And on to new adventures.....

But first a few thing so to do....Putting the Minnow 4 away every year is a sad day and a bit of work. I have found that if you want your motors to last a person should winterize before winter, you just do a better job of getting the fluids changed and the fuel stabilizer ran through the motor. This year for the first time ever I have some h2o in the lower unit so it's a pressure test and new seals for the old girl. All summer when I'd first lower the unit every morning I would notice a bit of an oily sheen....well, mystery solved.

I used to build elaborate tents to keep it dry and they'd collapse with the snow so I've learned to just get everything out and get it tilted in a good bow up configuration to let it drain  well and simply kiss her good night.....she looks a little used with a side order of empty thrown in doesn't she ?

Ya'all that follow this blog have seen this before...every season I keep a list of reminders and goals to help keep me on track and remind me why I'm working so hard and not sleeping enough. This year I got new markers from MPeasy so it's multi-color and just inspiring, I see it every morning in my gear shed as I prep the boat for another adventure......lets see how I did so far in 2017...

1....well number one is number one every year eh ? What can I say....how can you love somebody more and more and more all the time ? I don't know how it works but I know you can.

2....ahhh, the elusive 185....man oh man. No matter how hard I try and how much cardio I do I have real trouble dropping pounds so it looks like once again I'm going to Mazatlan around 190...maybe your body kinda take s a 'set' as you get older.

3.... We made enough $ this year that I have a mini fund set up to buy a Volkswagon Beetle in Mexico if I find the right one. If not we're getting some new bicycles.

4...2018 is my adios amigo's tour for guiding. My Coast Guard license expires and I've promised MP I will not renew it and be tempted to keep tripping. As cool a job as it is all of you who do it or know me well know how much works it is....so me and MP can do the things we talk about, adventures.

5.... Yup, every year I hope to do more and more. At this point in my life if I want to see how my music stands up as they say I better be for getting it done now..

6...I still have not added to my guitar collection but boy howdy do I ever have the urge. If I want to perform more I really need a electric in Mazatlan to go with my acoustic and I hate to take one of my good guitars from Alaska/  There was a really great value on a Godin like my new in Missoula and maybe MP will surprise me with it when she gets home on Thursday...

7....Yup...I took over project Icicle Radishes and had great success. MP being a bit a.d.d. just didn't take time to plant the seeds individually and then they'd crowd each other. They were great and next year I'll plant more.

8....I hooked one last year when I was casting and chatting with Stan, I told him ' Stan I can't land this fish" and I didn't....maybe this year I will .

9....Now I hope you know that's rhetorical as I'd never kill anybody....but this guy in our condo building is such a jerk and makes life awkward for everybody there that I'm  learning to just ignore the pest.  Ernie says the lord gave you two ears for that very reason, so it can go in one ear and out the other.

10... I'm working on a new song and a re building of one I tossed in the garbage a few years back. The work title is ' Luggage for Christmas'....why'd ya give me luggage when I ain't goin anywhere.

11....yup, I'm 64...and what that means to me is stay healthy and happy. Keep moving brother or they'll catch up to ya !

12...Man it's been a long time since I've surf casted a roosterfish so this is the year I'm gonna work harder at it. I need to carry my big rod more often and blind cast more...you guys who read Mile 14 will be the first to know..

13....😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉 that's part of staying healthy to ya know......see you guys next week.