seat of the pants

fishin'

2012-02-06T18:34:00.003-05:00

With this wonderful ski season we're having,
had to scratch one of the other itches. Picked
up the new license, played a hunch with the
forecast and rigged up for a session of harassing
ze trouts of the Letort.

Weatherman was right, my beta was slightly off.
Twas low 40's and overcast, with some actual
snowflakes falling now and then and blue winged
olives started doing their thing around lunchtime.
Beta I had indicated an earlier start to the hatch,
glad I stuck around beyond the expected timeframe.

Snuck thru the rabbit hole and onto one of my
favorite beats and was immediately fishing over
a big old brown that was out on the prowl. That
old fish was pushing 20" and between the nerves
and 3 month break from the water, it didn't take
long to flub that chance and persuade that trout
to seek better cover.

Changed meadows, then the bugs finally started
popping and the trouts went on the feed. Opened
the hatch with a missed take, stung him, but the
rust was showing. My casting was off, presentations
were lacking, but finally duped a little 7"er and
brought him to hand. Found the groove and
hooked another before missing his neighbor.
Took a breath and tossed the little #20 olive to
a dimple out there in mid stream. A subtle take
and was finally into a fish with some weight. After
a lively tussle, I brought this nicely colored 12"er
to the net. Sweet.

Still had time before needing to get home, so moved
a few paces upstream, fishing to a riser in close with
no success. Noticed an occasional rise further
upstream and out in the channel a bit. Let it settle
then made a decent enough cast up into the vicinity.
There was another subtle slurp on that first drift
and suddenly found myself connected to a substantial
tug on the line. A brief battle with the 5wt cane and
I landed one of the finest Letort browns I've ever fooled
with a dry fly. This nice 15-16"er was a helluva way
to open the account for the new year, sure hope
it continues in this fashion...

yep.

2012-01-16T16:32:00.010-05:00

WhiteGrass bound for the wknd,
Ullr is finally making a bit of a stay
with good timing to celebrate another
lap around the sun for the WiserWeiser.

snow was marginal with the expected
pockets of really good to be found.
bit of beta...always check out the
reliable spots first.

It's kinda neat how it all comes together
out on the trail, hooking up with various
folks out on their tours, us on ours and
being able to share some skiing through
out the day, introducing friends to the
little world of WhiteGrass.

Did some exploring and a bit of playing
in the meadows during the daylight, then
superb feasting and celebrating, apres'
cocktails and catching up with Iceboxers.

Good times.

Sure is a special place,
that Valley of Canaan.

new post.

2012-01-04T17:20:00.003-05:00

if I don't write it down,
it's not recorded, or
something.

20011, recapped.

bought a new fishin' pole, first day of the year. then went skiing'. not as good as lastlast year, but significant smile factor, and it was good. fun at Whitegrass, tearing up CV w/ Abe, then try to pedal. fuck that, let's go fishing. go fishing, catch some trouts, see new places, lament high water, lots of fruitless road trips, ignoring flow gauges, hope for clarity. finally sulphurs on the Letort. Love the hatch, just tolerable early summer heat, mosquito battling, fishing into the darkness, casting on blind instinct, full moon if you hit it right. ride thru July, kick it with groovy Canaan Fest fun, then some semifatty road loops and a qwik overnight. Then back onstream for midsummer Letort trophy chasing and whiteflies on the Breeches. Get hair up my ass and buy a house. Jeseus, all grown up now and just like that, still blows my mind how it all came together. Seriously, blows. my. mind. fkna! hudge cashing of karma points...looking at a long spell of paying forward, that's how it works, do unto others, it all revolves around, gravity and shit. Then finally rode a bike like I thought I could on a few Sunday services, knee actually feeling kinda normal, cool, just in time for ski season...early Halloween snow didn't fool me, but did get out in it, which was a good thing, damn good thing. Funny how it all comes together. Lucky fella I am..

'tis the season.

2011-12-23T15:41:00.002-05:00

Hope yours is a merry & happy one.

"Shellfish"

2011-12-12T17:42:00.004-05:00

Always spend a penny
as if you were spending a
dollar
and always spend a dollar
as if you were spending
a wounded eagle and always
spend a wounded eagle as if
you were spending the very
sky itself.

-r. brautigan

30th time's a charm.

