At Emerald Isle NC this weekend. This is one of those perfect fall beach weekends. Air temp was 80F this afternoon, water was 75F, sky blue and light winds. Put in the boat at Island Harbor Marina and ran down the ICW to Bear Inlet (the east end of Bear Island, aka Hammocks Beach State Park). Walked a mile or so down the beach, had a few margaritas…fine!
The weather and lake water levels cooperated on Sunday, and we were able to squeeze in a few hours to go to Jordan Lake Sunday. We had a family gathering in the late afternoon, so we had to leave early. However it was a good excuse to take the new boat and the dogs and go enjoy some late September fun. The dogs like having more room to run around the boat. I know I’m going to enjoy it!
OK, as I mentioned in my last post, it looked like time to look at a new boat that was more reliable and a bit bigger. Here’s what I went with, a Carolina Skiff 1765 with a 60HP Suzuki. The dealer added a couple of options like the larger fuel tank, a live well, and some hatch covers; additionally, I added a depth finder and a swim ladder. I pick it up Saturday!
Will be great for trying to fish in the flats at the coast 😉
At the beach this weekend; the weather is beautiful, here with my wife, the neighbors, the dogs, a case of wine… 😉 the kids are all off at college…
Tried to take the boat to Bear Island today, but the motor wouldn’t run. Instead, had to sit on the beautiful, mostly unpeopled beach here on Emerald Isle, and polish off some wine, eat cheese, swim…So, that’s not a problem! The opportunity? Maybe I should trade in this 10-year old boat for a new one…better go check the listings at Chatlee Marine. I want a Carolina Skiff…17 or 19? Hmmmm…..
This evening I finished reading “Fooled by Randomness” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. This is, more or less, the “prequel” to his more famous “The Black Swan”. I read the 2nd edition of this book, the “trade paperback” edition, which included additional material in several chapters. This edition was released in 2005; the original in 2004. I loaned my neighbor my copy of “The Black Swan,” and she loaned me her copy of “Fooled by Randomness.”
I liked this book, and actually found it more readable and original than “The Black Swan.” This book covers much of the same territory, though not in as much detail, and is, as Taleb states several times, more of a stream of consciousness where he’s writing from his knowledge and perspectives, making observations and not worrying about producing an academic tome. I won’t attempt to do more an summarize his thesis, that we are biologically programmed to be susceptible to being “fooled by randomness” and his efforts to overcome the biases that this generates. Taleb is an entertaining and engaging writer. If you believe that randomness and chance, positive or negative (the metaphorical black swan amid the white flock) has a lot to do with life and success, you will enjoy this book. If you take yourself too seriously and conflate luck with skill, you won’t 😉
Pick it up, and give it a read…
There are so many great apps out there in the iPhone/iPod ecosystem right now. The variety is amazing; this is the sort of thing that the mobile device platform has needed — an easy, inexpensive, foolproof way to extend your device. I’d like to single out DataCase from Veiosoft for kudos. A really innovative app, a way of using the device as a wireless memory key…take a look…and if you have an iPhone/iPod Touch, it will be $6.99 well spent.
Spent the weekend of August 1-3 in the vicinity of Ronceverte, WV at the Greenbrier River Campground at Bassclave 2008. Actually arrived about 11:45PM on July 31, having left Chapel Hill after dinner that day. Funny thing with my GPS; I’d entered the Lat/Lon coordinates from the campground’s website, but either I “fatfingered” them, or there was some other error, as my GPS left me about 2 miles from the campground in the middle of nowhere. However, I found my way there, and Drew Nix, clave organizer extraordinary, was there waiting up for me.
Floated the river on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, we did the Pence Springs to Talcott run, and on Saturday went from the campground downstream about 3.5 miles. The fishing was fun, but could have been a bit more productive. Caught some nice bass, but the fellowship is the best thing about the ‘clave. The pictures tell the story better than I can….
Heading to Bassclave 2008 tomorrow…this year it’s on the Greenbrier River in West Virginia…will post pictures and a report when I get back!
I’m taking some time off this week…I worked Tuesday, but that’s all this week…meetings I needed to attend. Jan and I went to Jordan Lake again today. Monday was wonderful, almost like having the lake to ourselves. Today was just as good. Got there about 10AM, put the boat in the water, and headed to “our” beach. Threw balls & frisbees to the dogs…have to get that tennis ball a long way out to wear out Lessa. Anakin, as you can see, likes to stay closer to shore. Stayed about 4 hours, until the weather started to look like it was changing. Lessa wanted to fetch more balls, but it was time to go. As we motored back to the ramp, we could see the clouds building to the west. Drove home through some showers, the timing was perfect!
Our neighbors came over for some wine & watermelon on the patio last night. A fine evening to listen to tree frogs and enjoy July in the south. He’s the facilities manager at a local “eco institute”, and they have some new piglets there. As we were visiting, his cell buzzed with a text message…it seems that the pigs had opened the gate, but were still in the electric fence. No emergency, but one that would take attention in the morning. With apologies to Robert Redford, my wife asked our neighbor if he was a Pig Whisperer 😉 (and apparently, this was the title of a 1996 episode of “Spin City”, but heck, I’d never even heard of that). She then mused that perhaps “Dances with Pigs” might be more appropriate. At any rate, we ordered a “pig whisperer” t-shirt for him as a gag. You too can have one if you feel the need!
