Travellers Tales

Bothwell · Post by **Bothwell** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:53 am

I thought I might put a bit of malarkey about my recent sojourn in the USA, you can always use it to cure your insomnia if you all get bored.

As I was piloting the DC3 into daytona I realised the full force of hurricane Ophelia, the pilot had cheerfully informed us AFTER takeoff that Ophelia had been upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane with sustained winds in excess of 100mph, he went on to say that they were experiencing gusts of 30-40mph ( I had similar personal winds to deal with after he told me this) across the runway at Daytona but that he would "Give it a go" needless to say I took over at the controls and landed it on one wheel whilst serving tea to the passengers. Actually in all my years of flying I have to say it was the dodgiest landing by a long way but any landing you walk away from is a good un.

LC was awaiting in her custom limousine to pick me up and after managing to evade a cavity search by a lookalike of the cop in the Village People we were on our way.

BTW to my brit friends if you have never been you have no idea how hot it is, the humidity is unbelievable, I nearly had to remove my harris tweed overcoat!!.

Anyway after several lovely lazy hot days messing around on A1A and the beach LC decided we would go fishing. So here is the deal LC is a fisherwoman of some experience, I have not fished since I was about 16 but I accepted the challenge on behalf of my Queen and Country.

So here we were moored 20 miles off Florida over the abyssal shelf and I hook up with a big one, Marlin or shark I reckon 300lbs if it's an ounce, LC in the true spirit of competition refuses to buckle me up in the fighting chair so I have to fight the monster alone, after several backbreaking hours of struggle the line snappen and I fell back onto the transom of the "Jolly Bugger" and cracked two ribs!!! Now LC may have a different story about this but I assure you mine is the truth.

I also had to contend with giant spiders, bloody alligators etc etc but I had the best time. As ever I found Americans to be nothing but polite and helpful, the food was fantastic and as you all know the company was just a dream, and she really is a softie (I will be shot for that one).

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:15 am

Well Bothwell I'm delighted that u had such a great time with LC. I saw the photo that LC put up of the two of you together, and the two of u look perfect together.

I agree with your comments on the heat and the friendliness of Americans. I too only recently came back from the US, and was firstly amazed by how hot it can get over there, (well compared to here anyway.) And secondly how helpful and polite they were when we numerously asked them for directions and advice.

How was the plane journey by the way?? Ours was pretty grim, and 10 hours even for me was a bit too much, especially when u can't get to sleep on a overnight flight. Took me about a week or two, by the way to get used to being back in the UK.

Once again I'm pleased that you had such a great time, oh and on a side note, I'm sure that your story of the fishing incident is accurate and truthful!!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:54 am

Whadda fish story! You should have gone further inland to experience my kind of fishing.

Get a good heavy line, about 300-500 feet. Treble hooks on 3-foot leads tied every 5 feet or so. Bait the hooks; anchor both ends of the line; go drink a few beers. Come back in a couple of hours to check the lines, rebait hooks, and pull in catfish - the best eating fish in fresh water. Skin, clean & fry a couple of fresh fish. Eat with liberal amounts of beer. Go check the line again. Repeat as needed.

We call it running a trot line.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:18 am

Gosh Bothwell, how did you ever get the King-size trophy you won for the croquet match through customs? You must be part-Irish with all that blarney..................great story!:wah:

jasmund · Post by **jasmund** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:18 am

-That was great!!

-give us more stories uh, ahum, I mean real life adventures.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:29 am

Dang Bothwell cracked two ribs fishing.. Sounds painful to me. I say fish off the pier next time much safer, and the cab ride won't cost much.. Glad you both had a grand time..:-4

MORE STORIES PLEASE..

theia · Post by **theia** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:41 am

jasmund wrote: -That was great!!

-give us more stories uh, ahum, I mean real life adventures.

Story??

That was no story. It was all true. Us brits don't tell "stories"

:yh_liar < who put that there?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:46 am

theia wrote: Story??

That was no story. It was all true. Us brits don't tell "stories"

:yh_liar
:yh_rotfl

cars · Post by **cars** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:48 pm

Bothwell wrote: I thought I might put a bit of malarkey about my recent sojourn in the USA, you can always use it to cure your insomnia if you all get bored.

