Buffalo 2003

This was the last stop on our Northern Tour for 2003. Claire and I have traveled almost 15,000 miles this season having fun with our skiffs.

We, along with all the other participants, would like to thank Bill and Rich DeGlopper (both fellow skiffheads) for organizing a great show. We had more water time than anyone could want. The only issue was refueling in between the runs, next year If we could get fuel in between our scheduled outings that would help.

On Friday when we arrived, the water was pretty flat and the boys were out there mixing it up. Funny, you don’t even need to see the skiffs to know they are out running. I immediately got that feeling of let's hurry and get the boat in the water. Much to my dismay, the only one to ride with me is Claire!!! As you all are getting to know, Claire and speed don't mix. Anyhow, I agreed to keep it to 4000 if she would go with me, PLEASE. Yeah, that lasted until Heartbeat blew my doors off on the front straight. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know we were racing. I took off like a Big Dog after him and you thought Claire was holding a leash, Scream, Oh Yeah!!! "What part of 4000 don't you understand" was the phrase I vaguely heard her saying. All I could do was recommend she hold on. When the water settled, Claire won, I was without a rider the rest of the weekend, BAD DOG. I put the Puppy away for the night.

The food and beverage (as we're getting to be known for (thanks Jersey guys)), kept flowing Friday night. If you left hungry I don't know what to tell you. It was good to tell lies all evening with the rest of the boaters there and even the wanna be Skiffers. There seems to be quite a following when the skiff group starts forming at these events, we always have something to talk about. Our hosts the DeGlopper brothers really bent backwards for us at this event, seems the Skiffs had their way, or the brothers were there to

make us especially feel at home. The Skiff family is a good thing.

Saturday came as expected, the morning air seemed a little brisk for me, but I had bigger things to think about. Where am I going to get an APBA rider? Along comes Jim Thompson, a hydro-weenie skipper whose boat was a land display. (The Skiffs are usually a water display) That's where I was going. Jim agreed to take a spin because I couldn't go too fast because I am in my final weeks in my knee surgery recovery.

That thought was pounded in me all Friday night as I sat with ice trying to get the swelling to come back down. Jim and I were able to get a couple mild laps in before it became too rough for me. I slowed down and think it was worse, so I came in. Jim was getting a ride with Hot Tub next so I knew he was fine with it. While I was recovering on the dock, a gentleman came to me and pointed out that "River Rat had a lot of water in her". I answered, " yeah she just came in from a pounding and it didn’t surprise

me". He said "no, she has A LOT of water in her". I struggled off my perch and walked to her, Holly S---!! The water was over the stringers and coming in fast. On a quick look, I noticed a geyser coming from the forward compartment. I am not a small person, my legs from my knees to my waist are not much taller than those stringers. That water was cold, you know what I mean… I reached up under the deck and put my hand over the 1 1/2 " hole where the plug used to be, while yelling for help. The water was cold, fresh, and not refreshing. After the Skiff brothers jumped in and pumped her out, the plug was found back by the rear firewall. She was then put back on the trailer.

On the course the rest of the boys were having a ball almost out of control. The water was so rough from coming off the seawall all the boats were airborne most of the time. That made for great pictures for the people on the docks with cameras clicking. I was asked to go to the announcer's booth to give a blow by blow on what and who was going on in the water. I had a ball, all I could see was the 3^rd and 4^th turn but was giving a talk like it was a horse race. The boys kept me busy, it was fun and a

great idea when we have a PA system and some buoys. Doc Mehan and his "Mis Align " were hopping out of the water completely with Miss Detroit Kathy Schuler, when on the third hop she died in the water. I was told it popped out of gear and they sat for a couple minutes figuring it out. Later I found out it was more than that, but lets lie a little now.

The Saturday evening dinner was quite enjoyable. We had an entire table reserved for the Skiff family. We all sat around eating good food, enjoying good drink, telling stories and sometimes even lies.

Sunday morning came quicker than most wanted, but it was back on the road again, another trip over, more to look forward to. The next event is up in New Hampshire at the end of September, remember to bring your long johns!