Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 385 Entries. Friday, March 1 View Page Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, Friday, March 1 View Page A tale of a fateful trip Friday, March 1 View Page That started from this tropic port Friday, March 1 View Page Aboard this tiny ship. Friday, March 1 View Page The mate was a mighty sailing man, Friday, March 1 View Page The skipper brave and sure. Friday, March 1 View Page Seven passengers set sail that day Friday, March 1 View Page For a five day tour,........ a five day tour. Friday, March 1 View Page The weather started getting rough, Friday, March 1 View Page The tiny ship was tossed, Friday, March 1 View Page If not for the courage of the fearless crew Friday, March 1 View Page Jack's Cell phone would be Lost...... Friday, March 1 View Page Jack's Cell Phone would be lost........ Friday, March 1 View Page The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle Friday, March 1 View Page With Sherwood........ Friday, March 1 View Page The Skipper too, ....... Friday, March 1 View Page The millionaire ....... Friday, March 1 View Page and his Bro....... Friday, March 1 View Page The Wizzzy One.... Friday, March 1 View Page The professor and Friday, March 1 View Page Jack LaRue...... Friday, March 1 View Page Here on Gilligans Isle. Friday, March 1 View Page Here on GilliganZ..... Friday, March 1 View Page Isle..... Friday, March 1 View Page Welcome to the diary....of the Magnificent Lake Mead Seven..... Friday, March 1 View Page Dont Go AnywhereZ...... Friday, March 1 View Page We will be right back...after theZe important....commericalZ...... Friday, March 1 View Page This program is brought to you by MyExtreme Gardening and \ Mycos http://www.xtreme-gardening.com/products/mykos-wp Friday, March 1 View Page and The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth....... Friday, March 1 View Page and Also by Sprint.... Make sure your cell phone haZ a signal on Lake Mead...... Friday, March 1 View Page ANd now...back to our story..... Friday, March 1 View Page The Magnificent Lake Mead Seven waZ brought together by Eddy Z....also known as Iceman...and a few other nameZ.... Friday, March 1 View Page Eddy rented a nice luxuryous house boat.... Friday, March 1 View Page With all the bellZ Friday, March 1 View Page WhistleZ..... Friday, March 1 View Page A top side party deck.... Friday, March 1 View Page That light up at night like a disco Friday, March 1 View Page Ian and Stewie...could cook up a dinner.... Friday, March 1 View Page We had a full kitchen to cook with.....Microwave, dishwasher, trash compactor... and Friday, March 1 View Page a few full tackle boxes..... Friday, March 1 View Page LetZ just say, we feared NO FISH..... . . . . <>< . ><> Friday, March 1 View Page The fish ate well.... Friday, March 1 View Page in fact......very well..... Sunday, March 3 View Page UK Girl shown here with Stewie, ate quite well and tipped the scale at 16.6 poundz.... Ill tell you what..TheZe Paton boyZ know how to fish and drive a boat, I never knew hard hard it really is to fish for carp....they seemed to know which food to leave alone.......and are quite the sport once you do hook one up. We let em all go, except for the two stiperZ Stewie cut up for dinner that Ian hooked Sunday, March 3 View Page UK Girl II...... Monday, March 4 View Page A look about the island....revealed....many beautiful colors..... Monday, March 4 View Page A walk to the top took a while, and was the only way to get a cell phone signal.....Jack did his Rocky imitation...Behold the beauty of Lake Mead.... Monday, March 4 View Page Monday, March 4 View Page Monday, March 4 View Page Monday, March 4 View Page Monday, March 4 View Page Monday, March 4 View Page Monday, March 4 View Page We moored up every night.... ruleZ for the Lake... This was our second night....after we went thru the Monday, March 4 View Page canyon.... Fish Finder showed schoolZ of fish at 30-32 meterZ.... Monday, March 4 View Page We fished up and down the canyon, floated in, bounced spoonZ off the wallZ, dropped anchovieZ over the side putting them down at 90 feet..... Monday, March 4 View Page but the striperZ where never seen by uZ in the infamous boilZ...... Monday, March 4 View Page While we were fishin..... Monday, March 4 View Page Jack went on hiZ walk about..... Monday, March 4 View Page This particular cove had beauty like no other.... Monday, March 4 View Page All kindZ of different rocks and plantZ... Monday, March 4 View Page Monday, March 4 View Page CaveZ and CoveZ Monday, March 4 View Page It was truly spectacular.... Monday, March 4 