2000 was a watershed year. It was the second year we went with Peter, the differnces began to show. We often got hooked up with real fishing people. Now, real fishing people are slobs. Meals were a mess. Kate and I enforced some rules. The table was to be set napkins and all. All the food was cooked and put on serving plates, everybody sat down at the same time, manners were enforced and no swearing, phones or radios at the table. Well, the troops almost revolted. I think we made it stick for one more year and then they revolted and went back to the eat like pigs in a smorgasbord style grabbing food as it was cooked and finding a spot to park and snort. It was worth a try.

It was also the year that I beat Peter at cribbage. Peter is a good friend, but a competitive type. Up early to fish, who caught the most, the biggest, etc. He can't stand to loose at cribbage. Claims to be the worlds best crib player ever. The year before I made it to finals and let him win just to preserve his sanity. Not this year. He was beside himseld when I beat him, then I beat him the next two years for a three-peat and he hid the cribbage trophy...

Was also the year that we dropped the rear end off the Winnebago. Apparently pounding the poor thing over the roads with all that weight in the back was not good for it's structural integrity. By the time we got back home the rear end was dragging on the ground.