Redneck Yacht Club

Saturday and Sunday, April 28 & 29. Not exactly party cove as the song says but the lights of the campground across the cove made it seem like a party. It was beautiful after dark with the rope lights and lighted fake palm trees and campground noises. Supper was a fish platter from Captian D's. It was a cool moonlite night and I fished on the water till around 8:30pm. Then I sat on the dock fishing with redworms and just enjoying the almost full moon and the stars and the night sounds. My neighbor Ken Carr was there for the night and I meet the nicest people from Tuscaloosa who took my dried lake wood off my hands for their camp fire. I got up Sunday to temperatures around 60 and made coffee and was on the water at 6:15 am. I trolled and caught

a stripe bass on a red head jig with yellow feathers. The young stripe were feeding on top in about 6 feet of water. I had other strikes but only landed one. Breakfast was at Sonic and I rode around some looking at the traffic that had gotten out early for the Talladega Race. Pell City's population swells on race weekends. The remainder of the morning I said on the dock fishing with worms and reading the paper. Only one catfish all morning.

Gunter absolutely wears himself out at the lake. If he is not visiting other dogs or treeing squirrels he is trying to catch ducks as in this picture. He can't swim well, bless his heart, so the ducks don't fear him. He tells me that if he could fly that the ducks wouldn't stand a chance.

At noon I went in to watch the race. Took a pre-race shower and only thing to eat was Vienna sausage and Gold Fish Crackers. But, hey, that is racing. Jr finished 8th but look at the speed of 205 mph in this tv picture. The new surface at Talladega allowed faster speeds and fewer wrecks.

And you know where a tired dogs watches a race. He is dreaming of chasing cars at 200 mph.

It was a great relaxing weekend and I can't wait till next time.

Saturday at the lake

So we started off with a work project. Daniel and I finished up the floor with 225 square feet of tile that we layed by noon. It really looks good and added a roomyness to the area. And much cleaner that the old carpet.

In the afternoon, the grandkids arrived for water fun and supper. We took boat rides and a little fishing fun. Edward and Kay took a canoe ride. All I can say is that if you are going out in a canoe that you better have dry clothes to put on later.
They tumped it getting out at the dock.

The grilled out burgers were great and as usual, Lucy was the server of others.

We ended the day with one final boat ride.

Floor Prep for new tile

On Thursday and Friday of this week I was at the trailer getting the floor ready for new tile. I had two bad sections to take out and replace the decking. And today I finished the leveling and hope to lay tile on Saturday.

By noon today, Ken Carr showed up to do yard work and he cut my grass for which I am truly thankful. Around 3pm I had quite work for the day when Jerry LeCroy walked over and introduces himself. I had heard what a nice guy that he is from Barry Grantham. That was an understatement. Jerry went in the boat with me and we fished and he gave me some hot spots to fish. I appreciated his company and direction to catching fish. The new trolling motor with a 115 amp battery worked great. We found Ken sitting on his deck when we returned around 5pm.

I can not end this without mentioning Sonic for burgers. It is just south of the city of Pell City on Hwy 231 and is easy access on the way to the lake. Would you like a straw with that?

Well.... I could not stand it. I had some down time today and knowing that there is work to do at the lake, I took off to work on the floor of the trailer. I have pretty much decided on laying wood laminate flooring. Today's work was in preparation for laying floor within the next week. I removed the old carpet and padding in the living room; sweep out a shovel full of dirt that was under the padding and carpet; rolled up and bagged throw away material; and took measurements to purchase flooring.

I got to meet my neighbor two trailers to the right. They are Faye and Billy from Springville. They told me about the 4th of July fireworks and the great sunsets. Particularly in late summer and fall. Billy launched his fishing boat and Gunther tried to help with his pantoon.

I think that the living room may take on a different furniture arrangement when we put furniture back after the new flooring goes down. It was a mess but I have gotten started.

April 17th and beyond extreme cold snaps.

I am seeing more and more boats being launched !

Saturday Work Day

Saturday is not the best time to fish on Logan Martin. There was a tournament going on today and that puts pressure on the fish to hang tight and stay away from sharp objects. There was a steady streams of Bill Dance wannabees all day in spite of the rain that came in around noon. Gunther and I got on the water for about an hour and spent most of that time staying out of the way of the tournament boats. These guys only have two days a week to fish, bless their hearts.

