Rick from Maine
New member
Unlike some campfire stories where hyperbole and truth stretching are rampant, this story is true.
At the 2010 lake Powell Gathering, I enjoyed the campfires each night where everyone gathered to swap stories and lies each night. We don’t have campfires at our northeast C-Dory cruise gatherings, probably because locks and marinas discourage open fires on the docks. But, beaching the boats on Lake Powell provided the opportunity for campfires, and they were a lot of fun, especially after sundowners.
I think it was Sunday night (but it could have been any night), on an island off Explorer Canyon, when Casey, of Katmai, made the campfire and kicked off the discussions. After a while, with few spooky stories coming forth, Bill, of Halcyon, asked if there were any C-Dory snake stories. Luckily, there weren’t many, but tales disintegrated to any snake stories.
Chuck, of Two Bears, shared stories of catching Rattlers for bounty, which paid more than his job. He’d bring them home in his lunch box, to skin, and often to eat. At this point the discussions discussed which types of snakes taste best, and are most tender. Steve, of Constant Craving, stretched things a bit by claiming that Rattlers taste like Spotted Owls (I think Steve might be a little over the top!). Chuck also told about hooking up electricity to the rattles to make nice buzzing toys.
Not to be outdone, Bill, of Halcyon, told a story from his youth. According to Bill, a neighbor asked him to get rid of a bunch of snakes in her yard. When Bill got there he found baby Rattlers, which of course he had to save. So he put them in a water bottle for safekeeping. When he got home, he put the bottle on the dining room table as a centerpiece for all to enjoy watching squirming snakes during dinner.
Not being a fan of snakes, it took me a while to get comfortable with these stories. But, in the spirit of C-Brats, I have embraced these tales and contacted Martha Stewart. I told her that she could have Chuck and Bill co-author an article about entertaining with rattlesnakes for her magazine. Chuck has recipes, and can tell how to make electric Buzzing Rattles as favors. Bill would detail making a centerpiece of slithering sidewinders in an aquarium to entertain the guests. How unique. I was sure she’d instantly agree that this was a great idea. Alas, she declined and explained that the sidewinder centerpiece is only appropriate for Valentines Day dinners with Ex’s.
So, Bill, recognizing that you were young and unsophisticated when you did it; I forgive you for your social gaffe of using the sidewinder centerpiece inappropriately.
At the 2010 lake Powell Gathering, I enjoyed the campfires each night where everyone gathered to swap stories and lies each night. We don’t have campfires at our northeast C-Dory cruise gatherings, probably because locks and marinas discourage open fires on the docks. But, beaching the boats on Lake Powell provided the opportunity for campfires, and they were a lot of fun, especially after sundowners.
I think it was Sunday night (but it could have been any night), on an island off Explorer Canyon, when Casey, of Katmai, made the campfire and kicked off the discussions. After a while, with few spooky stories coming forth, Bill, of Halcyon, asked if there were any C-Dory snake stories. Luckily, there weren’t many, but tales disintegrated to any snake stories.
Chuck, of Two Bears, shared stories of catching Rattlers for bounty, which paid more than his job. He’d bring them home in his lunch box, to skin, and often to eat. At this point the discussions discussed which types of snakes taste best, and are most tender. Steve, of Constant Craving, stretched things a bit by claiming that Rattlers taste like Spotted Owls (I think Steve might be a little over the top!). Chuck also told about hooking up electricity to the rattles to make nice buzzing toys.
Not to be outdone, Bill, of Halcyon, told a story from his youth. According to Bill, a neighbor asked him to get rid of a bunch of snakes in her yard. When Bill got there he found baby Rattlers, which of course he had to save. So he put them in a water bottle for safekeeping. When he got home, he put the bottle on the dining room table as a centerpiece for all to enjoy watching squirming snakes during dinner.
Not being a fan of snakes, it took me a while to get comfortable with these stories. But, in the spirit of C-Brats, I have embraced these tales and contacted Martha Stewart. I told her that she could have Chuck and Bill co-author an article about entertaining with rattlesnakes for her magazine. Chuck has recipes, and can tell how to make electric Buzzing Rattles as favors. Bill would detail making a centerpiece of slithering sidewinders in an aquarium to entertain the guests. How unique. I was sure she’d instantly agree that this was a great idea. Alas, she declined and explained that the sidewinder centerpiece is only appropriate for Valentines Day dinners with Ex’s.
So, Bill, recognizing that you were young and unsophisticated when you did it; I forgive you for your social gaffe of using the sidewinder centerpiece inappropriately.
In search of the missing chair, Patty walked around the line of chairs with a flashlight until she found the culprit. :shock: :twisted: