Boating 101

Now that summer is here, Dirk and I spend a lot more time outside and on the lake. This year we decided to get a boat slip so that we could just jump in the boat and go. We don't have to worry about loading and unloading the boat on the trailer. I am really bad at backing the trailer down but that's for another blog. Anyway, this past Sunday we decided to go for a quick ride. We were going to get gas at the marina before leaving but had overheard the clerk say the pumps were acting up. So instead of further investigating whether or not they had gas we decided to head out and travel across lake tawakoni to another marina that has a gas pump. For those of you who know Tawakoni--it's not very small. So we get to the pump and there is a big bright green sign that reads, "OUT OF GAS". My heart sank. Dirk says run in and double check. So I do and the clerk says, "We are out but should get a delivery tomorrow!" Now we are riding on "E" at this point and must decide whether we try to head back to the slip or try another place that could possibly have gas. We decided to head for the slip. I still have faith that we can make it (I consider myself an optimist). Dirk doesn't think we will. Needless to say--WE DON'T!!! We were stuck in the middle, too far to swim or paddle. Of course, I imagine the worst--we will be here all night!!! My first reaction is to call my mom. Mom knows how to fix everything. Dirk informs me she can't help. She doesn't have a boat. I then decide I should call 911 and again Dirk informs me this is not an emergency (it is in my mind). I finally call the sheriff's department and then they call the game warden who will have to call me back. I decide to start waving down other boaters. After several failed attempts, a nice young couple stop and tow us back to Holiday Marina. Halfway there the game warden returns my call and was very relieved he did not have to come tow us in. So the moral of the story is always get gas before leaving the slip!!!

Map of Lake Tawakoni