RENDEZVOUS 2011

[islandpiper]

Well, Rendezvous 2011 is now history. And, a grand history it is. We got together at our house in Louisiana pretty early and continued on till pretty late (for geezers) yesterday. As usual.....way too much REALLY GOOD FOOD, and just the right amount of conversation, showing off, toys, boats, and even a couple short naps thrown in.

I have not connected my camera to the cable to the computer yet. That is either pure laziness or it is the "recovery phase". But, I'll try to get to it by dark sometime today.

No, it was not the largest crowd we've ever had. In part because lots of guys just had other things to do and in part because I didn't invite in the usual crowd of local hungry friends and musicians. But, the weather was great, we parked on the front yard (last year you could hardly WALK on the yard it was so soft).

Pictures coming, I promise. And, I think some other folks got pictures, too. Kayak Jack and his new GF have a ton, but won't have them posted for a week or so.

Standby........Piper

 

[beekeeper]

We can wait on the pictures. You deserve a "recovery phase". Thank you and your family for the hospitality, and all the hard work.
I enjoyed visting with everyone. Good to have a new member there. Welcome Loafer.
It was a GRAND DAY! I was proud to be there.

Thanks to everybody.
beekeeper

 

[islandpiper]

Tapping my foot, waiting patiently (as possible) while I upload 46 pictures to photobucket..........piper

 

[Wannabe]

Tapping my foot, waiting patiently (as possible) while I upload 46 pictures to photobucket..........piper

:shock: WHAT??? Only 46? :lol:
Glad ya'll had a grand time. Want to hear all about it.
Bob

 

[islandpiper]

Man, I am sick of Charter Hi-speed Internet.........

 

[islandpiper]

Here's the group: from left to right.....Jdupre', Loafer, Piper, Beekeeper, Kayak Jack, Bears Buddy, Rpecot

Lots of discussion

Sometimes in the sun, and sometimes in the shade

The tables hardly held it all

Pulled smoked pork

some healthy coleslaw

bacon explosion

the WORLDS BEST SALSA

and tater salad

and green onion sausage hot off the smoker

And GEEZER NAP TIME after lunch

Maybe more later.......piper

 

[islandpiper]

Dang.......I didn't get a picture of the BANANA PUDDING!! Hopefully, Kayak Jack did. Sorry JD. It was great!

 

[rpecot]

Another success! Got there a little late, left a little early, but still a good time. The food, the company, the boats, the _______ (fill in the blank) was exceptional once again. Thanks to piper for again hosting this great get together.

 

[islandpiper]

Since it seems that the Bacon Explosion caused some hard feelings this year, we considered not doing it......and then common sense won over. Here it is:


Here's the legendary and apparently socially dangerous BACON EXPLOSION. Just for the record, this one weighed in at just about four pounds before cooking. After cooking some reports indicated that the group had gained a total of 22 pounds.

First, the layout and weaving:

And, covered in two kinds of pork sausage

Then, alternating stripes of BBQ sauce, cheese, crumbled bacon

The sausage, rolled and sealed

And, with the bacon lattice rolled around it, and formed

And, after about 4 hours on the smoker, to an internal temp of almost 200 degrees, just to be sure, and to let all the excess fat drip off

 

[oldsparkey]

Another success! Got there a little late, left a little early, but still a good time. The food, the company, the boats, the _ SNORING ______ (fill in the blank) was exceptional once again. Thanks to piper for again hosting this great get together.

I filled in the blank for you..........I know it was a staged picture , Joey would never be taking a nap , the rest not quite sure about , strong possibility of that but Jack , that is a given. :lol:

 

[Wannabe]

Looks like a Grand Time was had by all. Sure wish I could have been there. When you get rested up and fully recovered may we have some pictures of the boats. I am glad ya'll had such a good time.
Bob

 

[islandpiper]

Oh.......BOATS........Sure. Sorry.......here ya go.

first, Joey's plywood race boat.

Now, i'll see if Charter will let me upload pics of Beekeeper's new strip built pirogue.

piper

 

[islandpiper]

Finally, good ol' Charter let enough electrons drip through to upload a simple five pictures. Anybody else here have the poor fortune to be connected to them?

Beekeeper is a humble man.....his ego is almost non-existant.....he does not take any credit for the FINE WORK he does. In short, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BOAT!!! There is not a missed line or joint anyplace. The double layer breasthooks are outstanding. Each one has a floating brass ring that only sticks up if you lift it, so it won't hook on brush, etc. The glass work on the outside is spotless and smooth. One word.....WOW!!

piper

 

[islandpiper]

We only had the two boats in the yard. We missed the classics that Keith and Seedtick always bring. My old worn out UJ sat quietly under the trees in the back yard. Still, all day we worried that there would be a wreck in front as people slowed down in traffic, veered across the center lane and craned their necks back to stare at these two beautiful boats .

piper

 

[Wannabe]

Beekeeper and Joey should be very proud of their boats. They are beautiful.
Bob

 

[Wannabe]

Beekeeper and Joey should be very proud of their boats. They are beautiful.
Bob

 

[rpecot]

Re: Charter

PM coming...

 

[WDfrmTN]

All I can say is "Dang sorry I missed this!"
You can bet yer boots I'll make next year if at all possible!

 

[Kayak Jack]

Passers-by were definitely rubber-necking all day long. To their credit, all the guys told only true - and certifiably so - stories. Pauline and I enjoyed listening to Christina and some of her colleagues play a large selection of cello music on Friday evening. Then, she serenaded us at the Rendezvous. It's nice watching and listening to this young lady and her cello that her dad made for her. I'm almost as proud as Diane and Keith.

The bacon 'splosion was a real taste treat. Keith promised us it was the diet version. (I watched very carefully, and he did not have any fingers crossed while he was speaking.) He also had various smoked meats of different types to pass around. I've been a fan of smoked meat since I was in diapers (they were made of corn shucks in those days), and Keith's smoked meats are some of the best I've tasted.

I just returned from a 2,000 mile jaunt, and it was to go see Keith, Diane, Christina, and the guys who gather for his Rendezvous. Worth every mile.

 

[islandpiper]

Jack, thanks for driving down. It was good to see you and to meet Pauline. This was not our BIGGEST Rendezvous, but it was still great fun sitting and talking, and snacking on assorted goodies. To all you other guys, too, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TAKE PART. Your attendance and food and ideas, etc were all appreciated and went a long way toward making the FOURTH ANNUAL RENDEZVOUS a success.

piper