Pirate For A Day – Lake Cherokee

Twice, in the past three years the folks on this small lake in South Carolina have ‘gussied-up’ their boats for a Lake Cherokee cruise – ‘walk the dog‘ to speak.

With 2011′s happening around Labor Day, Kim and I decided to join in the fun (actually the organizers told us if we wanted to eat, it was mandatory).

SC - Avenger

Determined ‘not-to-buy a thing, I figured to ‘scavenge’ around the house/shed/truck/dock/under the house or in the attic for items of interest – it would be, whatever it would be (it could always be a Chinese junk).

An old silt fence provided the pontoon a ‘ship-like’ shape,

While the chest from the crab-shack and a replica ship’s wheel started the onboard direction – along with a 24′ pole for a mast – and then somewhere in all of this was beverage, which turned things into the Pirate direction for sure.

In the simplest of forms it could be “a Pirates vessel,” later on the ‘sunset-cruise’ (above) the bow provided more of this sense.

Hey, this is kinda fun

But whatever it was, there was a pontoon underneath – and for at least a day, it could be the Pirate Ship “Scavenger,” the meanest one Lake Cherokee had ever seen.  This simple freedom was fun, all from ‘stuff’ just laying around.

“Brandy” (“me-wench“) wanted in on the action too (or was too embarrassed to be seen otherwise), Kim actually played the part well.  After a few pirate beverages she was telling me how to pilot the vessel – so she was quickly directed to the ‘ships-wheel’ – this pacified her for at least thirty minutes before she figured it wasn’t hooked to anything!

We had sharks too – Gene fixed up his logic to include fins – great idea,

The Indians got my vote – for me this family really captured the Lake Cherokee spirit,

a fish canoe,

Along with a ‘disco’ entry – not sure if the kids knew what ‘disco’ was, but they had alot of fun with it.

1st place went to Fred and Wilma Flintstone, with Dino the Dinosaur (he was tied to a nearby boulder)

Elvis

and where else besides Lake Cherokee could Elvis stay hidden for so long – Elvis lives!

It was really enjoyable in following the complete shoreline of the Lake as folks sat on their docks having fun with it all, we made at least three passes. Kim even accused me of being too much of a Pirate (beverage) as I exclaimed to the kids on the docks “Kidzzz, mee favorite bait!“   Of course I reminded her of her title too.

In even the most remote coves there were docks with families that really appreciated the ‘vessels’ that passed.

In the evening there was a bbq so a break to anchor out in the middle.

On shore and after a few words there were viddles for all

BBQ Pork and Chicken/slaw/beans/and tea from Baby’s BBQ & Cafe

Thanks Rick and Tracy

“Land-food”

conversation (as kids explored the ships)

as it was a fun time for all

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It was like ‘old fashioned face-booking’ – in person.

For the most part when you drive to Lake Cherokee you cross terrain where you feel as though you might be lost in someone’s pasture, it is possible too that you may see a wagon or two pulled by horses (really) – just saying that there’s not much going on here – so for those at Lake Cherokee it was a rare and valuable time to ‘rub-shoulders’ and converse, which we did.

all while kids continued to climb aboard and explore the boats

everybody likes to play a pirate (next year we’ll get the kids to vote).

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It was well into the night, with potatoes spent (from potato shooter) this ship’s rudder was turned towards home port.

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only to be scuttled the next morning.

oh well, I was a Pirate for the day.

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aaaawwwwrrrrg!

The ‘Flying Monkey’

From the Chicago area there are ‘da Bear’s, and then there are da Boe’s

Passing through the Carolina’s after a visit to Disney, Jason and Heather (niece) stopped by the lake with da boys; Jordan, Jared and Jaden – it was great fun visiting with them and after a few days I was finally beginning to get their names in order (and vice-versa).

Immediately after arrival they tested the waters, the next morning began with fishin…

and crab-shack haircuts,

then a little float

before a pull on the boat,

I think lunch at the shack included some caffeine,

because soon afterwards the ‘flying monkey’ spirit came to play…

The Flying Monkey Jump

and these boys took it non-stop for three days….. I didn’t have to wet the dock as I usually do, their actions did it all for me.

Jordan proved to be the fisherman….

and quite the ‘gamer’ with his Uncle Greg

providing options for his brothers.

Then there was the pirate in the water, “awwwwrrrgg, I’d rather lick a puppy’s nose than kiss a girl!“

Jared and Jaden made their marks down in the ‘pirate-cove.’

while Kim and Heather kept their ‘feet-up’

no-one slowed a bit,

Jared and I made a paddle and I learned quickly that he had all the skills necessary to manage traveller on his own,

he made good observations and simply took over, Jared was a natural at paddling and made a number of  solo adventures, all on his own.

Jaden was pretty close as a ‘shooter,’

but his for’te was ‘jumpin,’ lots of jumpin

leading the charge off of anything and everything.

i think ‘fun’ runs in the family.

and there were peaceful times too

(a few).

Heather checkin mail at the Crab Shack

Jared persevered landing the only ‘golden buffalo,’

But the ‘eagle’ had to land sometime,

sure is quiet around here…

There was alot more activity than noted, we even managed several swims in the middle of the lake while the boys continually swam ‘clean under’ the boat!  It was fun, thanks Boe’s for sharing your awesome family with us for a weekend.

Have a safe trip home.