Tomahawk Bay Yacht Club

This page contains the current copy of the newsletter as well as links to archived copies.  If there are any corrections or additions to the newsletter, they will appear here.
 
 

UPCOMING  CLUB  EVENTS

June 10        Beach Clean-up  (noon at the East end of the Island in Tomahawk's parking lot near the sand pile.)
June 24-25   Pig Roast at Government Island.  (more info to come, or you can contact any officer, except Sarah)
July 1-9        Cruise to Illwaco

You can find out more information about these events on the web site.  You can also email inquiries to club officers whose email address' are listed and linked at the web site http://top-golf.com/TBYC

There will be a supplement to this newsletter edition which you will receive just before the Pig Roast. Sarah, the emailer, is leaving on vacation and we wanted to get this portion out before she did.
 

OPENING  DAY  From Your Commodore

Well, who'd a thought?
We got out and did the parade, fine show that it was, with more boats than the clubs that didn't show. First time I was on "Dock Holiday" and it were nice. Alan is quite the skipper, Virginia quite the hostess. We visited Willamette Yacht Club as they were closing. I had to run off to a wedding, so I missed the shirt contest at HIYC, but was reassured I would have won! Just trying to be a good rep for you all! However, I did hold my own dancing at the HIYC party, and would have made you all proud. I came away with a mate for Martin's  Island Slough and hope you all have met her by the time you read this. Nice Lady.

Planning is underway for the best PIG ROAST yet. And .... how about that swap meet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought the comments were very positive and we took in a goodly amount. The local CRYA clubs were very supportive, and even participated! Watch out Fall Swap!!!!

Please recruit new members, it makes for more fun for all! We have several newbys now, treat them well, they will add to our fun I am sure.

See ya on the river...................
Commode door.
 

SPRING  SWAP  MEET  AND  SAILORS  FAIRE

The swap meet. Where to begin? What a turn out we had! All the advertising and Rick's efforts networking with the Columbia River Yachting Association members certainly paid off. It is easy to anticipate that if TBYC continues to do the same in years to come, we could have a doin's as big as that in Seattle. And well we should!!

There should be a nice donation to our charity of choice at the end of this club year. One space was actually sold three times before the day was over. In all we sold between 45 and 50 spaces. We asked around every so often to see how things were selling, and they were selling good.
There was some great stuff. And ... it started being swapped, sold, and carted off before the event was even officially open for business.

The crowd began to assemble about 0630 (not counting the fellow who parked there all night to make sure he got a prime spot.) Commodore Rick, Vice Commodore Gordon, and Vice Commodore of Power Allen were there at 0530 to set things up (We scoffed when they planned such an early time., weren't we the silly ones?) Vice Commodore of Sail Jim and members at large Roger DuVal and Carl Taylor arrived at 0630 to help.

Publisher Cheryl had the coffee on and the donuts ready to great the hungry hordes. A special thank you to Safeway who generously donated the donuts to our cause. An even  'more specialer' thank you to xxx, spouse of the Secretary, for going down and offering Safeway the opportunity to do so. When the donuts were gone Meghan Taylor was at the ready with her annual, and much anticipated, fresh brownies - still hot. To die for.

Those of you who were in attendance had the opportunity to see the TBYC clothing catalog and some samples that Secretary Lorraine had on display. Their will be another prime opportunity to see the catalog and order some merchandise at the upcoming Pig Roast, June 24 - 25 (early birds arrive the 23rd.)

Thanks to everyone who helped. Not everyone is mentioned but it was everyone's willingness to pitch in and help out that made the swap meet such a success. What a great bunch of people!

Sarah D.
 

MARTIN  ISLAND  SLOUGH CRUISE

Well now, wasn't that just a little bit special??? Monsoon, torrential, steady and unwanted, unpredicted rain downpour. I thought it would drown out the noise the two on the boat next to me were making, but no, it wasn't enough.

What a bunch of good sports, Gordon and Cheryl, sharing everything they had with others, Alan and Virginia, hosting and hostessing the whole weekend, John and Debbie pitching in, new members, new cruisers, old friends, newbees, gosh, I was excited. We are getting back to the "old" TBYC, just a bunch of friendly cruisers, having a good time, accepting everyone, (not you Carl, sit down) opening their boats, their homes to strangers to have a good time and pass on stories, experiences, etc.

