Gotta' love it

Boat repairs are something you just Gatta' Love. Like the wife likes making the house wonderful in her own way the guy (me) gets to play with the engineering of the boat.

Lately we did a new antenna on the tall pike that was part of the old main antenna. So I have a new high end and powerful antenna on top of the 18 foot long pike. Way up there for better range. Used it while on the last trip to talk to a boat in MDR from the west end of Catalina. Very long ways away. No matter what radio you have you must have a good radio antenna to get the most out of it. (so says some of my boat savvy friends)

And lately to get rid of a pesky toilet oder problem I have been down in the hole. And while there I redid the fwd bilge pump out hose. The old hard (but very light) hose was weeping and when under way and getting water up there it was letting water in. Not Acceptable to me. New tough hose. Heat gun and large amount of personal Umph and now I'm happy. And my family is safer.

More to do. With luck it will not end soon. You know what happens when you are done fixing your boat. You Sell It. I hope not to be "done" for a long time.

Trish has a party and music inthe park potluck event set up. so I gotta' finish up and get extra fishing gear off the boat. The group of ladies and guests on Saturday will be a fun and interesting mix. Looking forward to it. It may render a nice set of photos too.

We are lucky to have music options at MDR's Burton Chase Park and at the Santa Monica Pier.

My fish wish is for a good spot to dock for the show Saturday.

Keith <"><

Happy 4th of July - Family Cuise

The Ramblin' Lambert's

All of us loaded up the boat cuised to Catalina Island for the holiday. It was a long way around the island trip. One night in Avalon and 3 nights in Catalina Harbor on the back side of Two Harbors. Reallly nice to be on the inside for one night in Avalon Harbor.

We came around the back side past the fishing grounds and were rewarded with sights of lots of life. Mola Mola. Dolphin. Etc.

Mooring in Cat Harbor was position "A" so we had short dinghy rides to shore for ice showers and meals. Very fun with the new addition of a jet ski to the toys for the boys. Ryan was very happy to get our there and go. Thomas had a great time. Trish and her sister Karen, down from Boise, had a lot of fun too. They screamed happy screams of fun and laughed hard.

The fireworks were on the 5th on the Isthmus side. We were out on the pier and got a great view. Well done. A little dancing at the Reef and the weekend was well rounded.

Hoping your holiday was fun an festive as well.

Keith <"><

Catalina Fishing Report – Weds. June 18th

Was out yesterday on the El Dorado with the bunch from Purfields Pro Tackle. We had some of the absolute best weather and water you could imagine. Supper sweet float of squid for bait too. I landed numerous Calico’s and even released a really nice “keeper” Calico near Hen Rock near White’s landing. This was the spot where the youngest angler on the trip landed a very respectable Yellowtail. And they got him to eat the heart! Lots of fun. The lucky kid, Eddie, works as a deck hand on the New Del Mar and was not in the Jackpot.

Turned out that the Jackpot competition was between two halibut as the Seabass and Yellowtail eluded our hooks. With a full moon and big squid float they may have been stuffed full and not needing our tasty presentations.

Next time…

PS see the www.PurfieldsProTackle.com fish reports.

http://www.purfieldsprotackle.com/reports/

Official Purging of the Old Boat Name

The Story goes...

According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea. It is logical therefore, if we wish to change the name of our boat, the first thing we must do is to purge its name from the Ledger of the Deep and from Poseidon’s memory.

This is an involved process beginning with the removal or obliteration of every trace of the boat’s current identity. This is essential and must be done thoroughly. … In purging your boat… You will also need a bottle of reasonably good Champagne. Plain old sparkling wine won’t cut it. (and a few friends to share it with )

Since this is an auspicious occasion, it is a good time to invite your friends to witness and to party.

Purge Party at 7pm Friday 6/6/2008

Began by invoking the name of the ruler of the deep as follows:

Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name “It’ll Do” which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom. As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea.

(At this point, the prepared metal tag (4 in my case) were dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.)

In grateful acknowledgment of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court.

(Dutifully poured at over half of the bottle of Champagne into the sea from East to West. The remainder shared by captain, Keith, and co-captain, Trish, and then among our guests.) Cordon Negro Brut that I enjoy.

So you see why we needed the Sun near sunset to be sure we find West. We did the full ceremony and shared the bubbly...

Betty O and Kids Fishing

Fishing with the MDRA fishing club guys who are the "mentors" on the MDR Youth Fishing trips.

We gathered for a "educational' review on safety and procedures and review of the summer to come. Many fishing trips are planned. New groups are getting a chance to participate too.

You all know about the Marina Del Rey Anglers and the Halibut Derby and how this funds the fish grow out pens and the youth fishing programs right?!? If you are part of my circle of friends and associates you likely know how dedicated I am to that stuff. If not ... Where have you been?
Go at once to www.HalibutDerby.com and www.MDRAnglers.com and read about it.

Oh yeah the fishing trip followed the Safety presentation. So we (The adult Mentors) got to have a little good time out fishing on the Betty O just like the kids do all summer long. I even got a good sculpin to show off.

Special Thanks to Ken Feldman for the photo and Even bigger a special Pat on the Back for running the Youth Fishing Program. Way to Go Ken.

Memorial Day trip to Catalina.

Update for the family and friends who track our outings...

We had a nice Memorial Day Trip out to Catalina. It was waylaid by bad weather and we delayed the beginning a hole day to allow the water and weather to calm down. This was a very good thing. As there were several boats that got part way and turned back after fighting a headwind and rough seas for hour or two and seeing much more before them.

