Welder and THTr's in Fl. and La. - The Hull Truth

welder · 06-30-2007, 10:39 PM

All I can say is WHAT A TRIP .

After 14.5 hours and 777 miles I made it to Pensacola

Daddy 'O and Farmer Jane [ Wayne and Dee ] showed up and wayne helped launch Skintback then the partying started.

Then Bobby Wartman/warthog5 showed more partying

Then Gordon/Katkt and his wife popped in and mooooore partying

One day at band camp, nope , sorry, wrong story.
More beer ,wine and bourbon , next thing ya know grodon talks Dee out of her crock[ just one and they have a leg
compitition] even his dog couldn't believe it.

Headed off shore to the Mighty O [ 27 miles out] and the dive boats were every where.

The 37th Bill Hargraves tourny was farthers day weekend and my cousin Tom VanDiver ask me if I would be willing to donate my boat and myself for the 2 day tourny, of course I said yes.
Tom set up two 8 year old boys for each day.
IF YOU GUYS CAN DO THIS NEXT YEAR , DO IT, it was a blast. I will plan my trip next year to do it again.
This tourny is for the kids the procedes go to drug and alcohol awareness and kids under 13 fish free.
My first daywith 2 eight year olds and their mom and dad, the boys Klayton and Nathan were awesome never put the rods down except to eat or bait [ 12 hours ] even helpt clean the boat.

At the weigh in this 3 year old did NOT want to give up his fish to the weigh master , Robert told him he would get it right back but the wasn't working real well.

Robert turpen the weigh master [ 3 days of noise, wow ] he is a county agent.

The 2nd day of the Bill Hargraves and crew #2 the Double D's.

We also weighed in fish that day. Another HAPPY 8 year old.

After Gordon sobered up [ and took the crock off ] we went fishing. He was great to have on the boat and caught fish to.

After a few days of killing bait I took my BIL,sister and neice over to Fort Pickens for some kick back sight seeing , nice beach.

Threw some more fishing in there and couldn't stand it no more I had to see XSHARK in person and I'll tell'ya people that Bobby Wartman is some kind of anal , man that ride is TOTALLY AWESOME . Looking at it in pictures does nothing you guys need to see the workmanship in person, WOW

Bobby said it was dirty , you guys tell me. He was just back from the Classic Mako tourny.

Then it was off to Fourchon La. by way of Hammond La. to meet Chris Grand , made our way down and put Skintback inLa. water.

With Chris at the helm he took us to some good fish, 1st came a couple snapper.Just small ones, LOL.

Then brutha Chris found himself a nice Cobia. Dang Nice job on the rod Chris.

We got back to the dock/cleaning table and the Grand's [ Mr and Mrs.]went to work GREAT job on the cleaning
guy's

and THANK YOU for the meat.

Mrs Grand is totally awesome to have aboard, she and Farmer Jane would make an awesome ladies team.

Two and a half weeks , 1800 miles , a butt load to drink and no sleep.

One of the BEST trips I ever had and some of the best people I have ever met.

Lester

welder · 06-30-2007, 10:56 PM

Opps,
The first two boys wit their mom and dad , my cousin tom with white beard.

and Gordon sober and no crock cleaning his fish.

Man I'm still tired.

Lester

Domino Effect · 07-01-2007, 12:41 AM

Looks like you had a blast there welder, Chris and his wife are good people, we met them at the Horne Island get together in May.

Lee

TrollnHeel · 07-01-2007, 12:50 AM

That looks like GOOD times! Glad you enjoyed it! Always a pleasure meeting fellow THTers

auguste · 07-01-2007, 03:38 PM

Fantastic . . . great event

Glen E · 07-01-2007, 07:32 PM

great pics..nothing as special as good friends and a great time on the water....

Gringo · 07-01-2007, 07:48 PM

Wow, things have changed. When I was growing up welders always wore them funny caps and always backwards. Thats how you knew they was welders....

(Great pix, btw)

Gmack · 07-01-2007, 09:11 PM

Looks like fun! Sorry I wasn't able to fish with you and Chris. Hopefully next time you are down we can meet up.

Gary

welder · 07-01-2007, 10:50 PM

I'm looking forward to it.

HOTSPOT · 07-02-2007, 10:39 AM

Good times man, thanks for posting the pics!

cgrand · 07-02-2007, 10:50 AM

welder is one good dude...even let me drive his boat!
see you next time, hopefully we can join the festivities in pensacola with yall

thundra · 07-02-2007, 11:13 AM

Great images, this is what I love about THT! Thanks for sharing the good times.

bluffman2 · 07-02-2007, 11:23 AM

looks like a great time had by all......great pics!!!...next time you need to stop in pascagoula!!

Gringo · 07-02-2007, 11:33 AM

Y'all are welcome to drive your boats down here, but you will have to get one hell of a running start...

welder · 07-02-2007, 10:23 PM

THT get together in Pensacola next summer I'm in.

Let's do it and if we do it let's do the Bill Hargraves tourny. It's for the kids.

Lester

welder · 07-02-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Gringo - 7/2/2007 9:33 AM

Y'all are welcome to drive your boats down here, but you will have to get one hell of a running start...

Gringo I have about a 500 mile range[ one way] if ya see a 23 Pacific pulling up it's me.

Heck cgrand might even bring his Pacific.

Lester

w5it · 07-02-2007, 11:43 PM

Sounds like your trip was one HEYALL of a good one!

I got back last night from my week a little West of where you were. (Navarre)

Enjoyed lookin at the pictures!

welder · 07-03-2007, 12:17 AM

w5it did ya catch any thing ?

auguste · 07-03-2007, 05:56 AM

Quote:

welder - 7/2/2007 9:23 PM THT get together in Pensacola next summer I'm in.

Let's do it and if we do it let's do the Bill Hargraves tourny. It's for the kids. Lester

Contact Wiley and he can set you up with a forum like he did for our OBX fun-n-fish

Please keep me posted on how the planning is going on . . . that would fit into my plans next year . . .

w5it · 07-03-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

welder - 7/2/2007 11:17 PM

w5it did ya catch any thing ?

Pictures and such in "This thread" .

Also it turned out to be the same boat Dad and I went on when I was a kid in the early 70's . (About 12 at the time)

As far as havin a get together next year, it would be nice if I can get vacation at the right time. But unless something changes, I would have my thumb out. "Rat Patrol" has a new owner and is on Lake Powell in AZ. I don't think either one of my Bateau's would be quite big enough for some offshore duty.....