View Page This particular rock measure 12 feet across, and when you walke on pieces that were broken off, it sounded like you were walking on ceramic tileZ after they came out of a kiln..... Monday, March 4 View Page Then we ran into areaZ of beautiful veinZ of QuartZ... Monday, March 4 View Page ThiZ waZ truly a spectacular piece...we left on shore on the last day of the trip....... as waZ named.... IceRock Monday, March 4 View Page The XT 11 left...for the next adventure.....while Monday, March 4 View Page Us serious fisherman stayed back..... Tuesday, March 5 View Page ThoZe red cupZ had some magic WiZzzy Bloody MaryZ specially made for Ian and Stewy... we didnt need to eat breakfast....cuZ.... Tuesday, March 5 View Page Mr Catfish waZ swimmin around.... Tuesday, March 5 View Page We caught up to the boyZ on the Love Float later.....and Tuesday, March 5 View Page thatZ when we learn...... JACK's CELL PHONE WAS LOST Tuesday, March 5 View Page ..... Jack.... Tuesday, March 5 View Page LOST HIS CELL PHONE.....so we had to hep him find it.....clear across the other side of the lake...... Tuesday, March 5 View Page This didnt look good...... Tuesday, March 5 View Page and thiZ didnt look promising either..... Tuesday, March 5 View Page and neither did thiZ...... Wednesday, March 6 View Page Oh Jack...you didnt ...did you? Wednesday, March 6 View Page TGU, I mean Obama, I mean....Iceman...looked for in the couch... The Quote waZ......... Wednesday, March 6 View Page "I tore up that couch looking for it......." Wednesday, March 6 View Page We tried calling it...but we had NO SIGNALS..... Wednesday, March 6 View Page So we came up with a PLAN, Ian, WiZzzy and Jack where to head back into the storm, fuel up, and head out an hour across the lake.....in 6-7 foot white caps... while..... Wednesday, March 6 View Page Jim, Steve, Stewy and Eddy....stayed back.....moored up us for the oncoming storm... as we where advised by the marina...it was upon us.... Wednesday, March 6 View Page You sure WiZ... it lookZ nasty... and that cell phone... Wednesday, March 6 View Page Must of been worth....50 whole dollarZ US.... Wednesday, March 6 View Page So off we went....An Adventure we will never forget...... Thursday, March 7 View Page So we jumped back upon the "Minnow" and headed out. Ian, WiZzzy, and Jack.... Ian's plan was to head straight across to the opposite shore, where the wind should be much less.... Thursday, March 7 View Page ...Since I left my camera on the XT 11,and Jacks Phone/camera, well....it was lost.........the next shotZ will not actually depict the conditions we encountered....but show more of Lake Mead...and the distances traveled..... Thursday, March 7 View Page We started across, full throttle. We only had enough fuel to "get to the Marina" wind was coming from the starboard side.."right"..for you non seaman typeZ..... Thursday, March 7 View Page This pic showZ how far away the other side waZ.... We then turned into the wind, rode the canyon wallZ aZ close as we could...WizZZzy stood look out at the bow.. Ian at the helm. Jack wedged in the back behind the captains chair sitting on the deck.......Waves were crashing over the bow, as the wind sprayed water upon us. The Minnow was designed to float, even full of water (not a V type hull). But not the best boat for 30 mph winds and 6-7 foot waveZ...... Thursday, March 7 View Page Once we could see the Marina.....Ian turned the Minnow heading straight towards it....WaveZ and wind now coming diagonal from the PORT side... Ian and Stewy race sail boatZ back in the UK, and there waZ no better person to ride theZe waves in than Ian.....standing up and in control, hanging onto the wheel with both handZ. He steered in between the waveZ...attempting to riding the inside smoothest partZ whenever possible......White capZ abound... I held for my life at the front....our weightZ evenly distributed fore and aft... we made slow progres as we fought our way full throttle across towardZ the marina......for what seemed like an eternity.....When Thursday, March 7 View Page in mear micro second, the bow dipped down, the prop came out of the water, and the motor screamed at FULL throttle..... Thursday, March 7 View Page Thursday, March 7 View Page Friday, March 8 View Page Friday, March 8 View Page Once the prop re-engaged with another wave, our bow waZ pointed to the base of the wave...... Friday, March 8 View Page S L A P Friday, March 8 View Page The wave that came over the bow slapped me like I never been slapped before.....on the right side of my face....taking off me Friday, March 8 View Page WiZzzy hat and glasses......without me even knowing it......when I looked back at Ian....I saw my hat and glasses sitting on the seat three feet behind me........ Friday, March 8 View Page Jack LaRue sitting in 12" of water.....on the floor of the boat... Friday, March 8 View Page The inside shade cover of the boat two foot aboveZ Ians head waZ soaked...and dripping.....we took on a foot plus of water......into the boat.... Friday, March 8 View Page I waZ completely soaked...... Friday, March 8 View Page Ians Iphone waZ under water..... Friday, March 8 View Page We regained our composure....and kept heading towardZ the marina.... we were almost there..... Wednesday, March 13 View Page Filling up the Minnow co$t 187$...Emptying out our pocketZ of water....Priceless..... Wednesday, March 13 View Page On our way out of the marina, we took a vote on jacketing ourselves in safety..... Wednesday, March 13 View Page The consensus waZ...we would rather drown...than FreeZe to death...in the water... Wednesday, March 13 View Page OoopZ....wrong boat trip.....but when I think of life vests, ThiZ pic really comeZ to mind..... Wednesday, March 13 View Page Back across Lake Mead...we go.... Wind still high, we went alot slower across thiZ time.....WE were all cold... Wednesday, March 13 View Page Meanwhile.....the remaining crew on the XT 11 safely moored the float to the shore......For the storm to come that night..... Wednesday, March 13 View Page The Minnow crossing back across the canyon..... Wednesday, March 13 View Page The Canyon wallZ are gorgeous..... Wednesday, March 13 View Page We had a long wayZ to go....FreeZing....cold..as we where WET Wednesday, March 13 View Page We went at full Throttle.....thru the narrow wallZ.. Wednesday, March 13 View Page We came out of the canyon....on the other side.... Friday, March 15 View Page "Wilderness... is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." --Wilderness Act Friday, March 15 View Page ThatZ a rock.... and in high waveZ..you dont see them...we had to proceed carefully..... and try and find where we where 24 hourZ earlier.... Friday, March 15 View Page As the sun starts to set...we where having problemZ finding where we were the night before.... Friday, March 15 View Page ... and the night before... we had a hard time even finding the XT11. Friday, March 15 View Page "XT 11" Love Float, ThiZ is the SkyWiZzy, do you copy?? Friday, March 15 View Page Silence.... NO Answer.... We agreed to be on channel 9, 16 iZ monitored by Park RangerZ....and waZ the emergency channel..... Friday, March 15 View Page XT 11, This is the MINNOW... do YOU COPY??? Eddy....Eddy....This is the SkyWiZzzy....come back 9 was supposed to also be monitored by the CapeVille Marina as well....... Friday, March 15 View Page Silence........................?? Friday, March 15 View Page Break Channel 09, RADIO CHECK.............. Friday, March 15 View Page Silence.....and very Friday, March 15 View Page I waZ FreZZZing my AZZ off.... my handZ where blue... Monday, March 18 View Page The weather waZ starting to become an issue..... No communicationZ from anyone waZ aZ well. We saw...... Monday, March 18 View Page no other water craft on the water...... Monday, March 18 View Page to boot... we were having a hard time trying to find where we made land....the night before..... Monday, March 18 View Page although beautiful... everything waZ starting to look the same....... Monday, March 18 View Page Lake Mead has all typeZ of structure...jetting out into the water.... The day before...I waZ on the Minnow aZ well.. fishing the coveZ..with Stewie, and The Tree Doctor.... Iceman had contacted us and told us..... after the canyon....look to the right.....will be moored up there...... Monday, March 18 View Page We couldnt find an 80 ft WHITE house boat then.....and now... being cold, wet, with choppy water...We could not locate where Jack may have lost hiZ cell phone...... in turn, I was not feeling well....FREEZING..I could see in IanZ eyeZ...thingZ where looking BLEAK>.....our talk then turned to....well we have fishing poleZ and some bait..KniveZ, and lighter.... Monday, March 18 View Page In my mind....I waZ trying to visualiZe...where the XT11 waZ the night before...I hadnt had anything to eat all day....only two WiZzzy bloody MaryZ..with a couple of pickelZ....it was 4PM... Monday, March 18 View Page .."ThereZ no place like home"......I wanted off thiZ boat....ThiZ waZ no longer FUN......"ThereZ no place like home"....I wanted to be warm...and even IF we did find the right shore point...we had to still find the needle in the haystack...."ThereZ no place like home......... Tuesday, March 19 View Page WiZzzy... Dont worry... You CAN do thiZ.....Remember...... Tuesday, March 19 View Page Remember...what WE have taught you....... All the showZ you have watched.....The BookZ you wife bought .... .Remember.... Tuesday, March 19 View Page Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three. ........... Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination Take a look and you'll see into your imagination. We'll begin with a spin traveling in the world of my creation. What we'll see will defy explanation. If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it. Anything you want to do it. Want to change the world? There's nothing to it. There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there you'll be free if you truly wish to be. Tuesday, March 19 View Page Touch Down DENVER! Tuesday, March 19 View Page Turn the boat around Love to hear percussion Turn it upside down Encanta escuchar la percusi�n Amor a o�rlo Cuernos de golpe que seguro suena bastante Wednesday, March 20 View Page Wednesday, March 20 View Page Whad dah ...?? Wednesday, March 20 View Page Wiz....WIzZzzzy....... Friday, March 22 View Page .... WiZzzzy..... Looka eye..... Friday, March 22 View Page ........ zzzZSlap Monday, March 25 View Page ThiZ map would of really come in handy.......One can see how Big Lake Mead really iZ...... Monday, March 25 View Page Calleville Bay is where we picked up fuel..... The XT11 was mooring up at Sandy Cove... the inland side cove...there were three...... Monday, March 25 View Page We were at the point marked on the map...looking for Big Gypsum LedgeZ...... you can see how a 70 foot house boat could hide... until one passed the finger jetting out..... Monday, March 25 View Page XT 11 moored up...... 20 miles away water travel..... Monday, March 25 View Page Well..... once we went another mile forward...we found the cove Gypsum LedgeZ we were looking for... and I felt immediately better.... but now we needed to find the cell phone........ JackZ Cell Phone..... Monday, March 25 View Page Keep in mind, the storm was coming in.... and the skieZ where not blue.... theZe shotZ where from the day before..... Monday, March 25 View Page Jack went on a LONG walkabout,,,, the day before.... Monday, March 25 View Page ThiZ waZ one beautiful.....cove....I will never forget.... Monday, March 25 View Page I acutally started to warm up...and dry out.... Monday, March 25 View Page I started to follow JackZ footprints....just like Ole Cody taught me......I figured... Monday, March 25 View Page the sooner we found it.... the sooner we could leave... Monday, March 25 View Page we looked high and low..... Monday, March 25 View Page Jack waZ all over,but we found no sign of a cell phone... and remember.... we had no signal, I had already thought of...Just call it, and listen for the ring...... Monday, March 25 View Page we had to leave...it waZ getting too dark....and we had a long wayZ to go back..and find...the XT11 Tuesday, March 26 View Page With the weather coming in... Tuesday, March 26 View Page and darkness coming...fast....we had to abandon...our quest... Tuesday, March 26 View Page ..... Tuesday, March 26 View Page I mentioned to Jack...if we couldnt find it..... after all we had been thru.... Tuesday, March 26 View Page He might get voted off the island..... Tuesday, March 26 View Page Wednesday, March 27 View Page Ian started across back to the cove ..... Wednesday, March 27 View Page once we found the rock....This baby did hit... 88 mileZ per hour....... ThatZ when..... Wednesday, March 27 View Page This picture waZ taken.... I waZ still freeZin.... and Jack handed me the floatation device to block some airflow...and it worked... I have never been so cold...In all my life..... Needless to say.... the three of us really bonded on thiZ little adventure....... Wednesday, March 27 View Page We found the XT 11 moored safely in the cove.... for the storm that waZ to hit...that night.... THIS PIC does show the storm...heading in.... I changed to dry clothes.... and poored me.... Wednesday, March 27 View Page A BIG STIFF Drink...... Hey GuyZ...whatZ for dinner? Monday, April 1 View Page "Man... That waZ the boat trip from Hell.....But Im glad I'm back on board"...... We didnt find it....." Monday, April 1 View Page ".... Nope... Dang" Monday, April 1 View Page "So Jack... you didn't find the cell phone....DARN" You guys where gone a long time....." Monday, April 1 View Page "Yeah, WiZzzy didnt eat breakfast.. I bet he's hungry..." So you didnt find it? Ehh, we where starting to worry about you guys, It's getting late... and the storms coming in tonight..." Monday, April 