During the weeks there was school, work, and the normal routines. At this time, the boat was rarely used for fishing and was keep under a tin shed at the lake next to the BBQ area that was torn down later on, (due to dredging and much of it now is underground). Sometimes on Saturdays, I was asked to cut the grass and generally do clean up around the lake side cabin and make sure it was in good shape for a Sunday outing. I was able to leave the store early or sometimes given the entire day off to do this chore. At this time, less of the relatives were coming by and more of our peers began taking their place. We had moved to 1708 Kathleen Street, as the home on 1912 St. Louis was sold because the neighborhood had changed.
While living on Kathleen St. I met new friends and we remained close during Jr. High, High School, and college years. All of us were raised near the Hillsborough River and we all enjoyed water sports including skiing. My friends from the new neighborhood would volunteer to help with the yard clean up and part of their reward was to enjoy the meals and the skiing; along with having fun with everyone at the lake when we spent the day. We enjoyed a day on the water swimming, eating, and most of all water skiing! We usually arrived a day early to work, but we would play, swim, and have fun! Just before the arrival of everyone, we would all find a job to do and the work would be done, just in time. We all became good skiers and for me this was probably the only sport I truly enjoyed during high school and college along with swimming. I was never a huge fan of other sports including football, etc. I would play sports (baseball and football) in the neighborhood sand lot with my friends, but for me swimming and skiing were the most enjoyable sports I could think of.
During 9th or 10th grade, I was so intent on becoming a better skier that I decided to write a letter to “Cypress Gardens” asking them to be in their ski show. My letter writing was not the best and I never heard back from them. Even though it hurt my feelings, it never bothered me as there was always the skiing on the lake or the river to keep me interested.
Our parents’ partner, Julian Turlington, at our store (Julian and Stafford) had a brother that was a merchandiser for a large retail store, Maas Brothers. On my 15th or 16th birthday, he presented me a Salomon Ski that was created for a famous skier, Dick Pope, at Cypress Gardens. His name was on the type of ski he used. I still have it and Dennis and Gina used this ski while skiing in the Cypress Garden lake area 9with me) when they were older. I will never get rid of it!
During the summers, it was wonderful to get away and enjoy a day at the lake. The family picnics were not as frequent and when we could go skiing it would be a day filled with eating, swimming, and of course lots of laps around the lake. Our 15 foot Sears boat with a 30 horsepower engine had two six gallon tanks that required the mixing of oil and gas. Although this does not sound like a lot, it would take all day to burn eight to ten gallons of gas. While skiing we learned to Salomon and tried to lean into the water to shoot up a huge spray while cutting from side to side. This brings up memories of my Uncle Tommy who always try to ski, but he claimed the boat could never pull him up as he would drag the boat down (not due to his weight but, his fear to get up). We all had to give him an “A” for effort as he really did try! There were a few times when we thought he was going to make it, but then something would always happen. There were a few amusing moments when he would get up, fall on his rump, return up, and then fall again. We all (including Uncle Tommy) would laugh and ask how he could do that! We all cheered him on, as he was a pleasure to watch. We hoped one day he would make it up, for which he did for seconds at a time, but that made our day. Most of us loved to use the single ski; although, once in a while we would prefer two skis, but it was not as much fun. Skiing around the lake took a long time and usually once around was plenty! I drove most of the time except (when skiing) and by the end of the day, I knew I would sleep well!
Before ending the day we would always put up the boat under the shed, making sure the drain plug was taken off, which made it ready for next time.
This is the Dick Pope wooden ski that I still own. It was my all-time favorite ski even though I had newer ones made from fiberglass; they never seem to work as well.
As the day went on, we would pack up then driving along Gunn Highway to a dairy that sold fresh milk. My favorite was the chocolate drink they sold and the bottle size was a quart. It was like having a chocolate milkshake and was so filling! Once home it was time to unpack, perhaps eat, bathe, and then watch Disney. It was the perfect ending to a fun filled day! For two to three years, we followed this routine. The boys from our neighborhood decided we would create a club called “The Lake Anne Aqua-Holics”. We were bound by the name and it existed for a few years.
Although this picture was taken around 2010, it shows the front side minus the dock, where we would swim, launch our boat, and ski. Much of the original structure that contained the screened room with several Bar-B-Q’s was torn down due to pumping in sand to the property. It was low and stayed flooded even after a small rain shower. We did use the facility for a long time, but it was decided it would be better to have it torn down. It was a well-made Bar-B-Q out of cement and stone, but too heavy for the surrounding sand to hold it up. To the right of this picture a cast iron tub with lion claw feet is buried about two feet below the surface.
The cottage as it sat in 2010 is now owned by Bobby and Gladys Stafford. The Bar-B-Q shed has been torn down, and the dock is no longer there, but the cabin remains in tack other than requiring maintenance to keep it going. The beautiful cypress trees give the cottage charm and much needed shade during the hot summer months.
Finally, I just want to add that although we worked very hard at maintaining the cabin and property (along with other family members that would chip in), it gave us many years of enjoyment, pleasure, and many fond memories. I am certain those that joined us have their own memories, whether it is the friendship, the family bond, the food, the swimming, the horseplay, or just the laughs we shared while we were there.
I was fortunate enough to visit the lake cottage in 2010 and it brought about so many great memories of fun times together!
There is something to be said of family outings: “It doesn’t get any better than that!” (non c’è niente di meglio)