As I was piloting the DC3 into daytona I realised the full force of hurricane Ophelia, the pilot had cheerfully informed us AFTER takeoff that Ophelia had been upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane with sustained winds in excess of 100mph, he went on to say that they were experiencing gusts of 30-40mph ( I had similar personal winds to deal with after he told me this) across the runway at Daytona but that he would "Give it a go" needless to say I took over at the controls and landed it on one wheel whilst serving tea to the passengers. Actually in all my years of flying I have to say it was the dodgiest landing by a long way but any landing you walk away from is a good un.

LC was awaiting in her custom limousine to pick me up and after managing to evade a cavity search by a lookalike of the cop in the Village People we were on our way.

BTW to my brit friends if you have never been you have no idea how hot it is, the humidity is unbelievable, I nearly had to remove my harris tweed overcoat!!.

Anyway after several lovely lazy hot days messing around on A1A and the beach LC decided we would go fishing. So here is the deal LC is a fisherwoman of some experience, I have not fished since I was about 16 but I accepted the challenge on behalf of my Queen and Country.

So here we were moored 20 miles off Florida over the abyssal shelf and I hook up with a big one, Marlin or shark I reckon 300lbs if it's an ounce, LC in the true spirit of competition refuses to buckle me up in the fighting chair so I have to fight the monster alone, after several backbreaking hours of struggle the line snappen and I fell back onto the transom of the "Jolly Bugger" and cracked two ribs!!! Now LC may have a different story about this but I assure you mine is the truth.

I also had to contend with giant spiders, bloody alligators etc etc but I had the best time. As ever I found Americans to be nothing but polite and helpful, the food was fantastic and as you all know the company was just a dream, and she really is a softie (I will be shot for that one).

Your fish story reminds me of a fish my friend caught, was yours anything like this?

Attached files

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:03 pm

ok, i will just say that him cracking two ribs was not amusing at all. however, that is not EXACTLY how it happened.

(but everything else is true.:rolleyes: ) and here is his catch of the day.... :wah: ...click on pic to appreciate the sheer size and viciousness of this marine creature.

Attached files

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:12 pm

How ever did he manage to land THAT monster, LC? :yh_rotfl

Sounds like a wonderful week, although all too quick, I'm sure. I think this winter you two should come up here and we can all go ice fishing!! WOOHOO!!

(Notice how good I was not even asking the REAL way he cracked his ribs???) I'm sure I can think of how it did happen... :yh_eyebro

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 8:07 pm

what really happened was a huge boat went by at too high a rate of speed, it was a posted no-wake zone, and created a very large wake...the waves crashed into where Both was standing and smashed him into big blocks of coquina stone. it was a painful thing, he was bloodied-up and scared me :yh_worry ...here's a couple more pics...this white alligator was a mystical creature!

Attached files

mominiowa · Post by **mominiowa** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 8:27 pm

Those are great pics..I am so glad you had a good time..When do you return the favor and go abroad LC? - also, I was REALLY hoping for a "break your ribs" in the dark story....Hee hee hee..Ok really - I don't want to know that.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 8:33 pm

i would never hurt him in the dark :yh_bigsmi ...we'll have some more pics next week when his secretary (the rotweiller) lets him near the office scanner.

venus · Post by **venus** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 6:24 am

Now thre Bothwell lm sure that was just the bait, l believe every word;)

Glad you two had a nice time, the pics are great..

I love that croc LC.. He'd make great boots

oops did l say that out loud!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 7:24 am

cars wrote: Your fish story reminds me of a fish my friend caught, was yours anything like this?

Fine family dining right there!

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:41 am

venus wrote: Now thre Bothwell lm sure that was just the bait, l believe every word;)

Glad you two had a nice time, the pics are great..

I love that croc LC.. He'd make great boots

oops did l say that out loud! nice boots and bag and belt! ...but seriously, that white gator is an extreme rarity, and legend says if you gaze upon it good fortune shall be yours! even his eyes were white. a beautiful creature.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:25 pm

lady cop wrote: ok, i will just say that him cracking two ribs was not amusing at all. however, that is not EXACTLY how it happened.

(but everything else is true.:rolleyes: ) and here is his catch of the day.... :wah: ...click on pic to appreciate the sheer size and viciousness of this marine creature.
A terrifying catch! No wonder he rambled on so with his fisherman's tale, I can imagine the life and death struggle between them!

Gosh LC, we love the pics! And all of your stories, both of you. Everyone is so glad you had such a wonderful time together.

*ha-ha-did Both have fishing license?*

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:11 pm

Bothwell wrote: I thought I might put a bit of malarkey about my recent sojourn in the USA, you can always use it to cure your insomnia if you all get bored.

