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All I got to say is that I'm glad I got out with speedo intact - LOL j/k!
It was great fun, good diving (for land lovers), good food!
I'm all for the next trip back and as Matt said he and I are returning to take Calvin's salvage class very soon.
Timelapse Memory:
1. Arrive at Athens Scuba Park in the bug encrusted Ranger Edge Dive-anywhere-mobile.
2. See suspected SD.com members filandering about the pavillion upon arrival.
3. Check in, met Calvin, get the low down, and mention "We're here for SD.com"
4. Calvin laughs. States "There right here around the back, I'll introduce you" (apply sinister laugh here)
5. Pull around, get a good spot, meet the crew.
6. Pleasant bunch of pirates has already commenced 12oz. curls for some time.
7. Apply generous amount of DEET or other mesquito-bator.
8. Settle in, commence my own 12oz. curls once camp is set up.
9. Girls notice that my tangerine speedo is not a true speedo, but just a simple, elegantly stitched pair of orange cargo shorts. (again with sinister laugh)
10. Hit the pool and hot tub.
11. Get more guff about the speedo thing from WW and Fingrabber ?
12. Commence back to the pavillion and do more 12oz. curls.
13. Crew begins to disappear into their tents slowly one by one as the evening becomes misty and unrecognizable, even to the fireants.
14. Someone mentioned something about a train.
15. Miraculously, I find my tent entrance and crawl in to my new airbed. It's hot.
16. Night becomes early morning as I doze off thinking about the next days dive and some old Jaques Cousteau footage.
17. 3-4am - from out of nowhere the train whistle blasts a toot like a fog horn on crack. Might as well been right up my wazoo. Interesting. This must have been something to do with someone mentioning something about a train.
18. 7:30 am Saturday. Calvin kindly puts on some hi-fi mariachi and that gets my attention.
19. Yup- I'm definately HUNGOVER, but alive.
20. Mosey on over to find Calvin having a brisk sit at the front door obviously observant of the past nights activities and fraternization, he exclaims "Need some coffee?" Need some coffee? Hmm, uhm yeah does it come with a train whistle ? lol
21. Drop tank off and mosey on back to base camp. Observe various monsters emerging from their caves and crevices to an obvious delight that we are all gonna be ok.
22. Have some bitchen breakfast burritos.
23. Regain health and strength to achieve the first morning's dive. This is my first time at Athens, so I'm eager said the beaver.
24. Eyeball those cats across the pond getting 20-30 rigs set up for classes and thought, yeah nows prob a good time to get in.
25. Dive the jet, the other plane, and a couple boats.
26. Surface interval, rehydration, and the emancipation proclamation...
27. Air up, get in, dive the other side of the park.
28. Vis was getting crappy by the early afternoon due to classes and novice divers doing jumping jacks on the bottom.
29. Feel good, did some great dives, had a wonderful time.
30. Time to kick back, socialize some more, inquire about that BBQ, the "other" members who didn't show up, and various scandelous subjects.
31. Everyone's back on shore, wrapped up till later for the night dive.
32. Night dive = 30 min. The big jet was getting gang raped by aliens in the dark abyss and everyone realizes it's as WW said "Beer 30"
33. Repeat #12
33. Give shakedown to WW about wth is going with those damn beans on the grill and "ARE YOU STIRRING THEM OR WHAT THEIR GONNA BURN WENCH!" lol
34. BBQ was great. Smoked well. Good cook. Props to your mad skillz.
35. Repeat #12
36. Hot tubs bumpin' and WW saved the day with supplying some "D" not "C" cup, I mean batteries... for my boom box.
37. I'm humbled and WW rocks, literally.
38. Repeat #12
39. Out of the dark night sky I hear "Yes my son, it's time to turn in and be cool, because if you don't now, your gonna hate it tomorrow". Yes God, I'm down wit dat.
40. Return to air mattress and secure comfortable fetal position. Pacified.
41. Again out of the abyssal black night comes the thing with the train, at least for this moment it's comic, yet still deeply bone jittering annoying after so many step #12's. Can you make earplugs out of grass and twigs?
42. Someone is standing outside my tent at 7:30 asking am I alive?
43. Yup, after a good ole' Michael Jackson crotch check and laughing about the train, planes, and automobiles thiz is a good frigin time.
44. Tell self "Suck it up soldier" and respond to WW "Yes, I'm on the way"
45. Insert another life saving burrito here.
46. Visualisation of the various monsters emerging from their protective nylon caves.
47. Rehydrate, do the truffle shuffle, and get some more air.
48. Did a another full tank dive in the am just prior to everyone raiding the lake.
49. Had a wonderful time exploring the various wrecks and meeting Calvin the owner.
50. Had an even better time breaking the ice with WW n' tha gang and seemingly trying to make everyone understand that it's not REALLY a speedo..... it's a boot cut speedo!
LOL - You all were fun, I had a pleasure meeting all who attended and more in the future!
I was wiped out, and put away wet!
Thanks for not biting,
I'm fragile, and innocent....
Christopher
