David Unnerstall

My buddy Bob and I towed the MoPar vessel to Truman Lake for two days and both the brand new ten year old Humminbird 570 and the new two bank battery charger failed. I have a forty-two year old boat and outboard – no problems. The charger showed an error on the cranking battery. It has an inline fuse that was buried in shrink wrap that had an open. A new inline fuse fixed that. But the Sonar had 12 volts at its input but was dead and I was unwilling to do any more troubleshooting. So, six hundred dollars later I have a new Humminbird Helix 7 on the way. It arrives today and it has a note: if you want a different transducer send yours back and within three weeks or more we will ship you another. Now I do prefer the transducer on the trolling motor – I don’t want to see what I just passed over two minutes ago. I called the number on that note and asked for technical support; I asked if the trolling motor transducer was different or was the mounting hardware different. I was told the unit itself was different and I should not mount the unit that came with it on the trolling motor. You do not call technical support and disagree with them. I am puzzled why this was not an option when ordering it from Cabella’s. When you buy a pair of pants you DO have the option of selecting your size. And the swivel mount that I purchased separate had no hardware to attach it to the Helix 7 unit. Oh...And the fishing was terrible – bring an extra prop.

Chrysler.

You mean that isn't Ness?

I second this. And it is convenient for hauling lumber.

I owned a stick steer boat and it has a lot of advantages: No space is taken up with the console and seats only used for traveling. Better visibility sitting up front. When you want to fish just stand up and put the trolling motor in the water and sit back down. And I think it is easier to pull a fish out of the water.

You took two women back to the hotel and your wife did not mind?!

I will pop in here. The 1979 Chrysler boat at Table Rock Lake: The outboard I overhauled for the Ouachita that now functions as a spare: And the cedar strip canoe:

I just learned that for the 4,296,767th time last night.

I enjoyed this. It is odd how a vacation is a combination of amazing things done by happenstance and disappointments because of lack of planning. It looks like you had quite a few of the former.

That is impressive. That is all a guy needs to get out and fish. I built my Rob Roy cedar stripper in my living room. I am so happy I did not build it in the basement only to learn that I could not get it out.

There was a time when Alton Lake was full of Spatterdock and top water bass fishing was a hoot. After they built the new dam it became a sterile wasteland.

The name of the new Secretary of State is Blinken -- Antony Blinken. Now if you abbreviate the first letter it is A. Blinken. Now say that out loud.

Or ashes from the wood stove -- unless you use pallets as kindling.

Sled dog trip to the boundary waters north of Ely, MN:

GotMuddy, it is believed that the HIGH risk people are being infected by LOW risk people who are not taking proper precautions. But I am honored to be a legend.

That comment says it all.

That is awesome right there.

OK. This virus will not live outside of humans. If we all stop spreading this thing to each other it will die out. Other countries have been successful in this. We just can’t seem to do what we need to do. And for achieving the “herd immunity threshold”: How many deaths are acceptable? If we achieve 100% infection rate that will mean 5.6 million deaths. The average death rate per day has exceeded the 9/11 death count since January 8th. If Al Qaeda were to bomb skyscrapers every day we would not be hoping they run out of buildings to bomb.

Math must be really hard.

I bought Christmas cards on the 3rd. They did not arrive until after Christmas. There was a delay between FedEx and USPS. I sent out cards from previous years. But... I already have our cards for next year.

That is an amazing list!

I believe that that one should have the right to go out and get this virus and count on their immune system. But if you infect others unknowingly before you even know you have it and they die that is wrong. And we are still not certain if asymptomatic spreading is occurring or not. Although I am sure there is information out there that will tell you it is not. And masks are worn to prevent one from spreading the virus it has nothing to do with your freedom. You do not have the freedom to randomly shoot a pistol in a crowd. And as Ham said: our health care workers are living in a hell-on-earth. Out of human compassion I am hoping to avoid adding to their workload. I am eager for the vaccine. The other person in this house is at very high risk if she catches it so we are diligent in our behavior. I skipped deer season with my buddies. I don't play cards at the local bar on Wednesday nights. These are just two things I would love to do again.

I still remember the day Jack Carney died. I have this CD and it brings back some memories. But the topic is Stanley. I have a Stanley one gallon water jug that looks well weathered on the outside but spotless on the inside -- It ain't camping if that is not along.

Okay, my contribution: Christmas_Miami.MP4