Tuesday had all the makings of a perfect marine biology field trip day. My best friend and I had been eyeing the weather over the weekend. Tuesday was also his first day of Summer vacation from his teaching job.
With all the planets aligned, we made our plan. Monday was spent getting the boat/poles/tackle/bait ready. It takes a great deal of planning and work to have a safe fishing trip. Pat has always preached safe boating. He's spent many hours teaching that to his sons.
To their credit, his sons are eager and capable students.
Tuesday morning came. We loaded up.
Splitty the Maul raced across the yard and jumped into the Captain's seat.
Mauls are crazy about fishing boats and marine biology.
Q had to remind Splitty that in order to be on the boat, Splitty had to have a life jacket.
Splitty left his life jacket in Memphis.
Sadly, there would be no field trip for Splitty.
Q earned a gold star for his knowledge of boating regulations and safety.
We hitched up the boat sans Splitty, and headed south.
Q was jumping for joy at the thought of another marine biology field trip with Dad and Uncle Mike.
Leaving the boat launch at Fortescue.
Next stop, the Delaware Bay.
The last spit of land.
One last look back at Fortescue.
Under way. The seas were a bit higher than forecast. They were a little rough, but not unmanageable.
Pretty soon, we arrived at our preselected waypoint and set to drifting.
Things were pretty quiet for the most part.
Suddenly, Pat had a fish on line.
Unfortunately, the size limit is currently 18 inches for flounder.
The fish above measured 16 inches.
Q learned one of the hard lessons of marine biology field trips.
"If the fish don't fit, he's gotta git."
Q did the honors of tossing it back.
A little while later, Q caught a very small flounder in the range of 8 inches.
It too went back.
Pat caught another small flounder. Three fish up, three fish over board.
Finally Pat caught the only keeper of the trip, a nice bluefish.
Later on shore, Pat showed off the "catch of the day".
Unfortunately, after two hours the winds picked up and with them the waves.
We opted to head back in to shore.
The irony of this house's name was not lost on us.
Pat and Q posing next to the marine biology rig. Eat your heart out Jacques Cousteau.
With the marine biology equipment safely stowed, we called it a day.
Wednesday bought cloudy skies and rain. That was not enough to keep us from making the trip up to the Italian Market in Philly.
Claudio's Cheese Shop takes shoplifting VERY seriously.
Gotta like that in a cheese shop.
We made many purchases while up in South Philly, but the buy of the day was the purchase of six 1 3/4" thick, 28 day dry aged porterhouse steaks. Pat took four, I took two. I could have bought everything in the store.
Some seafood purchases, some produce, some more beef and we were at gross limit for crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge.
Suffice it to say, the refrigerator here at Chris' house is about to burst open.
Today I got an email early. Pat was doing a job for a neighbor. He asked if I could give them a hand.
Splitty was already in the truck and ready to go.
Splitty digs the farm.
We got to work.
It took a bit of time, but we removed all of the lower branches.
One side.
The other side.
It was at this point where Pat got into the "Clearing Trees Like It's 2009" mode.
Once again, Pat and the tractor do some heavy lifting.
In the meantime, Splitty the Maul visited with Grandpa Hammer and Mollie Hatchet.
Splitty is good at making new friends.
Cut, hauled, and stacked. Just another day in a real "Farmville".
It wasn't all work.
We were able to have some fun.
Grandpa Hammer, Mollie Hatchet, Splitty and I watched as Pat practiced for the upcoming TractorNationals!!!!
A good time was had by all.
This evening, big porterhouse steaks. Tomorrow, happy hour with some old school friends.
It doesn't get much better than that.
Until the next time, all y'all take care of yourselves.
Air Traffic Mike, ret.
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