As I was piloting the DC3 into daytona I realised the full force of hurricane Ophelia, the pilot had cheerfully informed us AFTER takeoff that Ophelia had been upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane with sustained winds in excess of 100mph, he went on to say that they were experiencing gusts of 30-40mph ( I had similar personal winds to deal with after he told me this) across the runway at Daytona but that he would "Give it a go" needless to say I took over at the controls and landed it on one wheel whilst serving tea to the passengers. Actually in all my years of flying I have to say it was the dodgiest landing by a long way but any landing you walk away from is a good un.

LC was awaiting in her custom limousine to pick me up and after managing to evade a cavity search by a lookalike of the cop in the Village People we were on our way.

BTW to my brit friends if you have never been you have no idea how hot it is, the humidity is unbelievable, I nearly had to remove my harris tweed overcoat!!.

Anyway after several lovely lazy hot days messing around on A1A and the beach LC decided we would go fishing. So here is the deal LC is a fisherwoman of some experience, I have not fished since I was about 16 but I accepted the challenge on behalf of my Queen and Country.

So here we were moored 20 miles off Florida over the abyssal shelf and I hook up with a big one, Marlin or shark I reckon 300lbs if it's an ounce, LC in the true spirit of competition refuses to buckle me up in the fighting chair so I have to fight the monster alone, after several backbreaking hours of struggle the line snappen and I fell back onto the transom of the "Jolly Bugger" and cracked two ribs!!! Now LC may have a different story about this but I assure you mine is the truth.

I also had to contend with giant spiders, bloody alligators etc etc but I had the best time. As ever I found Americans to be nothing but polite and helpful, the food was fantastic and as you all know the company was just a dream, and she really is a softie (I will be shot for that one).

Of course shes a softy my man ! Just a big ole pussycat ! :-6

Bothwell · Post by **Bothwell** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:26 am

OK so I may have been a tad expansive with my description of the struggle betwixt man and sea beast but that damn crab was mad as hell! In addition I did catch another crab and two fish, the Florida local managed nothing, therefore I am only to be addressed in future as "Champion of champions the mighty English Lord of all sea creatues". It might also be added that I caught LC eating the shrimp that I had for bait, OK I had got it from the Deli and it looked lovely but eating a mans bait!!!

The rib story is true excepting LC is being kind, the wave did not wash me over I fell all on my own, yes it's true in a state that has 1000 miles of sandy beaches I manage to fall on the only rock! It was only my catlike agility that prevented further damage and LC was very nice when I was wimpering like a baby.

The white gator was a bizarre sight, local indians say that a white gator can possess your soul, so not only does the damn thing chew on you it snatches your soul.

Yet again I would say to my Brit colleagues on this board, don't get the idea that Florida is all like Orlando, it's not, get up north a bit and it's very different, if you could stand drinking a Margarita at sunset looking out to sea from a beachfront bar then it's worth a try, to quote Gen McArthur " I shall return"

I have seen LC's health thread and don't have much to add publicly save to say that she has an indomitable spirit and will attack this issue head on as she always does.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:51 am

Bothwell wrote: [...]I did catch another crab and two fish, the Florida local managed nothing, therefore I am only to be addressed in future as "Champion of champions the mighty English Lord of all sea creatues". [...]
Do you mind if we shorten it to "COC the MELOASC"? Acronyms are so much faster.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:01 am

Accountable wrote: Do you mind if we shorten it to "COC the MELOASC"? Acronyms are so much faster.

Haha somehow I can't see Bothwell let alone anyone wanting to be called COC the MELOASC. Doesn't exactly flow of the tongue now does it. :wah:

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:24 am

Had he only claimed the area he was fishing at, we could call him COC of the Dock or something like that. But NOOooooo! He has to claim the whole flippin' ocean. :wah:

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 5:08 pm

HEY! who but some limey tourist would buy $$$ cocktail shrimp at the deli for BAIT?? :yh_laugh ...damn right i was eating them! ...course they were about the same price at 'bob's bait, tackle, tire and bible emporium'.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:15 pm

What about the gummy worms?

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:35 pm

You have my respect Oh Lord of the sea..

"Champion of champions the mighty English Lord of all sea creatues".

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:43 pm

CARLA wrote: You have my respect Oh Lord of the sea..

"Champion of champions the mighty English Lord of all sea creatures".oh Christ Carla, don't encourage him! :wah: i'll have to kiss his harris tweeds!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:45 pm

Carla, doesn't that itch? :-3