1 View Page " I'm ready for the storm....Ehh.." Hey,.... I caught a striper...off the back...." using Mackeral..Ehh....did you see them..? ehh..." Monday, April 1 View Page "....So no cell phone...ehh Jack?.....ehh Monday, April 1 View Page "Oh Man.... I need another drink...." sayZ Wizzzy Wednesday, April 3 View Page "So..GuyZ...we found Jack'Z cell phone...Ehh.... yepperZ..." Wednesday, April 3 View Page "Eddieee....mate, you mean to say, we bloody went thru all that hell.....Damn near loZt the WIzzzy off da bow, ...he pert neer froZen hiZ hiKnee off....Wasted all that Blimey fuel........." Wednesday, April 3 View Page "and you found it on the bloody boat?" Wednesday, April 3 View Page ".... Ahem.....we found it between the cushionZ on the couch...,... Umhumpf..."..>:>> Wednesday, April 3 View Page .... ..... ...... ...... Wednesday, April 3 View Page "Yah know Wizzzy, that waZ a bloody heck of a walkabout we did today.....".....Fer a Cell phone that waZ worth.... wat Wizzzy>?" 20 Quid? Wednesday, April 3 View Page "Ah yes Mate.. but we bonded... and we had a friend in need...iZ a friend indeed...." BesideZ...we never would of ..... Wednesday, April 3 View Page ThiZ... Wednesday, April 3 View Page "It waZ worth every minute....Bro" ItZ time".....> Wednesday, April 3 View Page To EaT.... Friday, April 5 View Page And EAT we did.... Ian and Stewey made up some tasty dishes on our trip.....We had wine every night with the mealZ.... Friday, April 5 View Page The Tree Doctor cooked up our Rib eyeZ that were to die for!!...off the back....BBQ..... and we had to fight them away from Iceman.... Jim said he put butter of them...and they where quite tasty.... Friday, April 5 View Page And that night it did rain... and rain hard.....My bunk was directly under the drain from the party deck..... Friday, April 5 View Page and I could here every drop...hit the tin roof...at timeZ I expected to start feeling the water....drip on me face.....but it never did.... Monday, April 8 View Page The next morning waZ gorgeous... and... Monday, April 8 View Page I needed to call the MiZzzy as I didn't signal on the boat...but did have Me cellphone....lol Monday, April 8 View Page And thatZ where theZe beauty shotZ where taken from.... Monday, April 8 View Page Lead Mead...in all itZ beauty....spectacular...was an understatement... Monday, April 8 View Page Monday, April 8 View Page Monday, April 8 View Page As you can see... I took a few pics.... Monday, April 8 View Page .. the climb up was tough... but worth it... I had to follow.... Monday, April 8 View Page Jack... in case he loZt hiZ cell phone again..... :) Monday, April 8 View Page I left Jack up on top.... Monday, April 8 View Page He waZ our mobile hot spot... so we could get a signal on the XT11.... Monday, April 8 View Page Hey Jack....we only got three barZ.......could your rotate the right juZt a bit...?? Monday, April 8 View Page ItZ time.... Monday, April 8 View Page WizZZy to go fishin with the UK bros... Friday, April 12 View Page We hit the canyon....again... didn't take me long to get back on that Minnow to go fishin..... Friday, April 12 View Page Ian and Stewey setup depth indicatorZ while we where on shore... so we knew...that anchovie.. was right at 90ft in there face....but we had NO action.... so.... Friday, April 12 View Page we returned back to the XT 11 to fish off..... Friday, April 12 View Page the back of the boat...... Friday, April 12 View Page and we.... Friday, April 12 View Page started to knock'em dead..... Friday, April 12 View Page Seemed they like corn....instead of the chovieZ...... Go figure... and the carp... loved the bread.... Ian and Stewey showed WiZzzy how to bait up a floating break hook.... Friday, April 12 View Page when the water waZ calm... you could see the carp...feeding... we saw a cool ghost carp... but couldn't get him to bite.... then Friday, April 12 View Page I saw the tail go up...right over my bait..... Friday, April 12 View Page Zzzzzzzzzzing went the line.... Friday, April 12 View Page I had one.... what waZ it....??? Friday, April 12 View Page my first...!! I have caught some 5 pound trout before...on the Miracle Mile...but theZe carp.... Friday, April 12 View Page fight good.... It waZ one jerk...waiting for another..... and I gottem in the net..... Friday, April 12 View Page My first carp.....check'em out BIZ....he ate me finger... Monday, April 15 View Page WhatZ that Steve..??? Monday, April 15 View Page You lost your signal???..... Hang on.... Monday, April 15 View Page Jack..... JACK!! .... "a little bit more to the right.....Steve lost hiZ signal".....JACK...... Monday, April 15 View Page Ok Jack.... we got.....Three barZ..... Hey Steve....