Well guy's and gal's it all started on my fishing day Fri. I headed down to my little shad hole on the Ohio. It was a beutiful day sunny,light wind, the smell of summers end in the air.As I headed down the river I thought to myself boy my little Johnson is purring like a kitten. I got to my creek and there were no shad to be found, so I thought no problem I'll just head up to the lower dam and try there. Well I get 200yds from the Shermon mitten and I feel alittle vibration and then BANG the sound that makes a fishermans stomach turn. A sound that say's this is going to be no easy fix and possibly the end of a long friendship between motor, boat and fisherman. Now guy's I've had a few motors in my life Merc's, Rude's,Chrysler, even a good set of oars, but my Johnson....well it hurts. I can't help to think last week when I took my big boat out for our Fri. nighter that my Johnson felt left behind and possibly like I didn't care anymore. Mark and I were talking about how good an engine it's been for so long. As I turned my trolling motor on and paddled back to the ampitheater ramp praying for no barge traffic, it was hard to hold back tears. Then to find one of my trailor tires half flat and almost loosing my cowling on 71 because I didn't put it in the slot on the front, I called it a day...A long sad day...I had to share this story because that engine has been a part of me for so long and been there with me for so many fish...R.I.P JOHNSON....I'll miss you.. Chuck