2011-12-05T16:52:00.005-05:00

oy, how I missed the Valley.
another splendid gathering.

just enough snow to get
in some kick, glide & skate
w/ Haywoodja, even a turn
or two on some fast grass...

then a nightful of pagan
rituals to the gods of snow,

stretch the legs on the fixy
in the morning, crazy good
times.

hey Ullr, we're waiting...

resiliency

2011-11-28T16:40:00.004-05:00

the human body is pretty cool.
especially if you pay attention
to it, have payed attention to it.

funny what a little 'base' can do.
just the slightest hint gives you
that oomph to giddy up on out
of slum tempo slotting in. get on
up there and run w/ them dogs
into that blurred fringe world.

Pretty cool what just a handful
of hour plus Carlisle townie fitness
path spinny spins on the Jabber
can do. Just get out and ride the
bike. No kit worries, low prep
round town spinnin'. Tie the
laces, roll the pant leg and
find the gloves. Out the door
easy as that.

Easy as that to enter back into
that interestingly ironic pain for
pleasure cave of not quite over
the head, instinctual floating
zombie head flow that comes
when the pieces fall into place.

Right place,
right time,
right people.

thanks everbody, felt
good to let that shit rip,
it's been awhile.

too long.

The Scarlatti Tilt

2011-11-25T17:22:00.002-05:00

"It's very hard to live in a studio apartment in San Jose with a man learning to play the violin." That's what she told the police when she handed them the empty revolver.

-R. Brautigan

ha.

old skills.

2011-11-25T10:38:00.006-05:00

had a good dinner
with the parents,
dug thru my old
closet, found the
case.

needs a qwik once
over, new strings
and hairs restrung.

sure is purty in the
sunlight, neighbors
are gonna just love
me for the next few
months...here's to
hoping it's just like
'riding a bike.'

11pm

2011-11-25T09:45:00.002-05:00

driving home from dinner,
20 couple people standing
in line at the BonTon.

neat.

been readin'..

2011-11-22T21:11:00.002-05:00

Yes, the Fish Magic

A trout-colored wind blows
through my eyes, through my fingers,
and I remember how the trout
used to hide from the dinosaurs
when they came to drink at the river.
The trout hid in subways, castles
and automobiles. They waited patiently
for the dinosaurs to go away.

-R. Brautigan

progressions.

2011-11-21T18:01:00.004-05:00

from here,

thru here,

to there.

back it up with this.

good times.

up in the attic..

2011-11-19T13:31:00.001-05:00

day 12

2011-11-11T22:40:00.002-05:00

i mean, god damn.
what the fuck?

I've pedaled a bicycle,
12 days in a row,
and counting?

seriously, wtf?

it's been pretty cool.
an interesting new
spark. finally feeling
somewhat settled.

settled in. to the
new place, developing
clock-less rhythms.

interesting new spark.

hey, didya hear?

2011-11-01T16:09:00.005-05:00

it snowed!
in October!!
zomg!!/!/1!!

went for a walk, it was
freakin' dumping! felt
good to be out in it,
too bad the ground
is still 50degrees, only
a couple inches in town.
all but melted off by now.

went bluebird Sunday,
had other expectations,
qwikly backtracked for
more appropriate gear.

fun day in the woods,
nice out n back to Vista.
still wanna ride though,
got a few weeks yet...

yeah,

2011-10-19T17:53:00.002-05:00

this is pretty awesome...

OBS

2011-10-17T16:18:00.009-05:00

OccupyBikeSeat was in
full effect yesterday.
Haven't pedaled the
roadie bike since early
July and had fresh World
Class hoops to break in.

So, what the hell...up
3Sqr into the Tuscarora,
and back over Waggoner's?

Sure, why not, seemed like
the day for it...ended up being
a fun 5hrs in the saddle, and
leaf peak ain't quite here yet..
amazing where a pair of 25c's
a few steel tubes will take you.

heading on out past that blue silo.

was really hoping to
stock some calories
here...oh well.

getting closer.

looking back, there's
Meeshow way over there...

heading up & up.

30minute pave' climb
brings you here

pockets of color, pave' cruisin'

no pics of the concentrated
slummy spin home from there,
skies turned an appropriate
shade of steel grey cloud for the
route home, matching the half
bonked zoned in & out mindset
perfectly. at least the wind died
down, pleasant surprise.

man..

2011-10-11T16:46:00.002-05:00

that was a
damn fine
egg & bacon
sandwich.

Sunday after
Beer Run, hit
the spot. Great
riding w/ the
crew.

Feeling fat &
slow, should
do something
'bout that.

Maybe the
WorldClass
roadie wheel
hookup will
be a qwik pre-
ski remedy....

good times,
thanks for
the sandwich
Tractor.

