Took our first pilgramage out to Regina Beach and Butler’s Fish and Chips Friday. We usually do this once or twice a season. We always head to the marina with our treat and watch the classic show of launching and loading boats at the boat launch. That is a show in itself. You can clearly tell the experienced mariners. They can back up a boat on a trailer, unload it and park their unit in minutes. Then there are those who have no idea what is required to make that boat trailer do what it’s supposed to when they turn the wheel . When they finally get into some sort of launch position, what happens next can be an absolute adventure. I’ve seen people trying to launch a boat with the trailer tires barely touching the water. Impossible! Then there are those who back in too far and then the wet tire on whatever they’re driving can’t get enough traction to pull them up the ramp. Or the guy who launched the boat but forgot to tell his partner to hang on to the rope and let the boat just float away with nobody in it. YIKES!! Once launched, there are the ones with the beautiful boats, who after getting out on the lake realize,”I forgot to put the plug in”! That’s why the water was starting to fill in the space where your feet are supposed to be. The stories go on and on. Reloading the boats is yet another sight to behold. You see everything from the over experienced, impatient mariner to the rookie who is crossing his/her fingers hoping this is just going to happen. Then its the name calling, finger pointing, cursing….the list goes on and on. It is truly a show. NOT very pretty…but a show.
That night I watch six very young (and slightly intoxicated) people do some very dangerous things. A group of four decided to drive their car forward down the ramp and slam on trheir brakes,skidding towards the water. There were people loading and unloading boats at that time. They were loud, abusive and agressive; being real jerks. I was surprised there was no confrontation from others. I’m certain these guys were plying themselves with anti-freeze for quite some time that day and couldn’t care what anyone said or did. It was all about them.
One of the most disturbing things we watched that evening were moms, dads, young and old, with children and grand children getting into those boats and none were wearing life jackets. They sat on them??? I was a Regina Beach a number of years ago at a Rider Fan fishing derby and helped pull two bodies out of the water near the marina. I’ll will NEVER forget that day for the rest of my life. Their story may be a little different, but the result could very quickly be the same. Wear your life jacket and save your life. Have fun this summer!
