Boats and More Boats
With each arrival at the Cabin in the Pines, upon opening that back door and moving through the space, the first thing that catches my eye, the first order of business before opening up the cabin is to cast my eyes down the hill, through the pine trees and towards the boats. Before I can empty the car, turn on lights and go through my arrival check list, I must see the boats, hanging safely and secure just as they were left.
As a child and moving through the ages of teenager and college girl, I thought everyone on the river had several boats, It never occurred to me that we were the lucky ones, the exception to the rule for the cousins shared at least four boats. Boats of every size and function. The Nellee, the ski boats, one being vintage wooden material and another being fiberglass, a metal fishing boat and an old wooden fishing boat with an outboard motor.
It was that old wooden fishing boat that received a lot of love and much time on the river whether fishing, gathering day lilies, scooping up turtles or searching for gators and alligator gars.
But one particular summer, John and Steve were having their time on the old wooden fishing boat and some how the motor was lost. The motor disappeared beneath the muggy water while cruising around the island. Fingers were pointed, excuses were offered as of whom was the last cousin to tighten the motor's clamps. Falling on death ears, Granddaddy proceeded to instruct the summer cousins to start diving. Start diving with deep, long breaths beneath the river's surface. Hours passed and arms and legs and lungs became weary and eyes became cloudy from the river water. No motor found and to this day, that boat motor is somewhere hidden in Boggy Branch's river mud.
