Heading To Montauk 6/27

[jdmidwest]

I am heading to Montauk in the morning for a weekend of family, friends, and fishing. Its starting out great, a thunderstorm just rolled thru and knocked the power out so the camping gear is getting used inside now. Camping in loop 4 in a popup next to a camper with an Overhead Door Service truck. Stop by and say hi.

We had original reservations in April the week it flooded the second time. This was the first weekend that we could reschedule. I had alot of things to do, and the storm knocked the power out. Cooking on the camp stove and using the lantern. I will have to repack in the morning grrr. Looks like lots of storms this weekend, we need the rain.

[3wt]

Saw the truck parked in the parkinglot by the hatchery, but didn't see you. I was in the big white f350 with graphics from a retaining wall company. How'd you do?

[jdmidwest]

Actually, I blew out my radiator in Bunker on the way up. The truck belongs to my friend and family that was going to be camping with mine. We were driving up together and stopped to top off our tanks in Bunker about 30 minutes from Montauk when I noticed the leak. I found some Barrs Leak and poured it in and limped back home with my tail between my legs. I managed to keep from overheating and made back home. Plastic and aluminum radiator had a crack in the plastic on one side. The Barrs leak plugged it as long as the engine was running. When I stopped for a bathroom break, the split opened up again and started pouring out.

Spent Saturday replacing the radiator.

[hfdhoosier]

Wow! Hope you get out of the bad luck funk soon. Did you reschedule another trip? You need a vacation after all this.

[jdmidwest]

I usually avoid the parks in July and August, too crowded and too hot. I will get back up there in Sept. or Oct.

Summer months are spent floating streams or fishing 11pt or Spring River. Having to cut back with high gas prices.

[3wt]

Bummer man. Reminds me of the time my dad's alternator caught fire on the way down to montauk. We had the thing towed, all piled in a van with the other guys we were camping with, sitting on coolers or whatever we could. I think there were at least 10 people in a van with maybe 5 seats. Somehow we didn't die, looking back maybe not the best idea.

Well, if it's consolation we got plenty of rain...

[jdmidwest]

It is not the first time I have fell short of a trout trip. I drove to Bennett one time and the front right brake seized up when I used the brakes. A brake hose was collapsing and I could not find the hose in Lebanon. Turned around and drove back thru STL trying not to use the brake, used 5 speed, clutch, and emergency brake to slow down. Had to use brakes twice, locked up when someone cut me off near Eureka and getting onto 270. Spent some time on shoulder till pressure let go.

Made it to Salem one Sunday morning and stopped for coffee. Truck would not start when I got back in, bump started it and drove home. Broke the battery cable to the starter. No parts places open in Salem on Sunday back then.

Driving up the Newburg hill outside of Rolla on 44 heading to Bennett, smoke started pouring out of back of car of the 94 Blazer. Tranny was foaming fluid out the overflow. Bought a case of fluid and started home, pulling over every time it overheated, let it cool, filled with fluid and headed on. Stopped at Meramec for the night and camped and fished.

Drove to Sam A Baker on an Easter Weekend and the Popup would not stay up. Clutch mech would not grab in the cold temps. Wind chills were in lower 20's so we bagged it and came home. First camp we were going to, the water was froze up and the electric boxes were off due to flooding.

Various flats, several lift cable repairs in camp, other minor repairs, severe flooding back in the day before the internet, misc other glitches. My Grandfather, Aunt, Uncle, and a few others passed away while we were gone camping with no way for family to get ahold of us. Most of the time we camp in places with no cell service and we hardly ever tell family where we are going. Good trips always outweigh the bad ones, I have just struck this one up as lucky to get home in one piece.

[3wt]

Remind me never to carpool with you on a fishing trip...