Just got home from a 10 day camping trip with the family

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Our annual camping trip takes us to Alger Island in the Adirondacks near Old Forge NY, on 4th Lake. It's something we have been doing for years, since I was a boy of 5 years old. We missed a few off and on over the years, but this is the highlight of our year in the Barrett Clan. Only now we have to reserve multiple sites since the family has grown so big...

Day 1 is always the most exciting part. Besides the massive amount of preparation and packing involved with spending 10 days on an island accessible only by boat that has limited provisions (IE: Lean-to, fire pit, dock, and outhouse) I always wash my truck and clean it up. I don't know why, but I like to go on vacation in a clean vehicle.

Here is my old '78 Chevy all cleaned up and hooked to our Four Winns just before leaving home on July 18.


My little girl caught the first fish of the trip. A tenacious little rock bass that took a lure almost as big as he was..


The wife sneaked a shot of Sam and me walking the dockfront on Old Forge Pond as we took the boats from 4th Lake down to Old Forge for the one dining outing we take every year at Tony Harper's Pizza and Clam Shack (Excellent food, highly recommended!)


A few shots of our camp. As I said, it's somewhat primitive camping, no power, water, etc... You get an Adirondack Lean-To, a dock for your boat, a fire pit, and an outhouse. You provide everything else.. It's a ton of work moving in that first day, but that first Bud Light after camp is set up makes it all worth it!




Here is one of the duck families that visited regularly for a bit of bread... How can you say no to that??? They are very friendly, many of them easily coaxed to eat from your hand... These little guys perched on this rock on our shoreline not more than 20 feet from our table as we had dinner that night.


And lastly, a couple shots of my boat. My brother snapped this first pic of me one morning when we were out fishing early in the morning. The second is a cool pic my wife got on one of our many evening boat cruises...



So that's what I've been doing while you guys were arguing about Banshee motor's in 250r's! LOL!


(Just kidding around with that last remark )

[RIDE-RED 250r]

No lunkers this year. The fishing in the Fulton Chain Lakes can be tough, especially with the warmer water temps the time of year we are there. My nephew landed a nice 16" smallmouth, it was the best fish caught on the trip.

Watching Waterworld always makes me want to go out in the boat, lol!! The Deacon is my favorite!

[Mr. Clean]

Cool PICS!!! Thanks for sharing.

[atc007]

Looks like a great time Joe. Thanx for sharing

[83ATC185]

This has me excited about our fall camping trip on the river!

Get me in a place like that and i might not leave, put up a flag and declare my piece of the island a sovereign nation!

[redsox]

Awesome Joe!! Looks like a BLAST! The ole' Chevy looks good too!!

[Caminofeld]

So great to see you doing these things with your daughter. Irreplaceable memories that she will never forget. I hope to do the same with my kids when they're a little older. Reminds me of a country song I heard yesterday (she thinks were just fishing). Badazz truck BTW!

Glambo; Lake Powell is siiiiiick!!! We used to take family vacations there. The last year we went there was a missing hiking party that drowned in a flash flood and a serial killer on the loose with body parts washing up…or was that our trip to Elephant Butte? I can't remember. Anyways; my 2 fondest mammaries were these college girls playing a game where they raced down a sand hill into water in their bikinis…the focus being the girl built like a brick house with the F-cups (obviously)

Cliff diving was also a blast!

[x-rider]

Good times. Thanks for sharing.

[DohcBikes]

I really like the boat!...and you know I love that Chevy.

Thank you Joe for taking care of your family and for showing your kids that there's more to life than Pokemon and the daily grind. Thank you also for taking the time to share this with us

[knappyfeet]

Watching Waterworld always makes me want to go out in the boat, lol!! The Deacon is my favorite!

Waterworld always reminded me of Escape From New York.

Thank you for sharing your experience...........nice pics

For those of us with little time for vacations its nice to live them thru others

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Kind words guys, I appreciate it...

Damon: Yeah I like our little boat too... She's not bad looking still for being a '92. It belonged to my grandfather before me. It's 18 feet and has a Chevy 4.3 in the doghouse... She scoots pretty good, alot of fun.

My brother has her big sister, same year but a Horizon model (a bit taller and roomier), it's 19 feet and has a Ford HO 5-OH in the doghouse. He has a bit more HP (200 to my 175) but the difference in weight between the pair make them almost exactly equal in speed, just shy of 50mph in ideal conditions.

Here is a pic of his.. Really nice boat. His old Chevy is nicer than mine! LOL!

As can be seen, our families spend ALOT of time together my brother and I.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Both of our boats have the OMC Cobra stern drive. I just sunk $1800 into having my lower unit entirely rebuilt with BRP parts last season. I love the drive, it just never got the updated 5 degree dog clutch and gear set back in the day and the old 3 degree set was failing. I have a back burner plan to upgrade my 4.3 to a 4bbl carb eventually. The 2bbl Holley does surprisingly well i think...It's still running the original prop, 14.25x21 pitch. When I do the 4bbl conversion I figure ill need to upgrade to the same size prop in stainless, possibly go to 23 pitch. As it is right now I'm about dead in the middle of the specified WOT RPM range. I imagine with the bump in HP, it will over-rev at WOT.