April, 2021

 The lake levels were pretty erratic in the Spring of 2021.  The water hurried up into the woods in February, then dipped to leave the boat like Noah's ship high and dry and stranded at a bad angle.  The level again raised quickly, just a few days, back to a bit over full pool level.  This meant that later mooring would find the boat nosed into the trees while often lined the bank.

I hurried to get the boat ready for travel (at least I crossed my fingers and pretended it was ready).  To my amazement and delight, the engine started and was useable, though just barely.  The steering was seized and took some cajoling and lots of WD-40 to free up, though my steering to the right (starboard for you boat freaks) was very limited.  Failure to repair this problem would eventually cause me much anxiety and strand me for several days.  I realized the true strength of the philosophy I had adopted while traveling the country in the last few years -- "It's all part of the adventure".  With no obligations to be somewhere at a predetermined time and no bills I could not pay, I learned to shrug off the disappointments and tribulations and enjoy the challenges no matter if there was some pain and unpleasantness involved.

With rising water and a newly floating boat came the Spring fish run when even terrible fishermen like myself manage to fool some of the few foolish fish left in Norris Lake.  Fried fish, baked fish, fish patties and even fish chowder beat heck out of canned food and the Winter fare of late.

The boat floated and some repairs made, I found myself surrounded by drifting logs, limbs, leaves and lots of abandoned plastic trash.  I was nosed in amongst the trees with the my roof raked by limbs and beginning to be joined by more and more fishing boats and tourists.  Their waves rocked me often and daily even into the night.  This was little bother to my sleep as I sleep in a hammock, most times oblivious to the waves.

I began stocking my larder, bringing gasoline and propane aboard and prepared to set out full of self confidence like a fresh college graduate who is high on arrogance and sure of his total knowledge and ability.  This would soon change as I discovered how very little I knew of the neighbor, Norris, that I had lived within hollerin' distance of for all my life.