Twice a year we have Dock Day. This time of year, that means the dock is coming out. There’s a certain satisfaction in getting everything buttoned up and ready for winter, but there’s also a sadness that our civilized connector to the lake is being removed.
We have a fair amount of elevation to the lake where we live, so we have some extra challenges with where to put the dock for the winter. The current method is to rest it on the hill. Dave installed a winch so I could easily assist in getting it to its resting point, where it would securely stay put.
The first several dozen turns of this crank are like coasting on a bike downhill. You wonder why your assistance is needed at all and feel a little glib about how easy this is going to be. Your position on the hill is relaxed and you feel comfortable heckling the guy in the water about all the futzing around on their end.
The next stage has you feeling a little warm around the edges and balancing your stance on the hill with slippery leaves underfoot brings out your inner billygoat. You feel this job isn’t so bad, but it’s a little hard. Still – it would be more fun doing something else.
By the time the thing is completely in place, you’ve practically cranked both arms completely off, alternating individual arms and using the both-arms-at-the-same-time method. At the end, you seriously regret eating that bowl of corn and shrimp chowder for lunch and the knees in your jeans are wet from crawling up the hill on your hands and knees. Or is that just me?!?
This is where you pat each other on the back and say, “That wasn’t that hard. Nice job!” Then you dream of the next time you do this, when gravity will be on your side and you can heckle the whole time. Sweet.