HFM will be mine.

native beauty

2011-10-01T12:59:00.003-05:00

found what I was
looking for.

to the curb

2011-09-26T15:45:00.002-05:00

balance of moved out/moved in
is all but zero, or undefined if it's
moved in/moved out.

or something.

loose ends to wrap up, donation and
auction house runs on near horizon,
trunkload of metal/batteries for the
scrapyard...toxics to dispose.

then shop vac the joint and done.

can't wait for a stress free wknd, or 5.

or 6.

long. ass. wknd.

2011-09-22T19:05:00.003-05:00

anybody need a 5 disc dvd player, a 32"
old school tv w/ stand, coffee and end
table combo, or another end table, big
rolling desk chair, microwave, toaster
oven, your choice of 12ish pack sized
coolers, other coolers, vacuum cleaner,
a vintage electric wheel chair (nonfunctional),
p.o.s. screw together computer desk(s)
or maybe a lamp or two?

early season deals on some excess tele gear?

17yrs worth, it's gonna be a long ass wknd.

harmony

2011-09-19T17:58:00.002-05:00

scene on the commute home
from fishin' in Meeshow.

the yard

2011-09-16T18:22:00.005-05:00

this'll keep me sharp
for harassing brookies.

where that bedroom
brick used to go.

the walk out.

interesting details.

the walk back.

serendipity, eh?

movin' and shit...

2011-09-10T16:30:00.004-05:00

doing this the only way I know how,
one step at a time.

little help from some friends for the big stuff,
the rest of the process will cull 17yrs worth
of wordly possesions. I have wayyy too much
stuff. Salvation Army is making out well, big
sale accoming!

Snapshot of my expected viewpoint after
I host a house warming, love my new place...

I bought a house!

2011-08-31T14:15:00.006-05:00

For those not in the know,
spent the last month crossing i's
and dotting t's, moving paper from
A to B to C, damn glad it's all done.

ahh the American dream,
it's actually kinda cool...

and I'm only a block
from the Letort, pretty sweet.

the beer run.

2011-08-29T15:44:00.003-05:00

vision that haunts me...

2011-08-28T10:45:00.001-05:00

vision that haunts me from Tomi McMillar on Vimeo.

played chess w/ this
20"er the other evening,
Letort sure is a special place.

wknd thoughts.

2011-08-19T13:05:00.003-05:00

hat tip to Sue.

more info...HippieSue found it on the WhiteGrass
page (shocking!), w/ a link that goes thru to WV
Sierra Club, still looking for a source for an
original sticker...I want one.

was so fed up.

2011-08-15T20:06:00.003-05:00

with mowing that fucking lawn.
(and it needs mowed again, damnit.
am diggin' the rain though,
makes trout happy.)

mowing somebody else's property.
ugh, too old for that shtick, did
enough of that shit as a kid.

fucking tired of it, time to invest in
myself. 3ish time warped weeks
later and now I'm buying my own
place...gettin' pinned at the dance
tomorrow, ahhhh Commitment.

just feels right. felt right, funny
background and all, I'll tell you
at the party....

trust your gut,
if it feels right,
do it.

yep.

uhmmm

2011-08-11T20:07:00.003-05:00

so, here I am trying to load two snapshots from the picture taker,
and this picture caught my eye while scrollling the the contents
of the hard drive on this here machine.

picture taken 6/12/06, it's the back of my number plate
from the only 24hr duo I've ever done....or will do.

damn, that was a special experience, lot's of emotion
and turmoil in that plate...captured well by the splatter.

an interesting day, I like it.

busy busy.

2011-08-08T17:39:00.003-05:00

putting on the big boy pants,
buying a house, to whomever
described this process as 'fun.'

tell me again and you might walk
away with a fat lip....exhausting
and rewarding for sure, but 'fun.'

no, sorry.

did catch some nice trouts
on the Breeches the other eve,
whitefly has begun. caught a
nice 18" stocker brown on a tiny
little #20 something or other
before the bugs hatched in earnest.

enough to hold me over for a bit,
fun my ass, I'm going to sleep.

The Cursed.

2011-07-25T16:12:00.006-05:00

Travisimo at Warp Tractor 9.9

mmmm, Dark Hollow. Surprisingly
amazingly good wknd up on the mtn.
Escaped the oppresive valley heat for
10-15deg cooler climate and one of the
best night's sleep under the stars that
I've had in a long time. Had some good
times on the bike, then snapped some pictures.

got lucky witht the shutter a couple times
I think, tough to get focused shots I'd hoped
for, lots of speed and frenzy instead, racers
were killing it down Yellow Hill..

opening salvos from the singledingles,
with Churtle in the mix.

moved over to Yellow Hill,
warp factors galore.

Full set now over on the SMug

framed.

