Well yesterday was my first day back to a noon fishing schedule. I got hurt. I was baiting my hook when the damned pole fell into the lake and sunk like a stone. It took the hook right through my thumb. I screamed bloody murder while grabbing for the line with my other hand. I got it on the second try, just before the hook tore through my thumb. I yanked the pole back up into the boat and sat there cradling my hand. After a minute or so I was able to go through the tackle box and get the pliers but there was no hope of pulling it out - that sucker was set deep. I pushed it through enough to expose the barbs, snipped them off and then backed the damned thing out. I was so mad I picked up the rod and threw it as far as I could. It landed with a splash and bobbed softly up and down, bouyed by its cork base. That's right. It was kept afloat by its cork base.
I got a serious chill down my spine right there. That rod had sunk when it fell off the boat. I know it had. Hadn't it? Yes! It had nearly pulled that hook clear through my finger. But it couldn't sink. I had bought a corked rod specifically so it would float if I dropped it. It was floating right now, 10 yards away from me. What the hell? It must have just been the momentum of falling off of the boat that let it sink that hook. I had grabbed it and yanked it back in before it could even bob back up by itself. Yeah, that had to be it. Only some part of me wasn't buying that explanation and I felt another chill run down my spine.
I bandaged up my thumb (damn, that hurt!) and started up the outboard. I almost left the pole there but finally got disgusted enough at myself to stop and retrieve it before heading back to the cabin. It was early afternoon when I got home but I was tired and my thumb was throbbing so I decided just to go to bed. I popped a couple aspirin, washed them down with a Labbatt's Blue and headed to slumberland.
I'm feeling fine now but the thumb is throbbing a bit. It's a bit swollen but not too red so I don't think there's any infection happening. Still, I think I'll skip the lake today and clean up around the cabin.
Posted by Charles at October 22, 2003 08:04 AMWhen did you have your last tetnus shot? Seriously, if it was more than 5 or 6 years ago, you better go get a booster.
Posted by: Susie at October 22, 2003 12:58 PMJeeze, I'm not sure. Some time back in college, I guess. 5 to 8 years ago. I thought they were good for 10 years? I wouldn't even know where to go around here. Or what it would be like trying to get treatment in the Canadian Health System (shudder).
Posted by: Chuck at October 22, 2003 01:12 PMThey say they last for 10 years, but if something happens in the last 5 then get a new one. (Never really made sense to me...why not just say they last for 5 years.)
Posted by: King of Fools at October 22, 2003 03:04 PMHey, Chuck:
Show up at a clinic or an Er. They'll jab ya with a dose. It ain't rocket science. They might actually charge ya a couple bucks though.
So what region of this glorious northland is your little slice of heaven located in?
Sorry, I've been trying to figure out if you're Canuck or a recent (temporary) import. My detective skills suck this late at night.
Paul
Posted by: Light & Dark at October 24, 2003 03:12 AMAs must my reading skills. Read the first fucking post Paul. Sheesh. Sorry 'bout that.
Wow, Lake Mazinaw in October. The fall colours have been glorious huh? Although you get 'em in Rochester too, I guess.
There's an interesting spot you might want to check out. It's officially in Bon Echo Provincial Park. It's a series of cliff faces based at Mazinaw Rock where Ontario's rock climbers go for a workout. Most of the routes require the climbers to start climbing right out their boat! Quite entertaining to watch. The Alpine Club of Canada maintains a hut & a campground there. It closed just this last weekend, but I'm sure there will still be lots of climbing for the next couple of weekends.
Oh, and if you're travelling around a little, the Kaladar hotel's restaurant (1/2 hour south on hwy #41 at hwy #7, ) serves an absolutely ass kicking home-made blueberry pie. The area's famous for its blueberries, among other things.
Paul
Posted by: Light & Dark at October 24, 2003 04:22 AMYup, glorious Mazinaw Lake. I haven't noticed any climbers but those cliffs are definitely majestic. Ran into them yesterday in my abortive attempt to hike to the marina. There are indian (religious?) carvings at the base of them and I'm planning on checking those out (when the boat is usable again).
I am seriously wishing I had invested in a digital camera. I've got my 35mm with me and have been snapping some amazing shots. It would have been cool to be able to put some of them up here for everybody to see what I mean by "amazing" and "magnificent". I searched for some images on the web but there's a lack of decent shots out there (at least that I've been able to find).
Thanks for the tip on the pie. I'll definitely stop there for some on my way out (or if my sweet tooth takes control).
Posted by: Chuck at October 24, 2003 07:32 AM