I was proud to represent the club. Jon Bake finally got his "Past Commodore " shirt, Jim and Cathy Murphy worked their buns off to pull off the poker run in the torrent, what a bunch of troopers!

OK, for the record, I liked running out of water!

Kathy ran Glaoch Ne Mara ran  from the slough where she was tied alongside "UTOPIA," all the way  to the I-5 bridge (only stopped once to take a potty break). Impressive! She may come back, so watch for her to dock GLAOCH NE MARA at the Pig Roast!

Good food, thanks to Lorraine and Dave's planning, Alan's cheffing, everyone's help! Gordon cooks a mean bacon! When you next see your officers, please give them a "well done" they deserve it!

Pig roast is coming up, plan to volunteer to watch the pig, carve, something, it's too much fun.
Don't forget the cleanup of our beach area is coming up.

Commode door, Rick
 

CAN   YOU   PICTURE   THIS ?

Thursday afternoon, May 25, 2000, found four of the TBYC contingency making their way toward Martin Slough for the Memorial Day rafting excursion.  If only they-and you-knew what laid before them!

By 18:40, Dock Holiday, Utopia, Glaoch Ne Mara and the 10-Speed Bar, Grill and Tug were rafted together and ready to begin the long awaited weekend.  Thursday evening was fairly uneventful and everyone retired fairly early.

Friday morning brought over cast skies with many sun breaks throughout the day.  Dingy's were readied as were PWCs for action as the weather permitted.  By mid-afternoon the warm weather enticed all present to venture out.  This being the first escape of this sort for the 10-Speed, Dave and Lorraine were anxious to explore the area.  Dave and Gordon ventured forth first checking out the wildlife, inlets and coves.  Rick Brady and his weekend guest, Kathy Jo Johnston, took a power dingy (Rick's dingy is 'oarsome') for a cruise around the area and were encountered by Lorraine on the Wave Runner on their return leg. Lorraine's goal of getting them wet with the jet ski was totally successful but her efforts also cost her a pair of prescription sunglasses and a lump on her head as the machine proved more than she could handle.  It made for a good laugh the rest of the weekend though!

Friday afternoon brought Dawg Pound to our menagerie and before settling around The Beach and swim platforms of Dock Holiday and Utopia Friday night, Allen and Virginia invited us into their "home" to watch the Blazers lose.  Drat!  With the onset of sunset, Dave and Lorraine brought out their Little Baja fireplace and Rick and Kathy, John and Debi Hoefer plus son Bob, and Dave and Lorraine continued their party ways by firelight and singing to the oldies.  Bob Hoefer was dismayed to find there would be no "techno" music played on their station.  He didn't quite get it when the Venture's playing Pipeline came on the radio and we assured him that this was techno-for the crowd sitting on the boat.

Saturday brought more boats-MurSea, Bliss, Aquarius, Refuge, Lazy B II and more.  As Lazy B II was arriving, Kathy Jo asked if there had been a Lazy B I.  We told her there was and when Jon and Cindy buy their next boat, it will probably be Lazy B III.  Kathy questioned, "If they get a boat after that, does that mean they were LazyB4?"

Under the guidance of Jim Murphy, the poker run course was laid out and marked.  Jim has decided that jet skis are the only way to mark the course due to their flexibility.  The usual multiple hour task was complete in less than 45 minutes.

Saturday evening found the Little Baja fireplace on the upper deck of Utopia.  With the tunes playing and the fire roaring, there was much laughing and dancing.  Drinks of all imaginings were available and Bob Hoefer (with mom's permission, of course) sampled sipping tequila for the first time.  New members, Steve and Debbie (friends of John and Debi Hoefer and only here three years from England) got a real introduction to American Tom Foolery as we all carried on and had quite a wild time.  Everyone safely exited the upper deck and most were tucked snug in their beds by midnight.

Sunday was the rainiest day of all and spirits lagged, and lagged even deeper after another Blazer loss viewed at Allen and Virginia's.  If not for the nice surroundings and good company, it would have been a really crummy day.  Spirits and participation for the poker run were a little lacking and St Helen's Yacht Club again snagged all three winning hands.  We really need more TBYC participation if we are going to keep any of this money for ourselves.

As the drizzle continued, concern grew for the success of the dingy potluck as well as Monday morning's group breakfast.  A contingency plan was contrived and Allen, Dave and Lorraine set to securing plastic tarp from the stern of Dock Holiday, across the swim platform and over the 10-Speed.  The potluck was finally hosted by Dock Holiday and, once again, the food was outstanding.  Nobody went home hungry Sunday night.

