The Bigfella
07-06-2007, 05:22 AM
I bumped into a couple of mates of mine doing some overdue maintenance on the old fella's fishing boat today.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p318b593331cc2ddba421f870cbef80ec/e8b83da5.jpg
Crumpie is 80 years old and has fished the Hawkesbury since the year dot. He and his wife live in a house on the river, built by friends after his last one slipped in to the river. The one before burnt down - back around WW2 times and he and Lorraine moved into a large cave just around the corner from Grantala. Richard was giving him a hand - which is fabulous, as I reckon Richard would be able to buy the river if he wanted to.
They've had a few setbacks lately. Lorraine (she'd be about 82 by now) broke her hip and Crumpie has had a few strokes - but they've had a good go at life. I haven't taken a six-pack over to their place for a while, but I must admit it's good value when you do - sitting on their front verandah, watching the world go by and yarning about the river. I really should take a tape recorder and get some on tape.
Crumpie has the best crab cooking setup I've ever seen. We've had it on the Albatross, a cut-down brewery 18 gallon keg (that'd be about 20 gallons for the one country on earth with its own measures) which houses a propane ring and a pot for the crabs - and a running river water pump. Throw in a few muddies (mud crabs) and .... fabulous.
Crumpie is selling the Albatross and associated licences - which is tempting, but I just agreed to start a new company with some mates. Hmmm - river fishing or IT leasing? hmmm.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p318b593331cc2ddba421f870cbef80ec/e8b83da5.jpg
Crumpie is 80 years old and has fished the Hawkesbury since the year dot. He and his wife live in a house on the river, built by friends after his last one slipped in to the river. The one before burnt down - back around WW2 times and he and Lorraine moved into a large cave just around the corner from Grantala. Richard was giving him a hand - which is fabulous, as I reckon Richard would be able to buy the river if he wanted to.
They've had a few setbacks lately. Lorraine (she'd be about 82 by now) broke her hip and Crumpie has had a few strokes - but they've had a good go at life. I haven't taken a six-pack over to their place for a while, but I must admit it's good value when you do - sitting on their front verandah, watching the world go by and yarning about the river. I really should take a tape recorder and get some on tape.
Crumpie has the best crab cooking setup I've ever seen. We've had it on the Albatross, a cut-down brewery 18 gallon keg (that'd be about 20 gallons for the one country on earth with its own measures) which houses a propane ring and a pot for the crabs - and a running river water pump. Throw in a few muddies (mud crabs) and .... fabulous.
Crumpie is selling the Albatross and associated licences - which is tempting, but I just agreed to start a new company with some mates. Hmmm - river fishing or IT leasing? hmmm.