Alcova Wars

We're into a slow spell at the office. I have things I could do but nothing is urgent, so I took a vacation day and we decided to go fishing. Dix went out to buy a fishing license and came back with a rod and reel. I thought we had enough fancy fishing tackle but this was a cherry red one. Actually, it was a good idea - a step up from our Zebco Li'l Sport - with a trouble free closed face and at $14 it worked better than my Shimano. I splurged for a red spoon to match and we drove out to Alcova Reservoir. After hiking down to the beach I asked Dix if she had her license and she said it was in her purse on the kitchen counter. Along the bank we saw a crawdad, a little fat fish, a wet dead rabbit, deer tracks and a Merganser. The Merganser had no fear and we had to shut down our casting for fear she would go after the spoon. Dix said she got a nibble but that was it for fishing action. We were about ready to go and an incredibly inconsiderate boater powered up to our bank sending a big wake that splashed up on our rock perches. I thought he might have been the Game Warden but he was just a boorish fisherman and proceeded to troll along the bank within a hundred feet of us. I proceeded to walk the bank casting out toward his stern. He avoided eye contact and reversed course. I pitched the dead rabbit out into his return path and having befouled his usurped fishing area, meandered back to the vehicle.

Oh well, we were done fishing anyway, and went over to Les and Debbie's trailer to buy them breakfast at the marina. There was a great buffet and we all had Land Shark beer. Les regaled us of their 4th of July adventures where some ten of them took it upon themselves to control night-time speeders after the sheriff department had shut down its speed trap. Among their group was a county fireman, a visiting city judge, wives, and Les' handicapped son. They had amassed an arsenal of water balloons and waited on a high embankment for speed violators. They were somewhat impaired from the holiday festivities, but they found their aim for one particularly egregious speeder and hit him with more water balloons than missed. The speeder hit his brakes and backed up and they knew they were in trouble. The guy was a gang-banger type and his hugely obese wife got out and started yelling profanities at the vigilantes. The incensed "victims" yelled there would be charges filed for throwing a beer bottle. The fireman yelled down it was just water balloons and for them to just slow down as there are children walking about. Les was hoping that the fat woman would not be climbing up the embankment. The tempers and volume raised and suddenly five Game and Fish officers appeared out of nowhere. Les told his wife and wide-eyed son to fade back to their trailer. The G&F said they would be going to the trailer to pursue the investigation. Debbie came back for backup. Good Debbie! The G&F were appeasing the speeders when the Sheriff department arrived with lights flashing. Earlier in the day the fireman had actually told the speed trap patrol that they were going to water-balloon speeders after they left. The officer's reply was "Awesome!" perhaps not taking him seriously. Now the Sheriff turned the tide against the speeder after doing a background check and finding a rap sheet. The speeder demanded the officer's name and threatened to file a complaint. The officer was pretty confident the offender would not be going close to a police station and escorted them from Alcova all the way to the highway. Back at the trailer Les had a little fun with his 20's-something son. Poor Joe is mentally and physically handicapped but with wonderful guidance of his parents is able to get by living on his own. He was scared they were all going to jail. Les chided him "Man, you really nailed them with that water balloon!"