SJRR 2014

Smithfamily wrote: I saw a guy in a fancy gray mechanics shirt, juggling crabs, but thought that cant be you, as that guy looked young and handsome. Haha. Sorry we missed each other. Next time.

That was me - taking out my frustrations on those poor, delicious crabs.... (I bet my stubbly whiskers threw ya!)

BTW, I just assembled my new foil - NeXTFoils Tower with new cinch belt and cinch foot straps, 39" INXS strut and advanced foils.... so beautiful! Got a motivational call from TxFoilhead...... I can't wait to get into the chilly water!!!

Well, here it is a week later and I'm just now getting around to posting bout this years River Run.

It started for me Wed nite as Hotel Morfoot was open for biz as 62 Aquaskier checked in at about 9:00. He had a long talk over a couple beers and patiently awaited a 'Hurricane' to hit shortly after midnight. It finally did at about 1:00am and had a couple of cold beers waiting on the exhausted road warriors Alan & Todd. Once they sucked those down Todd hit the couch Alan slept in Tamara's room with Justin Beber looking over him and Todd crashed with the gang from "A Nightmare Before Christmas".

Up early am and on the road by 0630 we were making some pretty good time and made it just above the Fla line when we hooked up with cboland and his cousin Jason pulling a 236. Musta been a pretty cool site to see 4 CC's heading south. The Hurricane headed for the show while the rest of us headed to Parramores to drop boats in and hit the river. Todd was having cooling issues so while I worked on that others were trickling in. Did manage to take Kapla out for a slalom run behind Miss Scarlett which for someone who hasn't done it in 5 years he was doing pretty darn good. Back to the Campground where I worked on Todd's boat for the rest of the day. Wasn't paying attention to which hose I was pulling off and managed to get a 2nd degree burn on my wrist when the water spit out of the hose. With some help from Joe and Eric Svenson we thought we had the problem fixed by nightfall but it continued the whole weekend.

Friday came and all headed to Tavares for the show and most launched in Lake Dora and headed thru the canal. WHAT a cool, neat experience. Got to the show okay but had to ride thru some really bad chop to get there and avoid a seaplane coming out of the corral. Parked the boat and started mingling with Fans and soaking in the display of CC's there. Most I had seen before but a few I hadn't. That 68'(?) Wildcat was one huge boat and a member of Team Red and probably the Southwinds Father. pretty neat to see one as that's one I hadn't.

Mr. Ralph showed up and it was like watching a Ring Master at work. He sat down next to the Godfathers boat which was pretty close to the center of them all and I watched the people come. He was smiling the whole time as he was soaking in all the boats that were surrouding him that he had a part in making and hadn't seen in a long time. Lots of pictures, lots of handshakes, and lots of stories from the man we all owe many thanks to. The 80% chance of rain never showed but most all enjoyed the show and seeing the really cool boats gathered there. I didn't get to see much of it as I was chasing down Terry Fiest and getting Fans their wristbands.

Went back thru the canal with a few fans took some snaps and got the boat back on the trailer and to the show where we were allowed to park it for the night. Hooked up with lots of fans for the Fri night meet and greet. When it started it was an experience that I won't forget as they had a Band complete with conductor all dressed up playing Big Band era music. The musicians were just as old as the music but it was like walking back in time. All the people there were dressed in Yacht Club attire and lining up at the cash bar where mixed drinks were being sold. 62 Wood approaches me with a beer and said "Here ...you wanna beer?" Absoulutely.... It was then that Steve and I started looking around and noticed that ALL the CC' guys and gals were in swim suits and CC T's. Not only were we the only ones in T's but when someone asked me where the FREE beer was I only needed to say......See the guys with the CC T-shirts on standing over there... That's where the beer is! There was no line and if there was it was because more than 2 of us were in it! The food was decent and when the free beer was over it was time to go.

Saturday was a different story as I headed back to the boat show where it rained the whole time I was there. Did get a chance to talk with Mr. Ralph and Ken Meloon for a bit but when the Storms got worse Ken left to get his dad a raincoat but as I was shielding him from getting wet the rain got worse so he was getting wet and a guy with a heavy raincoat took it off and we placed it on Mr. Ralph and we got him to the Big Top were it was dry. After he sat down and we got him situated I took my soaking wet CC owners hat off place it on the table for a second and without fail Mr. Ralph looked at me and said..." You want me to autograph your hat for you?" He never misses a beat...God Bless that man!

Headed back to Parramores to get the cookout going and of course the Sun came out at about the time I got there. Boats were hitting the water and I knew covers were coming off at the show but if we were gonna grill we gotta get going. After quite a few setbacks we were finally ready to get the grill going and looked for the charcoal that wasn't to be found. It hadn't shown up yet and it was 5:30..... Keefers called and said they were in town did I need anything so I said yeah..CHARCOAL..so big thanks to Keith for helping us out at the last minute or it would have been 10:00pm before we ate. The cookout was a huge success as always but big thanks to Jbear, Backfoot100, JoeinNY, Air206, IaughtNaught & Mamma Deen, Palmer & Lil Sue for all your help. I could not have done it without you. These folks helped get things ready, grilled burgers, dogs, sausage, boudin, and corned beef/swiss sandwhichs, boiled fresh crabs, deepfried turkeys and fries. Another big thanks to ALL of you who brought things to share with the small army of CCFans gathered. If you missed Jimsport93's Key Lime Pie then you missed out on something good!

