What makes the money spent worth it?
Posted: June 13th, 2017, 3:50 pm
Besides drag racing and aviation I can't think of too many recreational activities that require substantial investment in $ to do like boating does. I know there's lots of arguments either way on that but, that's been my experience.
One of the many things that makes it worth it for me is some things I've been able to see that I may never have gotten the chance to only because I was on a boat at the right place at the right time. For instance, my wife and I were enjoying early morning coffee in a cove in the upper Chesapeake area. Bald Eagles are making a come back with a vengeance in the bay. Territorial disputes are being played out between ospreys and eagles and amongst eagles themselves. While we were sitting on the back deck we saw an osprey pick up what looked like a fairly decent white perch. The bird flew toward shore and under cover of the overhanging tree limbs. It's flight seemed odd but the reason soon became clear. No less that 4 immature and 1 mature eagle came over the canopy and 1 eagle started in on the osprey. It didn't take long for the osprey to turn, make a sorry attempt at escape, and just drop the fish at which point the eagle just pulled off and let the fish and the osprey alone. Then another one of the eagles went for the fish at which point it was chased by a 3rd eagle. The action got serious now. The chaser and the chased were going at it. At one point the chased bird turns upside down in mid flight and raises its talons at the other bird daring it to continue. That's when they both flew off in different directions. It was like watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Where else do you get a chance to see stuff like this. I've been watching birds, hunting and fishing for decades now and I've never seen something like this. Little things like this add up and make it all worth it.
What makes it worth it to you?
One of the many things that makes it worth it for me is some things I've been able to see that I may never have gotten the chance to only because I was on a boat at the right place at the right time. For instance, my wife and I were enjoying early morning coffee in a cove in the upper Chesapeake area. Bald Eagles are making a come back with a vengeance in the bay. Territorial disputes are being played out between ospreys and eagles and amongst eagles themselves. While we were sitting on the back deck we saw an osprey pick up what looked like a fairly decent white perch. The bird flew toward shore and under cover of the overhanging tree limbs. It's flight seemed odd but the reason soon became clear. No less that 4 immature and 1 mature eagle came over the canopy and 1 eagle started in on the osprey. It didn't take long for the osprey to turn, make a sorry attempt at escape, and just drop the fish at which point the eagle just pulled off and let the fish and the osprey alone. Then another one of the eagles went for the fish at which point it was chased by a 3rd eagle. The action got serious now. The chaser and the chased were going at it. At one point the chased bird turns upside down in mid flight and raises its talons at the other bird daring it to continue. That's when they both flew off in different directions. It was like watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Where else do you get a chance to see stuff like this. I've been watching birds, hunting and fishing for decades now and I've never seen something like this. Little things like this add up and make it all worth it.
What makes it worth it to you?