So we headed in for a few work projects. The hallway of the lake house had a soft spot in the floor so we cut out a section and repaired it. Not much to it but a messy job. And the toilet bowl had a slow leak at the flapper and I replaced that. I left Daniel to spend the rest of the day and night.

I need to build a ramp for getting the flatbottom out of the water and to build a wheeled dolly for moving the canoe around. Work days! What have I gotten into. But is sure is nice to sit on the porch and watch the sunsets.

Maiden voyage of the canoe.

Lucy, Paul, Edward, Gunther & I went over for the day to launch the canoe and play around in the water. Temperature was 71 with 5 to 10 mph winds. The winds settled down as the day went on. They pretty much worked me hard getting everything to the water. The canoe was the easy part but the battery and trolling motor for the rescue boat was a killer. I need a hand truck or cart for all that.


The kids helped where they could with the lighter stuff and really seemed to enjoy the adventure. Everyone had to try everything at least once.

Lucy was the one to launch the canoe for the first time.

Being the older, Edward was the one with the experience to take it out for a try. And then the two boys really enjoyed the paddling. It was a learning process and you can forget port or starboard. Just paddle on the opposite side of where you want to go.

We took the flatbottom over to Goat Island and the ride turned into a foot soaking.

Lucy drove us home. In a ROUND ABOUT way.









It was a great day and we made it home in time for Paul's soccer practice.

Planted grass seed

On April 10th I went to the lake to plant grass seed over the field line area. Gunther explored the neighborhood docks.

It was 42 degrees with a strong wind and the only thing on the lake were the ducks.

As expected, it was too windy and cold to get a boat in the water. We took Edward, Paul, and Lucy over to their first visit along with the canoe strapped to the top of the car. First order of business was to see the trailer and immediately the TV got turned on. I thought,"oh no, they want to be entertained as they do at home".

But we did get outside to the lake and Lucy and Kay picked up trash.

Paul wanted to fish and we threw a spinner bait for awhile. Edward and Paul helped me with an area where I will put out grass seed next week. We had to soften and level the ground in an ungrassed area where they recently had done field line work.

Edward enjoyed a rest after shoveling topsoil

Paul could stay off of the dock. He got a lesson in retrieveing a spinner bait with a hesitate and jerk motion.

Overnight Guests

Well, the weather did not cooperate for us to be at the lake. 35 degrees tonight and only in high 50s which won't happen until the afternoon. So Lucy, Paul, and Edward are spending the night and watching Happy Feet and Charlotte's Web. We will try to go to the lake around noon to launch the new canoe and paddle a bit if the winds cooperate.

Get a long little doggie

This is my dog Gunther and he goes where I go. No matter. Atleast he thinks that he should go where I go. Gunther sometimes goes where I don't go like when he jumped from the boat into the lake last Saturday.

Weekend of April 7th Invites

Lucy is six and Lucy rules!

Paul is eight and is a physical boy.

Edward is 12 and plays chest and fences.

Villa L Grayson

This is a view of the front of the mobile home. It is the smaller one in the middle of the picture. Cozy and comfortable. There is a boat house for storage beyond and on the driveway end of the home. Double click the picture to enlarge

Picture of Lake

This is looking west off of the dock. There is a small island about 200 yards out. And this slew is 1/2 mile across before joining with the main river channel. Double click picture to enlarge.

Welcome

This blog is about a lake retreat on Lake Logan Martin in Pell City, Alabama.

I have fished this lake off and on for 20 years and wanted my own get away from my home in Trussville, Alabama. Logan Martin is about 45 minutes from my home and very conveniently accessed by way of interstates I459 and I20. So when I saw Barry Grantham's add to sell his place, I jumped on the opportunity.

My wife, Kay, and I first looked at 41 Powell's Circle on March 24, 2007 and made an offer within thirty minutes. After extended discussion about the property line, we closed the deal on March 28th and I made my first "work trip" and alittle fishing on March 31st.

So, I feel like we are getting settled for weekend retreats. I am looking forward to meeting the neighbors.