We hope you are enjoying this Labor Day Weekend and even though the great weather we've had is due to falter for a day or so, it looks as though summer is going to be prolonged and we may have some super nice days or even weeks ahead.  Those of you who enjoy late summer or early fall visits to Joe's Pond won't be disappointed.  The maples are beginning to turn and we're looking forward to a spectacular autumn.

A few regular Joe's Ponders have already left or will be leaving within a short time, and already we miss them.  The activity on and around the pond has lessened; lots of boats are being taken out of the water this weekend.  However, I was talking with oldest son, Bill, yesterday and he told me he's preparing to launch his antique (1934) Chris Craft.  He's been meaning to for the past several summers, but as the saying goes, "life got in the way," and he has been busy with other things.  This year, however, he says "Wish" is all shined up, tuned up, gussied up and ready to go.   If the nice weather holds, he hopes to have it in the water perhaps sometime next week.

 
Here are a couple of photos of the boat when it was perhaps 15 years younger.  I will get new pictures when Bill comes to camp to launch this year.  It will be nice to see it in the water, even though it won't be in for long after a late start this year.

Jamie's boat, "Raja," is only about 50 years old, but it's a beauty, too.  He took a couple years off to refinish it, and it looks great.   It's been in the water this summer, but I haven't seen it running.  It just hasn't happened to be out when we were visiting.

There aren't a lot of the old inboards on the pond anymore.  Bill Hamilton has two, I think, that he and his dad, Doug, have restored, and I enjoyed watching Bill in one of his this summer - a real classic, too.  Another one belonged to Jack Allen - a Century, I believe, but I don't know what year it is or even where it is.  Jack died a few years ago and I suspect the boat hasn't been in the water much since.  

There's nothing quite like the look and sound of an old woodie inboard, though - and to ride in one is more than just special.