Goin' Fishin'

From the darkness of early morning, nestled in our berth, we heard a booming radio-like voice giving

directions.  Mike got up to find out what was going on.  "Brenda!  Wake up!  We're surrounded by fishing boats!"

Fishing through-out the state of Alabama (perhaps other states as well?) is a school team sport.  This weekend from the Florence Marina, junior and senior high school students are competing in a fishing tournament.  In each boat are 2 students plus an adult (who serves as the boat driver), an empty live well for each fisherman (empty is the key word--each live well is inspected before departure for compliance; also, the fish will be released at the end of the day), life jackets must be worn, and a tether to the adult driver (auto-shutoff in case of emergency).   Today, 120 boats will go out.  Tomorrow they are expecting another (different) 140 boats.  Starting at 6:30 am, heats of about 40 boats began to depart--sleek, high-powered, elaborately outfitted fishing boats--with excited young students (brands:  Rangers, Bullits, High Performance Mercuries and Yamahas....with 200-250 horse motors...Oh! and most were launched from their shiny, metallic-matching trailers!).  The kids have 9 hours to fish and at the end of the day, the fisherman with the highest weight recorded for his/her 5 fish receives a college scholarship!

Before completing the checkoff list for departing Florence, we took one last walk around the marina, boat launching areas, and nearby park.  Impressed by the sponsorship for the high school fishing tournament, we stopped to take a picture of the high school equipment trailer on the grounds.  Stopping, we met a father and son from Guntersville, AL, Jim and 13-year-old Dalton Herring.  Jim and Dalton shared with us more information about the high school tournament and we learned how Dalton also rode motorcycles (competed!) and could talk "engines."  

Learning we were traveling by boat and ready to depart at the end of our walk, young Dalton offered to help us with the lines.  And so, with Mike and Dalton talking motors, all four of us returned to Velsignet.  Mike showed Jim and Dalton the boat and bilges, went through the checklist items, and gave Dalton a baseball cap from Minnesota (Dalton has a cap that has a map of the US inside its brim--how cool is that!?!; Dalton also collects caps) and our boat card.  We also extended them an invitation to visit us in Bemidji and experience another "fishing heaven."  Helping Mike with the lines, we said goodbye to the Herrings and to Florence and said hello to the Tennessee River.  Onward to Pickwick Lake!

This is Brenda in front of the Rosenbaum Home, the only Frank Lloyd Wright home in Alabama.  The Rosenbaums had this house built for them as newlyweds.  The added onto it (with FLW's help) when their family grew to 4 boys.  The house was occupied by the Rosenbaums until Mrs. Rosenbaum moved into an asisted-care facility.  Mrs. Rosenbaum worked with the City of Florence, who purchased the house from her for $75,000 in 1999, to ensure this pre-WWII usoniam home will be preserved and shared with the public.

This is what Mike woke up to see in the Florence Marina....lots of boats and activity!

Each boat had a junior or high school youth (each who participate in their school fishing team), plus an adult who serves as the driver.

In this photo, you might get a better sense of these high-powered, beautiful fishing boats.

The parking lots are full.  Young fisherman as looking over their lures and lines.  Plans are being made.

This is a photo of the Florence Marina; to the right facing the camera with the navy hull is Velsignet.

The fishing boats have left.  Time to set up the tents and get the place ready for weighing, recording, and presenting awards, all of which will take place later in the day after the kids have had 9 hours to fish.

This is a school fishing team equipment trailer!  Notice all of the names of sponsors.

Another photo of the trailer.  How do ensure the sport of fishing continues?  Get the youth involved!!

This is Brenda with Dalton (back to camera) and Jim Herring.  Dalton is wearing a REALLY nice hoodie with his name on the back.  At a fishing tournament Dalton competed in, each youth received his/her own personalized hoodie, plus a team jersey, matching pants, PLUS coordinating rain gear!!  

Meet Dalton and Jim Herring!

This is the cover of a documentary we watched that tells the story of Muscle Shoals, the Swampers, and how and why so many chose to come to Muscle Shoals to record their music and create great music.  It features Alicia Keys, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, and other greats!  We recommend it!!

On Friday evening, we visited the restaurant and music hall of "FloBama." The band playing was "Asleep Before Ten." The lead (guy in the middle with the dark-colored guitar) is a 6th-grade teacher (has been teaching 29 years!).  He had everyone in the audience who had been one of his students raise their hand.  Lots of hands were in the air.  WOW!  AND....the two guitar players to the very right of the above photo were ALSO his students!

Mike's in the engine room.  Dalton's almost in the engine room.  Jim looks on.