Finally! Football is near!

Tonight was the night for the ritual lamping of the Escondido High football scoreboard! For the last several years (I guess since the stadium was completed), GP and his good friend Larry Wilson take the tallest step ladder that Skelly Electric owns and change the burned out lamps in the scoreboard. It's really a labor of love and not as difficult as we try to make it seem, but tonight seemed special. It was a picture perfect evening in Escondido, the team was practicing, and football, after a long winter, is finally almost here.
I helped build this stadium about 10 years ago and it is truly the finest HS football stadium in the county. It was such a beautiful evening, I couldn't help taking a few pictures. If you love HS football, you've gotta love this place!
We (the team, that is) are looking forward to a spectacular season, as we have a world class running back, and a large group of very talented young men. Among them is Riley Wilson, Larry's son, who will start at safety and wide receiver this year.
Go get 'em Riley!

GO COUGARS!





Setting sun reflects off lights

Not that Wilson



View from press box







Looks good!

River Trip(ing)

Well, picking up from where I left off in "River Trip Prep" below, I suppose everyone is breathlessly waiting to find out what happened. Well there was no time to get the new engine installed (it's still in the box), so GP bought a new boat. No divorce (yet).

New Boat

So the "13 marauders" (we really need a name for our group) worked cleaning, gathering, packing, buying (always buying) then went of in 3 cars and trucks, towing 3 boats, on the 5 hour drive to the river. We arrived Wed afternoon and immediately put boats in the water and soon realized that whatever it took to get there was worth it.
We played almost till dark and began the 45 min drive to Laughlin. We checked into our $10.00-a-night rooms, which were great, by the way, and headed to the buffet, as all were ravenous, and macked on prime rib, fried chicken and ice cream.
I think all were whipped and headed to bed, at least GM & GP did.
The following morning it was back to the buffet, the gas station, and the store for snacks and ice, then headed off for another day in the sun (and the wind, as it turned out). All spent hours boating, napping, swimming, and eating the day away.
Camp Skelly was decimated by a semi violent wind storm, which tried to destroy our new pop up shelter (of course parts are on order), but couldn't hold us back. Late in the afternoon, Scott thought it was just the right time to drag some of the kids around in a tube, and CJ enjoyed that the most, proclaiming "That was awesome!"

We got back to the hotel even later that night and everone went their own way for dinner and I'm sure to early bed as everyone was really pooped this time'

We arose the next morning and after one last trip to the buffet, headed home. Except for a little excitement changing a flat trailer tire (which Scott slept through) the return trip was uneventful, but long.
We took way too many pictures, and it was hard to decide which ones to post here, but there's lots to see, so enjoy!






































Camp Skelly (after the wind)



























Home again!