We change our plans from OI to the 26mile hill as the conditions were better, vacations were planned and I was itching for my first dance in the salt with the Change. So we pull out of Roanoke Friday morn, pick up crew in Lynchburg and put the Burbonator in the wind.

We make it 185 miles when outta nowhere this mexican pulls out of a gravel drive and into my lane on a tractor with a mowing deck on the back, and wheels it 4' out across the pavement. I have a semi on my left and nowhere to go. I lay on the horn smash the brakes to the floor and over the mower deck we drag three wheels and axles.

There was no arrow truck telling us to get into the left lane as it was out of sight getting lunch for the crew. When Mario the mower operator called the driver he comes to the scene and parks the arrow truck on the other side of the four lanes heading west. I am all over him blessing him out telling him to park it behind my boat as I am still in the right lane and have semi's coming at us side by side. He finally understands me and then parks it in front of my Suburban. I tell him,"Hey you %#@& that isn't going to get it and finally get him to get behind us where it should have been in the first place. I'm shaking so bad at this point I have to take multiple pictures of the scene to make sure some of them come out. Pics are viewable with desciption on the URL of Photobucket.

The deputies get there but since we are 100yds. over the Prince George Co. line into Sussex Co. they cant do anything. The new deputies arrive and get VAN CLEEF AUTO PARTS & TRUCK SERVICE who was 5 miles up the road to come to the rescue. Let me give some props to those guys and anyone who goes by there PLEASE GIVE THESE GUYS SOME PATRONAGE AS THEY HAVE IT ALL!!!!! This includes a new receiver as my stainless steel one was bent on the sheer force of the slam. We were lucky that it happened where it did as they jimmied the trailer into limp mode and protected us the 5 miles at 30 mph to their facility and got down to business. Anyone else would have said,"We will get to work on it Monday morning," and we would have had to get a room which there ain't. The accident happened at 2pm and at 8:40 pm we pull out of Waverly on four wheels and tires which was slightly over their 7180 lb capacity and limp it over the CBBT and into the Preague at 11:15pm.

Since our late arrival we were not able to get things rigged in time and got a late start to the 26 mile hill into a beaming sea due SE of 4-6 footers. We get lines in at 10:30 and the first rod goes off an hour later and the crew says I get the first rod. He happens to hit the flat line where I for the last time have tried using 65 lb. braid instead of the 80 lb mono on all the others. I can't get it to go left and right on the reel under the pressure and when leadering the fish of over four feet the hook which was to thin straightens out and she goes free. The wife pulls in a baffer Mahi and it gets served up for dinner at the Island House that night. The next two days we flounder fish on the inside as the trailer scrapes the ramp we rent a slip and leave her in the water. We manage two keepers of 19 and 21 inches and they are dinner that night. The last day, Tuesday we get on the 26 mile hill with two other boats Cinbad and Relentless and pull out a 44" bluefin, a nice king and a small king. Thanks to All Tackle for some outstanding Baitmasters ballyhoo and Relentless for standing by as our gauges on the dash all went out for another upcoming bill.

We had no problem getting over the CBBT on the way over and I actually talked the guy into giving me the $20 rate for two axles but when we try to get back over the CBBT the lady informs us that our boat looks to wide and they will have to measure it. They do so and even though they say she is 9'2" she is really 9'6" and we have to pay $60 to get back across it. Word to the wise if your 10' it's $200 to cross. I said, "For $200 I will back this pig up, jack knife her around, put in at Kiptopeke and my crew can get some good photo's of her skipping across the bay at 55mph beside your bridge."

We were lucky to have no bodily injury and no apparent truck damage as well as the good folks at VAN CLEEF who I cannot say enough about. We envy you folks who share your reports on this site. You are fortunate enough to live so close to our passion. Don't take it for granted and don't gripe about fuel. It's nothing compared to what we endure to live the dream of the sport of offshore fishing. It is the sport of kings and we still feel as Ken said we are so lucky to have the best at our fingertips in VA. Everybody have a safe 4th and catch em up. There is my long winded first report on the Cool Change. At least we know she draws fish and we are able to fight em another day.

Good fishing, Steve.

http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff299/h...preague%202008/

Way to hang in there! Just remember ONE DAY you'll be able to laugh about it ... as you tell the story to the grand kids .....

Steve, that is one hell of a fishing story. Hang in there man. Your dues are paid in full and your next trip you'll wax them.