Sunday on the lake

My lovely wife, one of her friends, and myself took a leisurely Sunday sail on the lake. It was an absolutely beautiful day.

I've been boating on this lake since I was little kid. Things have changed. Today was prime boating weather on a beautiful August Sunday, and there were only 4 power boats on the lake. Not that many years ago there'd be at least 20. When people do take their boats out, they don't run them for as long as they used to.

Another change is the disappearance of the fishermen with low hp trolling motors. Every morning there used to be at least a half dozen guys trolling around the lake. There was an informal agreement that the fisherman had the lake to themselves in the morning. In the afternoon the power boats, often with water skiers, would take over.

The higher price of gas would account for the dearth of big power boats, but the disappearance of the fishermen puzzled me. There are just as many fish in the lake. Those little trolling motors don't use much gas. In fact, a few fishermen only used electric trolling motors. Then it occurred to me that it's not the little outboards that were the problem. The big pickup trucks that towed the fishing boats were the gas guzzlers. They can't afford to drive to the lake.

However, the problem most likely isn't just the price of gas. Those old retired guys are spending all their money just trying to survive. There's nothing left for a fishing boat. The general slow deterioration of the local economy would account for the drop of power boats. Wages go down and there's little money for toys.

One class of boat that has increased is kayaks. When I was a kid I had the only kayak on the lake. Now those cheap Tupperware boats are all over the place.

While it might be a reflection on the local economy and the price of fuel, I don't mind the change. It's nice and quiet while I'm sailing along.

-Sixbears