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The middle of no where

Posted at September 16, 2008 14:50

There are still spots in Missouri that can be considered "the middle of no where." Over Labor Day weekend, I had a brush with just such a spot.

For the better part of thirty years, I have frequented Bull Shoals Lake, which straddles the Missouri and Arkansas border.  As a teenager, my friends and I often spent summer days around Theodosia, and now my family makes several trips a year to a spot just around the corner from there, as the crow flies, at Lazy Acres, Arkansas, on a point, I might add, that can only be gotten to by coming from Missouri.

One of the reasons I love Bull Shoals so much is because it is a lesser traveled lake. On a busy day like Labor Day, there are a few boats, but you have to compare that to regular days to get an idea of what I mean. On regular days, my family could be out on the lake all day and see less than ten other boats or watercraft. There is ample room to swim, scuba dive, water ski, you name it.

With that in mind, just imagine having boat trouble.

It was midday, not too hot, and we were just getting ready to do some kneeboarding when our boat decided to be unresponsive; let’s just leave it at that. I thought, Thank God for cell phones, but the heavy rains this year are still having their effect on Bull Shoals as all of the mile markers are underwater—no way to tell anyone where we were. That didn’t stop me from trying. The marina tried to locate us, but two hours later there we sat.

Our saviors were, Richard and Marge Schmitz, from Theodosia, who had just happened to decide to take an extended boat ride that day and found their way into the cove where we were stranded. I was glad they showed up as my eight year old had just about decided to head for land and camp in the weeds on the shoreline. Funny how that survival mentality kicks in.

Thanks, Rich and Marge, for showing up when you did.

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