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032 - Bugs in the Middle of the Lake. Really?

Yup, bugs in the middle of the lake.  Why the not the shoreline?  How do the bugs get to the middle of the lake?  Did they fly out here and if so for what, to find a boat?  Or do they breed out there and if so, why don’t the fish eat the larvae or the insects themselves?  It’s one of those questions in life that probably has an answer but it’s just to fun to be outraged over the unexpected.

It all made me laugh at the “Breaking Bad” episode on “the fly” where he destroyed the lab for one fly.  We didn’t destroy the boat, but then we had more than one as are documented in the photos above.  We found out after the fact that the FAA had radar blips for the billions of mayflies that hatched while we were on lake.  I believe it.  I’d never seen anything like it.  So thick we had to wash the deck of the dead and their green goo.  It had a nauseating stench with it too.  But it was just the beginning.  We were inundated on multiple occasions by different varieties: flies of all types, bees, and misquotes.  On one occasion we had to suit up to get some relief and even then you couldn’t tolerate being at the helm for more than an hour or so before you needed a break.


But the bugs are really an industry, because with the bugs came the spiders.  Again, how did they get there?  Blown in with the breeze, 10 miles from shore?  I’m not familiar with winged spiders but maybe they swim.  They set-up shop as soon as they arrive and go right to work.  Webs all over the place.  By morning you can see them all because they are filled with the bug de jour.  Initially we saw the spiders as our friend in the war of the bug.  But later it became a war with the spiders.  They prolonged the assault and with the webs everywhere, well you get the drift.  And I’m sorry, but killing spiders is more gross than killing bugs, big brown mess.

These biting flies covered the exterior of the hull.  We were on the inside looking through the port hole wondering whether we should go out.  So we each have a fly swatter.  I’ve gotten pretty good at the light touch to avoid the mess.  Driving the boat from inside would be great.  Hmm, maybe power boats aren’t so awful after all.

I know I’m over doing the point but I can’t help myself, I’d never experienced anything like this.  These were biting flies – I really didn’t like these guys.

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