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True Stories of Old Times II (6/9/2008)
As mentioned in article one, Big Joe and Myself "Little Joe" had many memorable times, even a trip to the woods that was uneventful, good weather, beautiful woods, friends and campfires, will always be a fine memory, but some events are particulaurly note worthy, one being a trip south from Punta Gorda, to then a tiny fishing village, Bonita Springs, Fl. It was about 1956 or so.
Big Joe had gotten wind of a boat for sale in that area, he went from professional coonhunter, to sailor in a heartbeat, giving him just credit, he had spent four years in the navy near the end of WWII, and had crossed the equator four times, looking back I think being boatswain mate on a ship is different then a 20 foot wooden open boat propelled by a rented fifteen horsepower motor,
The day started with lots of optimism, and little planning. My sister dropped Joe and I off at the boat location a few mile inland on the Imperial River, after sealing the deal on the boat, we set out for Charlotte Harbor the inlet to Punta Gorda. Being experienced woodsmen was a help, we went another five mile inland, before we realized we were running out of river going the wrong direction, (only skilled woodsmen do that).The Imperial River was remote and beautiful then, with plenty of gators, and some swamp wasps nests as big as you will find anywhere, As we were turning the boat in the narrow waterway I inspected a huge nest first hand it hit me square in the face, the wasp gave me no mercy, I was going to abandon boat but, Big Joe yelled "don't jump you'll hit that gator" so I stuck around for a few more stings, finally they tired or the boat had traveled far enough they left my head, I had a rough time for awhile, having recieved around twenty stings, I was ill and hung over the side of the boat dumping breakfast.
We left the river into the Gulf without further problem, other then my eyes trying to swell shut, and my ears looked like two red tennis balls on the side of my head.
The lost time on the River and the fact that the fifteen horse motor was underpowered for the boat, we were running a lot later then planned, The boat was hand built wood, well done, but not completed, so that the sideboards came up and stopped just short of the top of the ribs, and left the freeboard lower then normal. This all came into play as we entered the mouth of Charlotte Harbor near dark with a typical summer squall coming in on top of us, the water quickly developed six foot swells with white caps on the top. Big Joe was taking it all in stride, until the motor quit, we had a busted gas line between the gas tank, and the motor, no tools, no tape, the only thing we had a lot of was our usual "bad luck", unable to control the boat it ws getting sideways in the water, and taking a pretty good beating, losing a couple of the sideboards, and allowing more water to enter the boat, things were looking pretty grim, I asked Big Joe if we would make it and he casually replied "I don't know", not what the only deckhand wanted to hear.
Thanks to the wind blowing us into the harbor, (they say the Lord watches out for fools and drunks, neither one of us drank), as it was getting daylight, the water had calmed, and we were pretty well up in the mouth of the harbor, using our only paddle we got close enough to the north side that I was able to pull the boat on in, using the anchor rope and walking in the shallower water.
Our family was relieved, and the coast guard was contacted to stop the search that was to start that morning.
Joe, myself, and my sister done a lot of work on that old boat, it was sold before completion, I know it was still in use thirty years later, and may still be.
Yes this is all true, and yes we were poorly prepared, always prepare completely, even if it seems impossible to encounter a problem.
By: Joe E.
YourOutdoors.net member
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