guard.

This makes for a very dangerous situation: Hundreds of boaters with faulty equipment on the water after dark to see the fireworks. Many of these are boaters that have little experience. Add to this situation the fact that the fireworks don’t start until dark.

The boaters party all day and celebrate with friends and sometimes alcohol, then, when it gets dark they see a little show and try to drive the boat home in the dark with literally thousands of other boaters using the same waterway and in the same condition. The waterways are not like highways; there are no streetlights.

Ok! Enough of this ranting on boating safety. My points is, no matter what you are doing, on the water or off, please be safe this Holiday Weekend.

If you want to find me, I’ll be out on the docks looking out for you all.