Gone Fishin'

Historically, Hofman's have spent a lot of time pursuing the wily fish.

If we were in a cottage by Mucky Harbor,
we had to fish way over by the Blue Horizon.
If we were in a cottage by Munising Point,
we had to fish across the bay at Pine Grove Beach.
In other words,
the fish were always biting
where ... we were not.
This ensured maximum exposure to the possibility of
running out of gas,
or madly putt-putting home
after the no-wake curfew
and hoping the sheriff didn't catch us.

Fishing was instilled in us at an early age.
It was a bare bones operation that often
required bare backs.

Some took to it immediately. To wit:
Dave VH and Faith Hoogstrate Ottenhoff
practicing in VH's backyard, 1953.

and.......

Scottie Seth just as thrilled as he can be
in August of 1977
with Jeff Vermeer (thanks Lynda!!)
and Stevie & Boo Phelps.

.... aaaaand

Don VH in 1955

Even later in life,
still lucky
Don VH in 1999 with
Annalise Alphenaar & Rachel Reid


Woohoo Arthur William....

Bill Hoogstrate, 1969

..... and then you have to clean them, Billy
(notice "pursed" lips in the "Eeeyew" formation).
Yik yik and triple yik!

Billy & Steve VH, 1969.

..... and another spectacular haul
Lies Rosema Kelder in 1988.
Once again, a bare-backed catch.

Hannah Van't Hof says, "The End!"

*to be continued*