> Monday, April 15 View Page " ...OK, Jack..... we are good".... Steve iZ back online.....! Hold that position.... ! Tuesday, April 16 View Page Well, the final day....we fished this cove.... Tuesday, April 16 View Page Looked like it waZ a great hole for some nice fish..... Tuesday, April 16 View Page Let me tell youZ, the Paton brotherZ knowZ how to wet a line....and get it done.... Tuesday, April 16 View Page ME thinkZ he found a nice hole.... Tuesday, April 16 View Page Any biteZ? Wednesday, April 17 View Page Well..... we left Stewie on the bank... and he came back with the mother load of fish... a fitting end to a Wednesday, April 17 View Page wonderful 5 dayZ on Lake Mead..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page This cove iZ known aZ Catfish Cove... so we knew it waZ only a matter of time... ThiZ little kitty cat waZ tossed back in > to GET BIGGER..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page and so waZ this HOG of a Carp.... Wednesday, April 17 View Page And fitting enough...Stewie broke the net...with the final haul...... Nice job MATE! Wednesday, April 17 View Page I will alwayZ remember thiZ trip...... Wednesday, April 17 View Page the upZ and downZ.... Wednesday, April 17 View Page The beauty..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page of it all..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page the night time adventureZ..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page The nightly dinnerZ... and conversationZ.... Wednesday, April 17 View Page I will never forget.. the bondZ we made..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page If you ever get a chance to go...... Wednesday, April 17 View Page It'Z the chance of a lifetime..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page "XT 11... The iZ the SkywIzZY........" Wednesday, April 17 View Page "XT 11.... ThiZ is SKyWiZzzy, Requesting Fly By......." Wednesday, April 17 View Page "Hang on MateZ....we are gonna BUZZ the Tower..... and BuZZ the XT11 we did.........." Passing across the bow..... Wednesday, April 17 View Page "Thank You Eddy, Iceman... for a fantastic journey......we will never forget..." Wednesday, April 17 View Page Next Up........ Monday, April 22 View Page It'Z time for your GPC committee to get to work....Pics from the 2013 GPC BIG GROW SHOW staged this year at the Circus Circus in Las Vegas...... The 2014 event will be held in sunny ORLANDO Florida.....More to come Monday, April 22 View Page What iZ going on here..??.. This looks Serious..... Monday, April 22 View Page And so doeZ this..... FridayZ day event...the GPC showed how to properly measure a pumpkin for weigh off events..... Monday, April 22 View Page It iZ important that all events measure and weigh their fruit constantly across all weigh offs...... Monday, April 22 View Page Ut Ohhhh.... What have we here? Tuesday, April 23 View Page It is very important that ALL Foreign substances be removed from the fruit BEFORE that fruit iZ dropped to the ground at a weigh off location!!! Why? Many timeZ growers will use fungicides to prevent Stem Rot or to stop potential infections from ruining their prize fruit. HOWEVER... What iZ the first thing a child doeZ when they see a GIANT Pumpkin?? That'Z right.... gotta touch it... Then what iZ the next thing that the child does??? Yup... put thoZe handZ in the mouth..... NOW we have a BIG ISSUE! And the weigh off site may have a BIGGER Issue... !!! We need to educate ALL GrowerZ of this potential health hazard!!! Tuesday, April 23 View Page ARTICLE II. From the GPC Weigh Off HAND BOOK stateZ > No foreign material (i.e.: fungicides, caulking, skin additives etcetera) will be permitted in the weighing of any fruit. Vines must be trimmed to within one inch of the stem of the fruit. The judges have the right to inspect any and all fruit before weights and measurements become official. Refusal of any inspection to an entry will cause the entry to be classified exhibition only. THIS IS IMPORTANT > we must protect young oneZ from potential HEALTH ISSUES !! Tuesday, April 23 View Page So at our convention... THE GPC wantZ to reiterated to all growers and site reps and potential judges... THAT NO FRUIT should be unloaded to the ground if it has hazardous substances on the fruit. The grower MUST take that fruit off site, and remove the substances prior to landing that fruit on the ground at the weigh off event. The grower CANNOT clean it off at the event.... WHY? Because where iZ that fungicide going to go if they scrape it off at the event.. YUP > ON THE GROUND>.. and now we have a potential contaminated site as folks walk this substance around the event on the bottom of their shoeZ, possible they cars and then to their house at home......Ever lay on the floor at home?? SO to Protect everyone involved, this iZ being brought to the forefront to educate ALL GROWERZ so that NO ONE GETS INJURED due to a chemical substance we may use on our fruitZ at weigh offs... This also include using oils like olive oil to make the fruit look purty..and shiny...... THIS IS ALSO against the GPC ruleZ... and besides, it makes the fruit quite slippery to handle... and potentially a drop hazard.. WE DONT WANT AnyONE TO GET HURT and WANT all fruit to get weighed as a legitimate entr�e. Tuesday, April 23 View Page Next at the BIG SHOW, the GPC brought up how important it was to bring your fruit to the event on a "PROPER" pallet. And to have thoZe slotZ lined to the back of the truck so a fork lift can eaZily access that BIG HEAVY ODD SIZED FRUIT and place it on the ground safely without dropping it. For instance, ever try to remove a fruit that is long and over 1300 poundZ from the back of a pickup "Sitting in a bed of Straw???" Many events have lotZ of folkZ lined up to unload their fruit. And to try and lift a fruit with a lifting ring out of a pickup iZ a mighty feat, and takeZ lots of time as well. Many fork liftZ cannot lift that high over the side.... and the higher they have to lift, the greater the potential for issues on unloading > SO BRING YOUR FRUIT ON A PROPER PALLET EASILY ACCESSIBLE by a fork lift from behind.... WALMART haZ great pallets (BLUE) that are accessible from all sideZ incase one forgets...to line up those slots from the back....!Q! Let'Z help our weigh off events go smooth..and make unloading an EAZY and SAFE.... so that everyone can enjoy the event...and so all fruit get weighed! Tuesday, April 23 View Page Oh... now look at thiZ>.... WOW! Tuesday, April 23 View Page What a fantastic job she did aZ well..... !! Friday, April 26 View Page No doubt....if thiZ grower lived in the Orange Belt...he might just have hiZ name on thiZ trophy..... Friday, April 26 View Page Meet n Greet night went well....waZ great to see so many growerZ again..... Friday, April 26 View Page WhatZ thiZ>.... we had entertainment...... Friday, April 26 View Page Las Vegas Style.....!! Friday, April 26 View Page Oh yeah.... Friday, April 26 View Page A good time waZ Friday, April 26 View Page had..... Friday, April 26 View Page by all! Friday, April 26 View Page The GPC BIG SHOW.....2013 Monday, May 6 View Page Friday night entertainment waZ something else.....Did... Monday, May 6 View Page Someone say.....Elvis.....waZ in the house? Monday, May 6 View Page ElviZ....iZ in the houZe... Monday, May 6 View Page ... Viva Las VegaZ.... Monday, May 6 View Page What a Friday night show...!! Monday, May 6 View Page Last year we had 2 Vega$ girlZ, this year...4 and Elvis to boot..... Monday, May 6 View Page And it didn't take long...for him to find The Champ..... Monday, May 6 View Page I bet this shot goeZ on the club house wall..... Monday, May 6 View Page and another.... Monday, May 6 View Page What happenZ in VegaZ doesn't alwayZ stay in VegaZ..... Monday, May 6 View Page ..... Monday, May 6 View Page Oh this one doesn't stay in Vegas...and Monday, May 6 View Page and neither doeZ thiZ one..... Tuesday, May 7 View Page Elvis waZ a big hit..... Tuesday, May 7 View Page .... Tuesday, May 7 View Page and Iceman couldn't believe it.....Elvis in the house....! Tuesday, May 7 View Page ...ThankZ Eddy Z.... Tuesday, May 7 View Page Oh No.... now what........Eddy iZ up to something....One can see it in hiZ eyeZ...... Thursday, May 9 View Page WhatZ thiZ?.....? Thursday, May 9 View Page ...SurpriZe...... ItZ a Thursday, May 9 View Page Flash MOB....> Thursday, May 9 View Page Oppa Gagnum StyleZ.... Thursday, May 9 View Page Thursday, May 9 View Page Thursday, May 9 View Page Everybody waZ getting into the act.... What a start to a GPC BIG Show.... and itZ juZt getting started@! Thursday, May 9 View Page .... Oppa gangum style... Thursday, May 9 View Page ... Thursday, May 9 View Page that waZ cool...ehh? Friday, May 10 View Page Saturday started with our expert sessions....we heard from Master Wallace...and Friday, May 10 View Page how he grew the first pumpkin..... Friday, May 10 View Page to weigh over a ton! Friday, May 10 View Page The biggest ever grown ALL TIME! Friday, May 10 View Page Master Wallace shared all information.....on how he grew the 2009 record setter.... Friday, May 10 View Page We had a full house.... Friday, May 10 View Page