Day 6: Bloody Bat Cove---Homer Causes Cabin Fever
We had all decided we wanted to get to our next
campsite early so we could enjoy it as long as possible. We wanted
out last night to be close to Bullfrog so it would be easy to make
it back for an early check-in. And the hapless fishless Simp Twins
wanted one good day of fishing, dangnabit, in a good fish place.
So, with Homer reading the map with the same
comprehension level he had exhibited a few days prior when he was
certain we could not possibly make it to Rainbow Bridge, now
proceeded to plot a bizarre course that would take us whizzing 10
miles past Bullfrog with the engines at full throttle to a stagnant
pond of a canyon who's charms stayed unrevealed no matter how hard
we looked.
We must mention the most memorable moment we
recall about Bloody Bat Cove. Our arrival. The Simp Twins had been
in hysterical high tension since our early morning departure from
Skull Cove. They were so intense about find that one good fishing
spot. When we finally got to Moki Canyon it was narrow and Big Ed
was getting a little edgy with his piloting. So, Durango drove the
boat til a site could be found so Big Ed could work his boat parking
magic. Finally we arrived at Bloody Bat Cove. After Durango exercised
his considerable powers of persuasion Big Ed finally agreed to
maneuver the houseboat around the corner so we could beach it on the
nice soft sloping sandy beach. Big Ed steered the boat like the
seasoned seafarer he had become in those short few days.
And then the weird thing happened.
Everything was going just fine. No rocks. No
obstructions. Just a straight ahead textbook landing just like the
houseboat manual (which Homer had not read) told us to look for. And
just as Big Ed was preparing to ram her in at the prescribed perfect
speed, Homer
launched into an embarrassing outburst of hysterical
mania like a toddler in the terrible two's. The entire crew found it
most unsettling. Very disconcerting. Much discussion occurred later
about the need for some sort of intervention and forced temper
management therapy for Homer.
With the boat safely docked Homer stormed off and
disappeared up the canyon for a couple hours.
He never did do any fishing. Big Ed and others did the fish killing.
Durango and Lulu swam up away from the carnage to a private beach.
Jack wandered off and took photos. The fishing became totally
bizarre, forsaking the expensive lures for things like muffin meat
and chili beans. The water began to take on the sheen of pollution
as fish
blood and guts and failed lures floated around waiting to
either be eaten by one of the millions of bats or to be sucked up by
our water supply so we could have the pleasure of showering in
heated fish blood.
The only good part of Bloody Bat Cove was the hike
Jack and Durango took high up the canyon to a series of Moki Steps.
The steps were too scary so Jack and Durango decided not to climb
them. If they had they would likely have been spending the night on
Moki Mountain sleeping in Moki Ruins and Lulu would have been really
really pissed. 
Dark descended before a safe return to the houseboat.
Jack and Durango were mobbed by thousands of bats as they battled
their way back to shelter.
With everyone fearing the millions of bats, all
slept inside, except for Big Ed, who said the bats were his friend,
keeping the bugs away. It was a noisy night inside the houseboat
with Homer having trouble in the small bunk bed and when he did fall
asleep he woke everyone else with his snoring which caused the boat
to vibrate like a minor earthquake.
Nerves were on edge by morning for
the start of Day 7.