Sunday came and as many Fans headed home and as I had stated many times..You gotta stay thru Sunday. The Sun came out, not a cloud in sight so Air206, Val, rosconole, and I jumped in Scarlett and headed down on the river for a wonderful day on the water. Had lunch after a 20 mile ride on some of the best water out there and had lunch on the river before we headed back. Did get a chance to see some Fla wildlife along the riverbanks including a Gator or two and a Bald Eagle. Dropped them off and headed back out with GStarr & Mary Frances for an awesome ride in smooth water in Garys 68 Mustang. Ran into a couple Deens on the water and took some snaps. Ran around more and came back and managed to talk Reid ( who was worn out dragging boats back from the shoe) into going out and driving Scarlett so I could get some shots of Gary in the 68. We had a blast as always and I think Reid needed some water time even though Scarlett isn't as fast as what he's used to at 44MPH. Got some great shots of Gary and later with boatdr as he showed up on the river with the Dart.... Sun went down and folks headed over to the Lee street house for the last hurrah but I was dehydrated and exhausted so I had to pass. I hated to miss it but couldn't go anymore.

Monday was just as beautiful as Sunday and I hated to leave but play time was over and back to reality!

I hope all had a wonderful time and even though the weather wasn't the greatest I never heard one complaint. Afterall it's about the people behind the wheel that make these events so wonderful and fun and the boat is just a catalyst. It's never enough time but I'll take what I can get till the next gathering of the Best Boat Bud's anyone could ever ask for.
For ALL y'all newbies that made the trip. I hope that now that you have experienced a taste of a SJRR you will make the trip back next year and experience the SJRR in it's original form. More plays to boat hop, more river time, more ski time but much of the same thing of people just congregating around some old Correct Craft boat and our love of them. It was awesome to meet many of you for first time and as always a blast laughing and having a beer with the ones I already know.

Thanks again everyone for a wonderful SJRR and we'll see you again at SJRR 2015 March 27-29th!


Pic's to come I PROMISE!

That is a great write-up Tim. The SJRR looks like an incredible event. Hopefully one day. We need more photos though!! Of boats, not prophets...
Steve, we will be at SML July 5 thru 12. This year I'll do a better job of getting free of the extended family! I have something new/ old to show you that you might find interesting…...

The Sunnyland organizers continually expressed their thanks for making it what is was. From the President to the many others involved with show organizing, they seemed really happy to have us. The fact that Reid filled the display with incredible boats and there were impressive woodies on display didn't hurt either!

Talked with Terry Feist today and he said they were blown away with our group of Correct Craft Owners. Totally impressed and WOW'ED over the 'Plastic' boats on display. He did go on to say that they would love to have us return as a big group, that he kept the signs so the Nautique beach would be open again, and Friday Night was again open to us all. They were all captivated by Mr. Ralph, his stories, and had no idea of the history behind Correct Crafts. They want US back.....well at least according to Terry.

Morfoot wrote: They were all captivated by Mr. Ralph, his stories, and had no idea of the history behind Correct Crafts.

This is a pleasure to hear but, I had no doubt that Mr Ralph would pull it through. Those Chris Craft owners need to remove their blinders and get educated!

I am sorry to hear that the CC tent was placed in an awkward place.

The bottom line is Mr. Ralph got the attention/praise he deserves. I understand he even got standing ovations during his speech!

Great recap of the weekend Tim! Thanks for doing that. I will be looking forward to seeing your many pictures.

SATURDAY


Cookout at Parramore's















SUNDAY





Val and Ross (rosconole)



Came across the Boatdr on the water.





Lunch View






Yep...we saw one!





Val saw this fellow and holler'd for us to turn back. What a majestic bird!



IaughtNaught and crew!



"It's a FOUL BALL..... A FOUL BALL!





Tailgater!








The Deen Boy's!

Air206 driving 'Miss Scarlett'!



Lungren Island aka Shell island...Normal CCFan Hangout during the event.





A Baby One!

What a GREAT TIME to be a CCFan. SSJRR ROCKS. Thanks to all for all you did to help take care of our little hickups with our equipment and other things did not go as well as planned.

Burton, dro me a PM and give me an address and I will drop you a pair of sun glasses.

Found a tow vehicle for the Nautilimo


Trying not to fall off this damn dock


kapla going hard behind a full Pro Air



I think he drove almost every boat on the river?


Hot pick up on the empty that flew out of the boat



Curls to die for


Caipiroskas!


kapla - king of ping pong


Straightening out the Shamrock from the wicked wind Friday


Playing "hide the chlorine dispenser"


It appears Eric was the winner


Trick skiing still one of the most fun events


For some...


But then they made up

more trick


CCs in the background


Eddie doing turkeys. A lot of work and I know he would have rather been in bed!


ghetto shot ski


directly to blame for Todd's crazy loud snoring


worked perfectly


Swedish ping pong. kapla taking a direct hit!


another form of a hot pick up


great success.


Cheers Kristof!

Awesome pictures Guys!


And HW and crew, thanks for keeping me in your thoughts (and beers)

Hollywood wrote: Cheers Kristof!

     

Great pictures!!
The Smith family on Sunday ventured deep up the canal, into enemy territory to find the infamous "Lee street" gang. Feeling like the "Apocalypse now movie, we moved forward with caution, and a 6 pack, for a dockside attack. We were pleasantly greeted by the lovely Dean ladies. The scallywags were away retrieving boats from the show. Too bad, the Smith girls were going to give ping pong lessons. Nuclear.
A great time, again!

62 wood wrote: Thought I'd post a few more pics from our time in FL. Pam said I could buy one of these... (yeah, right...)

Before you ask her again, make sure it has the caddy engine in it!!

8122pbrainard wrote: 62 wood wrote: Thought I'd post a few more pics from our time in FL. Pam said I could buy one of these... (yeah, right...) Before you ask her again, make sure it has the caddy engine in it!!

Pete,
I couldnt afford one of them without an engine!


btw, I think this is the guy we were bidding against when trying to get the painting of Alan's Hurricane at the auction Saturday night. We lost, BUT we made him pay for it!

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