...Hal and I finally figured out how to get to the "Sandbar," down at the river, today. It was a little hike, but we made it.
This is the outlet of a small stream, emptying into the river. It has sanded up over the years and made a nice place to pull up boats and party - which is what folks do on the weekends!
As you might guess there are thousands of bottle tops, tabs and cans there. We had been there for hours and had found nothing but these and I was ready to leave (read that as frustrated). But Hal says, "C'mon, where else we got to go? Besides, you gotta dig trash to get the good stuff." He was right; we kept at it.
Thanks for the reminder, Hal. 'Good hunting partner, there.
Shortly, I looked up to see a guy with a neck badge watching us from the bank.
"Uh, oh, here it comes" I say under my breath. But I waved heartily and put on my best car-salesman smile.
"Good Morning, or afternoon or whatever! How you doin, buddy?" (Im schmoozin for all Im worth at this point)
Sure enough, my suspicions were confirmed when he politely asked how we got there. When I told him we had hiked in, he said we had trespassed on city property and that wasn't allowed. turns out he was a Municipial Watchdog from the Department of Parks and Officiously Sanctioned Fun.
I wanted to argue and say something smart-assed, I really did. But, he turned nice real quick and didnt make a butt-head scene like he could have.
He told us the cops had been cracking down lately, since people had been swinging from trees and jumping off rocks down there. One kid had been hurt and was still paralyzed. The City Fascist Fun Controllers were worried about lawsuits, so they were now stopping people from hiking down to the Sandbar. You just can't have fun anymore, for all the knuckleheads. Hereafter, only a boat will get you there. See, it's not trespassing if you arrive by boat and stay off the bank....
Then he said, "C'mon and leave with me and I'll keep the cops off your backs, if they come along. I'll tell 'em you were testing the water for me or something. I heard they were issuing $495 fines to those they catch."
We went with him, duly warned. Im getting a boat next year.
I ended up with 296 bottle tops, an equal number of tabs and a few coins (Alright it wasnt that many, but it seemed like it).
Hal got the same - - and a sweeeeeet ladies ring, 14K and 9 chunks of ice! Just as I was sweet-talking the guy on the bank, trying to keep our bacon out of trouble, he hit it. It was his last signal of the day; possibly his last one EVER at the Sandbar.
Did I mention this was the FIRST time he had ever used a Tiger Shark? He just got it the other day, used, for a good price he couldnt refuse. I've had mine for some time, but he just got on the T-Shark wagon. He says he likes it. Do ya think??
I may be looking for a little boat after this. But in the meantime, I suggested Hal get a few lotto tickets for the weekend, what with that kind of luck.
Thanks for reading, folks.
This is the outlet of a small stream, emptying into the river. It has sanded up over the years and made a nice place to pull up boats and party - which is what folks do on the weekends!
As you might guess there are thousands of bottle tops, tabs and cans there. We had been there for hours and had found nothing but these and I was ready to leave (read that as frustrated). But Hal says, "C'mon, where else we got to go? Besides, you gotta dig trash to get the good stuff." He was right; we kept at it.
Thanks for the reminder, Hal. 'Good hunting partner, there.
Shortly, I looked up to see a guy with a neck badge watching us from the bank.
"Uh, oh, here it comes" I say under my breath. But I waved heartily and put on my best car-salesman smile.
"Good Morning, or afternoon or whatever! How you doin, buddy?" (Im schmoozin for all Im worth at this point)
Sure enough, my suspicions were confirmed when he politely asked how we got there. When I told him we had hiked in, he said we had trespassed on city property and that wasn't allowed. turns out he was a Municipial Watchdog from the Department of Parks and Officiously Sanctioned Fun.
I wanted to argue and say something smart-assed, I really did. But, he turned nice real quick and didnt make a butt-head scene like he could have.
He told us the cops had been cracking down lately, since people had been swinging from trees and jumping off rocks down there. One kid had been hurt and was still paralyzed. The City Fascist Fun Controllers were worried about lawsuits, so they were now stopping people from hiking down to the Sandbar. You just can't have fun anymore, for all the knuckleheads. Hereafter, only a boat will get you there. See, it's not trespassing if you arrive by boat and stay off the bank....
Then he said, "C'mon and leave with me and I'll keep the cops off your backs, if they come along. I'll tell 'em you were testing the water for me or something. I heard they were issuing $495 fines to those they catch."
We went with him, duly warned. Im getting a boat next year.
I ended up with 296 bottle tops, an equal number of tabs and a few coins (Alright it wasnt that many, but it seemed like it).
Hal got the same - - and a sweeeeeet ladies ring, 14K and 9 chunks of ice! Just as I was sweet-talking the guy on the bank, trying to keep our bacon out of trouble, he hit it. It was his last signal of the day; possibly his last one EVER at the Sandbar.
Did I mention this was the FIRST time he had ever used a Tiger Shark? He just got it the other day, used, for a good price he couldnt refuse. I've had mine for some time, but he just got on the T-Shark wagon. He says he likes it. Do ya think??
I may be looking for a little boat after this. But in the meantime, I suggested Hal get a few lotto tickets for the weekend, what with that kind of luck.
Thanks for reading, folks.