I left Bradenton, Fl at around 6:30 am on Thurs thinking I'd hit Atlanta around 2:30 pm and it worked out very well that way. Breezed through Atlanta and was in a clean motel about 60 miles south of Nashville around 6:30. Ate some shrimp and a cold Turkey sandwich that I'd brought with me. Read, stretched
and took a nice walk. Got to sleep early and awoke early Fri am and beat the Nashville rush hr. I had planed to stop by RAH and JamieE both but was making such good time without Interstate lag that I postponed my visits in hopes of getting home early. I really wanted to meet these two but the thought of being HOME early was too great. Unloading into a cold, powerless tin trailer with no running water isn't fun. When I got home I found I didn't have a key to the trailer or barn so called my daughter who lives about 23 miles away for assistance. She was in the middle of changing her oil and said 'm it would take about an hr. For the next hr I just walked the pond and property. The deer were very harsh on my young willows but left all the Spruce and pines alone. Last yr I spent a frantic week fencing them all in. The rabbits however girdled quite a few branches on the apple, pear and spruce trees. I was pleased with that trade off. Found two YP egg ribbons and no floaters or smell of decaying fish. The pond is full pool + and I'm one exhausted but extremely happy home boy. Took most all day cleaning and putting things away. Church early tomorrow and then finish cleaning and putting away.
I have so many blessings that I'm the most fortunate man I know. God Bless all on here and have a wonderful Easter.

Bob welcome home glad ur trip was peaceful happy Easter from the rookie

Glad you made it back safe and found things mostly how you wanted them to be...

Bob, welcome back! You ready for the 12" of snow that's predicted for the end of next week?

Hey Bob I don't blame you for being anxious to get home. Glad to hear you found some YP ribbons in the pond. Maybe you'll see some YP recruitment this year!

Glad you made it out early-I-24W is a PITA in the morning.

Got an extra bedroom here if you need it sometime-2 minutes off interstate.

However, you will be required to sign the "Hoosiers against HBG" declaration which I'm intending to forward to Sparkie's congressman, in hopes of outlawing genetically modified fauna in private waters within the state of Indiana.

Bob,

Glad you're back safe and sound. We will have to arrange your getting those male yellow perch from the tank at some point.

Glad you're back home. Only 4 years left until I return to middle GA. Been away for 27 years now. I can only imagine how anxious you were to get back.

Glad that you are home safe. Sorry that we did not get to visit with you. We did get the vegetable field tilled, and will hopefully get the beds built, the drip irrigation laid, and the plastic down before we are off to a friends for an annual Easter gathering of families. Sometimes the weather does not align with plans and it gets hectic. Happy Easter to all!

Back home in Indiana....glad you had a safe trip Bob, and that things looked good upon your return.

Yolk I have to admit that initially, your statement caused me some concern. However I then realized that your effort to legislate ENHANCED brim was doomed to failure, due simply to your misguided attempt to incorporate state government into your plans. Nothing gets accomplished here in the Hoosier state without a great many years of deliberation, consideration, consternation, and eventually, resignation.

Instead of a declaration, might I suggest that future attempts in this direction involve a favorite libation? By my reckoning it usually produces quicker results.

Hahahaha!!

Sparkie, I don't mind wasting time, effort, and even money on a noble, if doomed, cause, but I'll be danged if I'll waste any libations.

I guess it's back to the old drawing board.

It was a Miracle today.

Hit the road and not one time today did I encounter anyone holding up traffic because they were driving slow.

First of all, thank ya all! Took me better than a day to post but when yer as old and slow as I am, that ain't really bad.
Rookie, thanks for the good wishes for a good Easter. It was a good one. Five friends and five relates just dropped by ta help me settle in. Mostly rid pond of pampered and hungry fish. Well, some "poor us, 80+ inches of snow and dang you wanna be Mex tan" banter.
CJ, sounds like travlin from here to there time to time you understand "found things mostly how ya wanted them to be" isn't always what it sounds to be.
Essup, your words of encouragement have successfully dashed my hopes after reading the Morels post. Also in return of the encouragement, I hope the turkeys are roosted on your feeder.
Jamie, thanks. If the YP don't recruit I can always threaten Cecil to impersonate the PETA naked freaks on his pier to extort some yoy.
Yolk Sac, ya must be near Nashville. My daughter lived in Peagram for toooo long. She and my grandkids started speakin hillberish. It is a very kind invite to have me shelter at your place for a night but you've never met a flatland hilljack.
Cecil, why would you be glad to see my return? All I ever do is ask favors of you. Oh, by the way got any extra male YP
RW, 27 yrs is a good 1/4 of a lifetime. Upon your return you will recognize some things and be astonished by others. Keep an open mind. The ONLY thing that doesn't change is change,
RAH, regret not getting together but sounds like you work much harder than this ol boy, Someday soon I hope.
Sparkplug, between you, Yolk and them big city words, all I can sat is if I want bigger brim, I'll just get a bigger cowboy hat.
And finally last but certainly NOT least, Jakob, that is a nice pic of a young you experimenting with the effects of electricity on your nervous system and effects on electrical brain incorporation. However it documents that inexperience of such undertakings leaves one a bit disadvantaged. I had my first Afro at 3 because Bobby pins (later named Bob-O pins) complete the circuit.

Have the neighbors notified the constabulary that you're back?

Bob: Me too! Turkey season opens Wednesday. It sure would save me some time!!

....we have a barn out back. Surely you didn't think I was inviting you into our HOUSE, did you?

Bob, you must be special!!! Best offer I ever get from yolk is to get a little pond water when I drive through Nashville...

Rex, I've looked into hosting you, but my agent tells me I just can't buy that much insurance on the open market, and FEMA doesn't sell to individuals.

DD, not necessary. We all kinda govern our own little plots.
Yolk, a barn would be a luxury. Back in the Bud days when we'd go campin we'd drape a tarp over a picnic table and walla, instant tent. An arm served well as a pillow.
Rex, ya gotta say thang instead of thing.
Scott , I said that thinkin ya wouldn't sacrifice a feeder for a turkey.

Bob, no need to sacrafice the feeder. Accuracy rules!!

As long as you don't have any PVC pipes laying around you're good!

He won't...soon!

Bob, I went to college in Oklahoma, I make a hick sound accent free.