Family and vacation trips need to be "fair weather' events to be worth it. A few nasty and seasick crossings will take the joy out of it. By the time we did go we had a nice crossing. With only a few gray clouds. As we neared the island the sad event of the helicopter crash at two harbors took place. We were about 10 miles from the west end when there was a radio call from another boater to Coast Guard to report the helicopter down. Odd part was that the Coast Guard could not get hold of the fact that the event was on shore and then tell the lady to stop broadcasting. So finally got the lady to use her cell phone to call in and clear up the communications problem.

Would have been much better if she had called on Channel 9 to Harbor Patrol. But they were already Johny on the Spot with the local volunteer firemen and the sheriff. Thankfully a retired airline stewardess was close by and ran to the scene and helped to pull the survivors out and away from the fire. Tragic loss of life. Well covered in the news I hear. Three killed on impact. 3 survived and med-evac'ed out before we made it to Cat Harbor.

The Weather got better and better as the weekend progressed. We played ball on the dirt field and goofed around the boat on the Kayak and with the new Dinghy. Ryan was out with the older boys and the high speed toys. Thomas and his guest Hunter did all the fun kid stuff. Swim, play, play baseball, skip stones, eat candy and sodas. Good Stuff.

We tried out the new Dinghy. New design from West Marine was very stable. It has an Inflatable floor. Very cool. And fully deflates for take down and storage. Cool.

Mom and Dad did a good job of having a nice time. While Trisha went for a mountain bike ride I did manage to get out and fish a little. Thanks to Uncle Carl giving me a bucket of bait I was able to get us hooked up to a very lovely 22 inch Calico Bass. Fish Wish Granted.

And latter that night we all went over to the Reef for some dancing under the stars. Hoot! Really fun. Thomas (11) was braggin' to Hunter that he danced with an 18 year old. Memories of Catalina are like that.

The ride home seemed to have the best seas of all my crossings. So I ran at a nice speed of 16 to 17 knots. That reduced the rock and roll a little for Trish as we were faster than the corner swells that push up on the stern and give the boat an annoying off centerline push. Trisha does not like the roll when it gets to be that big.

But all and all a very nice Family vacation.

Keith <"><

Neighborhood Associations and Community/Neighborhood Councils

I believe that Community starts at the most local level.

• Caring about the neighbors;
• taking care of a Cat or Dog while they are away.
• helping out in some small way like rolling in the trash cans.
• About all the folks on your street;
• becoming a Block Captain.
• going out front to look when a car or house alarm goes off.
• participating in (or running) a Block Party
• Blocks around your home;
• joining in to better a local elementary school.
• joining in a Neighborhood Association. (ie Ven-MarNA)
• Helping your community at large;
• participating in the local city government agencies...
• local councils for Venice or Mar Vista.
• helping in the homeless programs.
• City wide;
• CD 11 - Bill Rosendahl's office
  and the upcoming city elections or re-election campaigns etc.
• or with party politics on a County or State level.

PURPOSE OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS
by the CITY CHARTER voted into Law 1999 by the City Council:
"To promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs, a citywide system of neighborhood councils, and a Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is created. Neighborhood councils shall include representatives of the many diverse interests in communities and shall have an advisory role on issues of concern to the neighborhood."

I have filed for re-election as the Zone 6 Director of Mar Vista Community Council. I have diligently attended the board meetings and been a participant of many of the committee meetings of the board. This does not leave a lot of time left over to be a leader in the Ven-Mar NA organization but I will continue to be a big booster for the group. I have set up the web sites and started (its') message board. I have been the editor for the last two newsletters.

I urge all of you to participate as you can at all of the local levels you can. That is what makes a community like ours extra special and a rewarding part of living here in Mar Vista. Most of you are Stakeholders in Venice or Mar Vista. Please come out and vote when that election comes up.

Sincerely, Your Neighbor,

Keith Lambert
Zone 6 Director for MVCC

As posted on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VenMar/

Boat is ready for 2008

Keith and Trish are ready to ramble about on the boat Ramblin'

Fish Wish granted... The boat is "done"
That is finished being painted for now.

A boat is never finished. Always some things on the list of the fixes or fix up or something in need of service. But the paint job is looking great!

We are so looking forward to Memorial Day weekend and a nice family boating trip.

Peace and Calm seas to all of you.

Calamari on the dinner table.

Giant Squid. AKA Humboldt Squid AKA the Scourge of the West Coast.
“If you don’t eat them now, they may be the only coastal fishery left.”

If you go out on some of the California sport boats and get into these big guys... No Release. Bring home Calamari Steaks for all your friends and neighbors!



http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/774

Hit the Link to watch the video full size. Listen for the conclusion line.

KL. <”><

PS comment and share your recipe.

boating joke

Late one foggy night two boaters collide head on while trying to
navigate a narrow inlet channel. Both their boats were damaged,
disabled and slowly sinking.

As they each watched their boats slowly slip away beneath them, the
first boater said " You know, this is a sign that we should never take
life for granted and that we should live it to the fullest".

"You are right," said the other boater as he opened a cooler and
pulled out a bottle of bourbon whisky. Let's drink to living well for
the rest of our lives.

The first boater took the bottle and, after a big swig, handed it back
to the other boater who in turn quickly threw it into the river.

More than a little surprised the first boater exclaimed " You didn't
take a drink!?"

"Naw", said the other boater "I think I'll just wait for the Coast
Guard to show up."




There are more jokes on the MDRAnglers.com web site. I added a few Navy ones near the bottom.