A roll of toilet paper, the flashing red buoy and the Coast Guard

[Fishing Rhino]

 

Westport River facing west.  At the upper left corner of the image is the Atlantic Ocean.  The tip of the point of land that separates the river from the ocean is a large rock formation known as "The Nubble".  A few hundred yards into the river is Charlton's Wharf and across the channel from the wharf is a red lighted navigation buoy.

 

We were returning from a spring day's lobstering.  A day in which we found one of our rolls of toilet paper had been left where it got wet.  My mind hatched a scheme as to how we would dispose of the useless roll of tp.  As we entered the river, I told Spencer to get on the bow with the soggy roll.

 

I steered the boat into the tide and nudged it up to the buoy.  The red plastic lens had a post about a quarter inch in diameter and about five inches lond at the top of the lens.  Spencer placed the toilet paper on the buoy and we returned to the dock, wondering how long our ornament would remain.

 

It was still there the next morning as we were heading out for a day's fishing.  It was still there when we returned. 

 

The toilet paper remained through May, June, July, August.  By now, it had been battered by downpours.  It was dimpled as though it had been peppered by hail.  Still it maintained its proud perch keeping watch over the activities on the river.  It lasted through the rest of the fishing season, still doing its job as a sentinel.

 

We didn't think anything about it during the off season, but when we set our first load of gear in late February, it was still there, looking as bedraggled as ever.  Through March, April, and into May, it stood firm.  In late May as we were leaving the river a Coast Guard buoy tender was tied up to Charlton's Wharf.  It had the buoy on deck for refurbishing.  

 

We shared a laugh, hoping the Coasties would be amused by the addition to their navigation aid.

 

Apparently they were.  When we returned, they had completed their service of the buoy, and when they set it back into the river, they placed the roll of toilet paper back on its perch.  It survived the rest of the season and was still there when we passed by with our last load of gear to end the season.

 

The next spring, it was gone.  Whether it was kidnapped, or finally disintegrated we'll never know.  But for two years it brought us a bit of fun.

[roadwarrior]

Something you will only find here on BassResource.com!

 

[S. Sass]

What brand? 

Maybe a selling point? 

Maybe not if its that tough might stop up the sewer. 

 

Entertaining story though. 

[Fishing Rhino]

The entrance to the river is called "The Devil's Pocketbook".

 

"Another interesting point of history is connected with a natural phenomenon found at the harbor mouth. Because the beach curves around to the west, from the open sea the mouth of the river disappears and presents an unbroken coastline. This illusion afforded early smugglers, and later, Revolutionists, an easy escape from the pursuing British, literally vanishing before their eyes, so often that they came to call it the Devil’s Pocketbook, a name still applied to the region…"

[deaknh03]

So what did you use after the roll got wet?

[Gundog]

2 hours ago, deaknh03 said:

So what did you use after the roll got wet?

Lets just say if you ever meet him don't shake his hand. 

[Fishing Rhino]

7 hours ago, deaknh03 said:

So what did you use after the roll got wet?

 

We always kept more than one roll on the boat to cover that contingency.  They were stowed in a watertight container.  Someone, who will remain unnamed, did not put it back in its proper place after use.

[Fisher-O-men]

19 hours ago, S. Sass said:

What brand?

Must have been the brand that Costco sells in bulk: MARATHON!  Always thought that was a strange name for TP.

[N Florida Mike]

For some reason,that reminds me of the time I got out of the boat onto a cypress tree to pee and my " friends " took off and left me there for awhile....

[Fisher-O-men]

4 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

For some reason,that reminds me of the time I got out of the boat onto a cypress tree to pee and my " friends " took off and left me there for awhile....

You certainly don't need enemies!  I reckon they came back.

[Gundog]

5 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

For some reason,that reminds me of the time I got out of the boat onto a cypress tree to pee and my " friends " took off and left me there for awhile....

Sounds like something I'd do to someone. Which is why I usually fish alone. 

[N Florida Mike]

Fun times though.One of them was good at making hatbands and other items out of snake skins,usually moccasins.The other friend was deathly afraid of snakes.You can imagine where that ended up regularly....