Judi Thompson
David, with you I shared some of the most amazing and unforgettable experiences. Not only with you and Erika in San Francisco, but on board Pursuit – fishing.
Wow! That first trip we did to the Three Kings was amazing. In typical Gong fashion you thirsted for adventure, to do something different, pushing boundaries, and we joined in 100%.
I wondered what I’d let myself in for when we arrived – 50 miles off the top of New Zealand – into those huge swells where the Tasman and the Pacific Oceans meet – in our little 45 footer.
Marlin like we had never seen the like of before throwing us all into pandemonium- and you – in your element, cranking on the 80lb gear like it was cotton. Then came the one that took you past the hour mark.
“This is bullshit” you said, no fish has ever taken me an hour to land.
To this day I can see that big, beautiful Black Marlin as we walked her alongside—desperate to release her. It was not to be and then came the ordeal of getting her on board. That was also not to be either. I vividly recall you guys taking turns, hanging over the back, dealing to the flesh and me thinking this is not a good look. If one of them goes over the side, they are on their way to Chile.
7:00 a.m. - the 50 wide screaming out, David’s great friend Steve Gioto is on strike and comes racing out of the bunk room - grabs the rod and starts reeling - only to be told by you that the fish is in the opposite direction! Poor Steve, no contacts in and was hard out reeling one way while the fish was madly jumping the other!
He never lived that down! Such was the camaraderie between you and Steve—it kept us laughing the whole trip!
Very special times for which I thank you.
Now you can regale the Angels with your fishing exploits.
Tight lines dear Friend,
-Judi Thompson
Whakatane, New Zealand
Wow! That first trip we did to the Three Kings was amazing. In typical Gong fashion you thirsted for adventure, to do something different, pushing boundaries, and we joined in 100%.
I wondered what I’d let myself in for when we arrived – 50 miles off the top of New Zealand – into those huge swells where the Tasman and the Pacific Oceans meet – in our little 45 footer.
Marlin like we had never seen the like of before throwing us all into pandemonium- and you – in your element, cranking on the 80lb gear like it was cotton. Then came the one that took you past the hour mark.
“This is bullshit” you said, no fish has ever taken me an hour to land.
To this day I can see that big, beautiful Black Marlin as we walked her alongside—desperate to release her. It was not to be and then came the ordeal of getting her on board. That was also not to be either. I vividly recall you guys taking turns, hanging over the back, dealing to the flesh and me thinking this is not a good look. If one of them goes over the side, they are on their way to Chile.
7:00 a.m. - the 50 wide screaming out, David’s great friend Steve Gioto is on strike and comes racing out of the bunk room - grabs the rod and starts reeling - only to be told by you that the fish is in the opposite direction! Poor Steve, no contacts in and was hard out reeling one way while the fish was madly jumping the other!
He never lived that down! Such was the camaraderie between you and Steve—it kept us laughing the whole trip!
Very special times for which I thank you.
Now you can regale the Angels with your fishing exploits.
Tight lines dear Friend,
-Judi Thompson
Whakatane, New Zealand
posted by D. Sedcole | 9:02 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home