A Boat Rolling Party (or, the siege of Minas Tirith)

There comes a time in the life of every boat to be ... when it ought to be right-side up.  And that time was today.  There are many complicated schemes for rolling boats.  There are winches and cranes; there are round rolling frames built latitudinally around the bulkheads; there are hoists and ropes and cradles; and there is plain old manpower.

As my father's comrades in the Lake Cavanaugh Volunteer Fire Department started to show up this morning, each arriving by boat or by truck, hopping out with spryness and grim determination, I couldn't help but recall the fortification of Minas Tirith before the armies of Mordor.  As I read of soldiers arriving from the outer parts of Gondor, and the hosts of the prince of Dol Amroth, I feel excitement building a growing confidence -- how could we not fail to withstand the hosts of Mordor?

But unlike the vast armies of Sauron, the boat flipping turned out to be much easier than anticipated.  Plans and strategies were conceived, eventualities analyzed, emergency materials for blocking the boat upright were on hand - but in the end, all it took was a bunch of strong guys and good directing.

And NOW, says my Dad, it's starting to look like a boat.  Many thanks go to the members of the LC Fire Department!