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Published: August 20th 2007
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“WHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
SPLASH!!!!
*gurgle gurgle sputter* “WHHEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”
Kevin has now, officially, lost his marbles.
After arriving at the Lake Muhazi house on Saturday and unloading the truck (food, mattresses, bags and six people), Kevin empties his pockets, takes of his shoes and flings himself into the Lake, clothes and all. Cr-azy!
The lake, however, is so irresistibly warm and inviting that I just HAD to do it! I spent a while paddling around, then decided that my shirt was holding me back to I got out, took off the shirt, found a rubber inner tube in the house that Chris mentioned to me, and jump back in. Once again, all the Africans present were giving me REALLY funny looks. Oh well, just adding to my legend! Irene took a few photos, most of them with me mostly underwater.
While I was doing this Papa Jean’s children (5 of them) were cleaning the house like the diligent workers they are. I felt guilty for a moment that I wasn’t helping them, but that passed quickly. I’m on vacation, dammit!
It was already late afternoon by the time I threw myself into the lake, so after about and hour or so it
All Packed Up and Ready To Go
Yes, its illegal to have people in the back. Yes, its a huge fine if you get caught. Yes, I did it anyway! was getting dark and I decided to go in because a) swimming alone in the dark could get tricky, and b) hippos come out at night, and they aren’t too friendly with people on their turf.
Returning to the house, shaking myself off since I forgot my towel again, I checked that all the rooms were open (soooo man keys), that Madine was getting some dinner on and that the Coke supply was readily available (meaning I started chugging down Cokes before other people could take them…greedy me).
Then, remembering that Chris had left me a few fishing gadgets (new hooks, line and floats), I decided to get my fishing groove on. Seeing as how the last time I went fishing was over 12 years ago, it wasn’t easy getting this groove on. Considering that the rod that Chris left at the house has no reel for me to put the line on, it was actually quite difficult. So I spent the next few hours trying to get the rod ready for use.
First problem: No reel. OK, I will improvise that. First, I found a really big nail lying around in the house, and bent the end a bit.
Then I found some string. I then proceeded to strap the nail to the rod where the reel should be. Then I took the spool of fishing line and stuck it on the nail. Now I have a reel. Those of you who know what fishing’s about will notice from my picture that I put the reel on the wrong side of the rod, it should be on the left. Oh well.
Second problem: no sinkers. Again, I can improvise. I had already had a Coke, so I proceeded to consume a Fanta, then I took the bottle caps from the two beverages, found a really big pipe wrench (I love houses that are either under construction or recently finished construction), flattened the caps, bent them over themselves a few times, then drove a nail through the middle of each. Tying the line through the holes in the bottle caps, I create sinkers. Tie on a hook, attach a float, and the rod looks as ready as it will ever be.
Dinner was tasty, we had fries and rice and meat and beans. So I take a REALLY big portion of fries and set about a third of them aside
in a plastic cup. Now I have bait. Tomorrow morning, some fishies are going to meet their maker!
Tomorrow morning Kevin spent at least half an hour cursing at his rod and reel because they wouldn’t work. I found that my sinkers were too heavy, and if I didn’t hold the line the hook would drop really fast and imbed itself in something: grass, bushes, Kevin’s hand…you name it, the hook poked it. Look at the picture, it’s a nasty hook with barbs and everything. I will have a scar on my right hand for many years where the darn thing grabbed me.
After cursing at the hook for its poky-ness, I cursed at the reel for turning too easily. I found that when I cast my line (and I did so with vigor so that the hook would reach out to where I thought the fish were) the hook and sinker would fly out a nice long way, land in the water with a plop….and the reel would just keep spinning until I had about 100m of line to bring back in. Freaking bloody….arrggghhh.
So eventually what I did was I would unwind about 50m of line before casting
The Set-Up
Including: Original spool reel, bottle cap sinkers, French Fry bait and string-tied-nail reel holder and let it collect on the ground. I would hold the reel with my right pointer finger so that it couldn’t turn, and hold the line in my left hand so that the hook would stay up at the end of the rod. Then I would cast, releasing the line at the right moment, and let the line unwind off the ground. It worked relatively well and I managed to get my line out pretty far.
Last problem: NO FISH. Not one bite, not one sitting. No site nor sound nor hint of a fish. I thought Muhazi was loaded with them!
Oh well, I tried.
This fishing business took up most of Sunday, and by the time I gave up on it, it was time to eat lunch and then head back to Kigali.
It was a fun weekend and a good vacation. An excellent end(ish) to an excellent summer.
I guess-timate that I will write maybe one or two more blogs.
Until then,
Safe journeys
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Mark Baker
non-member comment
You should see the one that got away!
Dear Kevin, You are very ingenious and persistant. That was quite the gear setup you had! I think that the week link was the bait. You should have used meat instead of potatoe. Oh, well. There is always next time. I'm glad you are coming home soon. Looking forward to your party, not the next day though, dishes, dishes! Love Daddy