Monday morning brought more showers and we were glad our impromptu awning was in place.  Allen manned the grill on Dock Holiday frying up elk sausage (provided by Commode Door Rick Brady) and French toast while Lorraine served short-order eggs from The Beach.  In all, six loaves of bread, a half gallon of milk and over four dozen eggs, three pounds of pepper bacon plus countless sausage were consumed by the throng.  (If you've never dined with TBYC for a group breakfast, you have no idea what you are missing.)

By noon boats were beginning to make their way out of the slough, into the Columbia toward other destinations-mostly home.  Seas were pretty rough on the way home as river traffic was heavy with pleasure boats and commercial traffic alike.  Jon and Cindy Bake, Lazy B II, took Multnomah Channel home to avoid some of the rough water.  Dave and Lorraine Creek, 10-Speed Bar, Grill and Tug, have to reinforce their splash guard as all of the screws holding it in place were pulled free and the guard was bent more than six inches when encountering 2 ½ to 4 foot swells over the top over The Beach.

All in all it was a great weekend.  There was much discussion and conniving for next months trip to East Dock and the Pig Roast.  Plan now to attend.  We are having more fun than is probably legal in some places, but as Daryl Singletary says, "There ain't no such thing as having too much fun!"  I really think this should be adopted as our club motto.

Lorraine Creek
 

TBYC  JUNE  NEWSLETTER   -   Part II

PIG ROAST  June 24 and 25
Bring your favorite dance CD's to help round out the entertainment on Saturday night. We have invited SIYC to attend, there are a lot of joint members.

Watch for the barge this year, IT WILL BE MONSTOROUS! The small one is unavailable. I plan to deck it out for your dancing pleasure with canopy, music, ramps, drinks, lights, more food, it should be great  !!! The sand castle contest will tax your imagination, so get clever. Boy will that make some pictures!!!

See ya there,
Commode door Rick
 

BEFORE YOU RECYCLE...........

While plastic pop bottles may be worth a nickel you may find they are worth more as funnels.  At a nickel they are also disposable.  This is also true of plastic bottles containing juices, detergents and water.  Some of the bottles have convenient handles.  Depending on where you cut the bottle you can have deep or shallow funnels.

Many of you already use plastic bottles for bailing but how about oil changes?  The gallon size water and milk bottles can be very useful when changing oil or other fluids.  Cut into pieces you can have a funnel with a handle that is very flexible and can be pushed into tight places to redirect fluids when draining equipment.  The bottom portion can also be used to catch drips.

You can create an assortment of funnels tailored to your specific requirements.  There are many neck sizes, the neck of the cranberry juice bottles fits snugly in the standard radiator opening, enough to stay put while adding more coolant.  You may also find that this funnel will also fit the fill hole of the expansion chamber of your diesel furnace.  The neck of a pop bottle will fit over PVC water pipe and with a little tape to prevent leakage, you can have a funnel for hard to reach places.

Funnel any additional ideas you may have for the versatile plastic bottle my way and I will pass them on in another newsletter.

Allen Buntjer
 

ADOPT  A  RIVER  JUNE  CLEANUP  EVENT
What a crew! Those "lucky enough" to make the river cleanup Saturday found a ton of trash on our banks to collect and transport to the lot and dumpsters. Present for the event were: Rick Brady, Allen Buntjer, Roger and Sarah DuVal, John Hoefer, Udo Kuhn and Bev Snow, Lorraine and Dave Creek, Cheryl and Gordon Spalding, Jim and Karen Sulac, and Carl Taylor.

Torrential rain dampened clothing but not spirits as the crew loaded the TenSpeed Bar and Grill with everything from mud filled tires to metal roofing, plastic pipes to chain link fencing, barbed wire (oweee!) to shredded tarps, fireworks to a pair of panties in a sleeping bag! (no, I know nothing!) What a mess.

Dave and Lorraine's pontoon boat was loaded to the max several times, non-encapsulated foam, rebar, the list goes on and on. The pictures will be priceless! (thanks a lot Lorraine, I told you not to take that one!) Pretty darn successful, what a bunch of troopers!

Rick Brady
 
 

Newsletter Archives:
TBYC  Newsletter 11/99
TBYC Newsletter 01/00
TBYC Newsletter 02/00
TBYC Newsletter 03/00
TBYC Newsletter 04-05/00