Thursday, July 24, 2014

The Great Houseboat Adventure #TBTStories

My Throwback Thursday Story this week goes back to Father's Day weekend, 2001, better known as 'The Great Houseboat Adventure.' This was just one of the excursions enjoyed by the Smiths and the Stewarts over the years.

The adventure began when we packed two vehicles with 4 adults, 8 kids, baggage, food, and fishing gear and headed to Dale Hollow Lake in Kentucky. Or it might be in Tennessee, depending on where you are on the lake. And how old you are.

To say it was an adventure is a bit of an understatement. It is still amazing to me that a 10 minute orientation from 'Darl' qualifies Jim and Daryl to drive a houseboat with 3 decks, 6 bedrooms, and a hot tub on top, for four days on a 25,000 acre lake. We didn't even know enough to bring along a 'little boat', but they were happy to rent us one, no problem. With the 'little boat' in tow, we were ready to set sail. When we asked one last question about 'docking' that 90 foot vessel at night, 'Darl' explained that we should just 'tie 'er up to a stardy tree.' Say what?!

All in all, it was a fun trip, and we spent time sunning, floating, fishing, sliding, and hot tubbing as we cruised around the huge and beautiful lake that is Dale Hollow. We only lost a few things along the way: a filet knife, a fishing pole, a deck chair (it just blew right down the slide), and, oh yeah, our 'little boat.' Thankfully, someone noticed it wasn't still with us, and two of the boys gave chase and captured her before she was too far gone. We even managed to find our way back to the marina at the end of the weekend. Fortunately, it was the same marina from which we started. :)

Here are the kids, in age order, all decked out in their matching t-shirts. Of course.
David, Brad, Andrew, Grant, Jennifer, Jonathan, Stewart, Adam.
That's Stewart, Smith, Stewart, Smith, Stewart, Stewart, Smith, Stewart. 
Got that?!

1 comment:

Terri D said...

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful story! I want to see the houseboat, though! Please post a photo of the houseboat (if you have one). What fun everyone must have had, and what great memories those kids will carry with them!