. . . Jeff summons all hands on deck to pull our floats from the St. George River.
But couldn't he have done so before the first significant snowstorm and cold snap of 2010? Instead, on December 8, Jeff, Brian, Toby, Steve, James, and Carl had to shovel 4" of the white stuff off the floats and break ice from the hinge pins before the annual "roundup" could begin.
As each float was freed and shoved into the current, Jeff caught up with it in his beloved Carolina Skiff workboat, whose bow is equipped with a special push pad we fabricated. Then our fearless leader herded the float along and nudged it into to the rip-rap section of the riverbank. There, Carl and James got slings around it and plucked the float from the water, stacking it with the others "on the hard" for the winter season.
Most of the crew got wet (especially Steve), and temperatures in the mid-twenties left nearly everybody cold (literally). Any minor grumbling died quickly, however, as Jeff treated us to a pair of large, hot "meat-lover's" pizzas from nearby Athens Pizzeria*.
All of us at Jeff's Marine hope that you have a wonderful holiday season, filled with the warmth of family and good friends.
* If you haven't yet tried the pizza—and the other food—at Athens Pizzeria, then you're missing something. (It's right in the middle of Thomaston at 179 Main Street; just look for the big red awning.) From tangy Greek salads to savory meatball subs, the Athens crew turns lunch-menu standards into real treats. Stop in next time you bring us a boat and/or motor for service!
