Deep Summer

[Riley Smith]

The heat cranked up as the rivers finally went down back in their banks. The most reliable wind is near sundown and these bones are not as heat tolerant as they once were, so, all-in-all I don't sail a lot in the deep summer. SR Cat doesn't have lights, either, so not legal in the dark.

The high water went down but the lightning storms fired up. I saw one of the most beautiful pics of a thunderstorm off Biloxi the other morning. Dead calm with the first rays catching the top of the cloud out on the Gulf, with a lightning bolt from the crown to the water.

And I'm SCARED of lightning. Another reason not to sail in the depths of the summer, because there is almost always the potential. Some of those storms are tiny too. I've seen a haze develop and intensify, then drop a few raindrops, a bolt of lightning, and then dissolve.

Since the water is back to almost normal, it'll be time soon to try the pier lights out for a fish. Not yet, because we ran by yesterday and no birds, and that tells me it isn't quite time. But soon. The cataracts are history for now and I'll be free to do whatever. And buddy, I can SEE you now!

[Frank B.]

We've been blessed with what was typical when I lived on the coast.  The afternoon short squall.  When down there it was just a way of life in this part of the summer, you didn't even think about it, just knew it would come, cool things off for a brief moment, then strangle you with post storm heat and humidity.  Up here it is welcome, we've been drought afflicted for several summers.  And I have some fresh sod and landscape additions associated with some construction to redirect water flow.  Went to the Natchez Trace trail a few days ago and collected enough Chanterelles to have a mushroom feast, which couldn't happen during the drought times.

Going to the boat this morning to start the once again reliable motor, made so by a new carb and total fuel delivery system.  I will do some other maintenance items to get it ready for the fall.  I don't sail in the summer, too hot, often without wind, and too many power boats on the lake. But when school starts, college and high school football seasons start, and dove season marks the beginning of hunting, I have the lake to myself.

[Riley Smith]

Actually night is the best time of the day   It's really nice on some evenings, and even a wind too. The other night watching the fireworks from the lawn of the Labrot House, a nice breeze kept the blood sucking vermin at bay. Almost every morning this time of the year has zero wind, unless you're being visited with a t-boomer. It is very beautiful on the water at daylight at such times. The Gulf spreads out before you like a mirror as far as the eye can see. Afternoons are a different matter. Best stay in the cool and nap because it's too hot to be outside.

Yes, there has been on-going construction, modification, and repair in this locale too. I've had an on-going project to clean out some of the jungle on a property line and I swear, the jungle is about to beat me. And I keep eyeing that OTHER property line sporting oak trees that are growing at a phenomenal rate. Sometimes I pine for a big bulldozer. You know, one with such awesome power were you to rev it up and spin the track it would rip pavement from the ground.