Next we heard from top grower Steve Daletas..... Friday, May 10 View Page Steve had a great presentation on his watering system....expertly done Steve! Friday, May 10 View Page The information shared waZ fantastic....and Friday, May 10 View Page will help everyone to get to the next level.... Friday, May 10 View Page well.....most everyone...... Friday, May 10 View Page ARE YOU READY? Friday, May 10 View Page This iZ what you have been waiting for..... Friday, May 10 View Page LadieZ and Gentlemen...... Friday, May 10 View Page Live from the Circus Circus Hotel... Friday, May 10 View Page From Las Vegas Nevada .... Friday, May 10 View Page The GPC iZ proud to PreZent...... Friday, May 10 View Page our 2013 Awards show...... The GPC goeZ...... Friday, May 10 View Page Oppa-gangnum Style..... Friday, May 10 View Page Friday, May 10 View Page Mr Don Young..... Friday, May 10 View Page Our Own......Mr.... Friday, May 10 View Page Kelly Klinker...... Friday, May 10 View Page Introducing...... Friday, May 10 View Page Mario JagularZ Friday, May 10 View Page Friday, May 10 View Page And our own... Friday, May 10 View Page GPC.... Friday, May 10 View Page Sexy Ladie... Friday, May 10 View Page Mz Dawn Northrup..... Friday, May 10 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page ..... Monday, May 13 View Page Oppa Gangnam Style.... Monday, May 13 View Page Our MC for the evening..... Mr Don Yung....I mean Young... Monday, May 13 View Page Monday, May 13 View Page Tuesday, May 21 View Page ThiZ iZ the best part of our convention.....awarding growers....CongratZ to Larry and Gerry Checkon for being nominated to our GPC Hall of Fame.... Tuesday, May 21 View Page And CongratZ also goeZ out to Phil and Jane Hunt...for their nomination into the GPC Hall of Fame.....Four well deserving growers..... Tuesday, May 21 View Page Looking Good in Black....... Tuesday, May 21 View Page And now.....a lil humor...... Tuesday, May 21 View Page or did I say...a lil homer.... Tuesday, May 28 View Page Darth Vader?..... Tuesday, May 28 View Page Chewbacca....? Tuesday, May 28 View Page Oh no....lookZ like a call out.....Who iZ he calling out? Tuesday, May 28 View Page TGU....he iZ calling out TGU>... Tuesday, May 28 View Page LookZ like we have the MAIN event....going down here..... Tuesday, May 28 View Page Tuesday, May 28 View Page Tuesday, May 28 View Page TGU getZ thrown off the stage...by Darth Vader.... Tuesday, May 28 View Page Down goeZ TGU.....down GoeZ TGU..... Tuesday, May 28 View Page Our winner by knock out......Darth Vader..... Tuesday, May 28 View Page Monday, June 3 View Page Winner by knockout....but WHO iz TGU? Monday, June 3 View Page OBAMA iz TGU?..... Monday, June 3 View Page No......Eddy iZ OBAMA.....Now I got it figured out..... Monday, June 3 View Page You NOT READY for Prime Time PlayerZ..... Jim Sherwood aZ..... Homer Simpson Monday, June 3 View Page Ian Paton aZ Chewbaca......AND... Monday, June 3 View Page Our beloved El PreZidente aZ.....The evil overlord....Darth Vader...... Wednesday, September 11 View Page Well a lot of fun was had at the BIG SHOW>.... in Vegas Wednesday, September 11 View Page as we say Good Bye to Darth SteltZ.....we have some great growers to recognize...... Wednesday, September 11 View Page Look at all thoZe happy GPC coat owners.... Wednesday, September 11 View Page and new patch levels....for Steve and Quinn Thursday, September 12 View Page Our Green Squash Champion... Jeremy Robinson .. Thursday, September 12 View Page Mr Joe Jutras... Thursday, September 12 View Page Our Long Gourd Champ at 137.75 Mr. Tom Wright..... Thursday, September 12 View Page Thursday, September 12 View Page Our Watermelon champ... Thursday, September 12 View Page Our Field Pumpkin Champ.. Mr Quinn Werner Thursday, September 12 View Page Mr Peter Sweet - 2012 Master Gardener of the Year Thursday, September 12 View Page Rookie of the year...Paul and Cheryl Fulk Thursday, September 12 View Page Smokey Lake was our MOST IMPROVED SITE Thursday, September 12 View Page Top Ten Average Winners.... Park Garden Center... Thursday, September 12 View Page Mr Beni Meier the European Champion for 2012... Hmmm that name lookZ familiar.... Thursday, October 10 View Page CongratZ goeZ out to Mr Ron Wallace with his 5400 Pound Club patch..... Thursday, October 10 View Page Thursday, October 10 View Page A new jacket... and the GOTY Check..... Thursday, October 10 View Page Group Shot... Thursday, October 10 View Page Thursday, October 10 View Page All Champions.... Thursday, October 10 View Page The First one over a ton.....and two time champion...at 2009 Pounds.... Ron Wallace