2011-07-23T09:03:00.003-05:00

Gotta say, I'm quite happy with the work done by the Carlisle Frame Shop, adding some life to a big empty wall.

'Inspection' by artist Michael Simon from VA. Met him at the Allenberry Heritage Days a few weeks back..

This is a water color tinted Gyotaku print of a brookie from Big Poe by State College artist Birdman. Saw it hanging on the wall up at the Feathered Hook and the colors were mesmerizing...

went for a ride.

2011-07-17T07:38:00.008-05:00

took a fishin' pole along.

into the evening.

pointing the way.

setting camp in the dark...again.

breakfast.

first brookie of the day.

fish one, feels like a biggun.

true wild beauty.

hello there.

hitting the trifecta with
a surprise rainbow.

one last brookie.

their peaceful home

cycle of life.

reloaded.

rolling a bit of trail

love note.

the place I call home.

just spinnin' along.

weekender.

2011-07-11T15:47:00.008-05:00

ohhhh, just more of the same old same old.
I wish I lived somewhere cool, where I could
do cool rad stuff, man PeeYay sure sux.

3am Saturday commute, first light on Penn's
at five. Eventually harass a few feisty trouts
with a decent rally over craneflies from 8ish
to ten or so, back on shore around 10:30 once
the action subsides. Snack on a sandwich and
make a change of kit.

hop on the skinny tires, time to go exploring.
Circumnavigate the southern tier of the Bald
Eagle, lots of sweet pave' thru the forest and
a hidden climb towards the end to keep it
honest...home just in time for socializing
best I could at Dickerson Bluegrass Festy
before a steak off the grill and big ZZZzzz's.

5.5 on the stream + 5.5 in the saddle
= lazy Tour watching start to the day,
easing into it....ended up going to a
favorite spot in the Tuscarora, love
that forest, beautiful place.

soap box.

2011-07-11T15:45:00.001-05:00

"But Republican Boehner said that tax increases are a nonstarter: "The American people will not accept – and the House cannot pass – a bill that raises taxes on job creators." "

Job Creators??? Fuck them, they got their rates cut again and again back in the Bush years, 10 fucking years ago, hell thirty, trickle down? yeah, right...and look at all the fucking jobs they've created since....well, maybe elswhere in emerging markets, ahhhh 'the market', gotta take care of the fuking market...we're phucked, fucking corporations, we are so owned.

troutin'

2011-07-04T06:23:00.007-05:00

Holiday wknd blitz,
feeling/being fat & slow,
bailed on le Tour and
scheduled a night at the
B&B up in Coburn.

Hatch a plan...fish some
brookie water along the
way north on Sat. morn.
Then try out some rods
during the afternoon
doldrums, and fish out
the evening on Penn's.
Hit Penn's again for the
morning bite, then figure
out it out from there...

Penn's in the evening.

New fishin' stick.

breakin' her in right.

down in their realm.

hero shot.

good mornin'

back at it.

here fishy fishy.

mmmm, lunch.

Penn's horseshoe stretch.

Little J evening.

It's the little things.

Another one in the rearview.

pedals, not planks.

2011-06-30T16:18:00.012-05:00

Went to the WV for the wknd,
good times at the Canaan MTB
festy. Great to see the wintertime
mtn clan, always good times.

The commute down, wierd
to not have snow to contend
with, but those fucking deer
will keep you on your toes...
happy to arrive in time for
the tail end of Icebox movie
night.

Saturday, reunion time at the
venue, BlackWater Bikes, then
off on the big adventure ride,
led by Suzy & Chaga. Rode
stuff I've never ridden before,
and stuff that that noone else
has ridden before, good vibe
happening in the Valley...so
that's what's under all that
snow...good times into the
early eve, then apres', then
beer:30 & Sarianni's and pile
into the van for a trip to rock
out and catch up some more
at Mtn State in Thomas, whuut?

Sunday, solo roadie effort,
putting a fresh tic on that list.
How many years have we driven
down from Mt Storm and drooled
over thoughts of skinny tire carving
that four mile stretch of tarmac?
Was really wishin' for a big ring
along the way, and maybe a bike
with a bit more intuitive handling.
That would be a nice touch.

Was still a shwoopy big grin fun
time for sure, followed by some
sweeeet rolling fresh mtn valley
road tarmac up thru Jordan Run.
Hit most of the mini marts along
the way, not sure which would
be the last before the next stretch
of grey area, 2 bottles vs the Dolly
Sods, hmmmm.

Find the first roadside Nat'l Forest
kiosk for the Sods at the base of FR75.
Check out the map, refamiliarize
and continue to spin on down to
FR19. See the northern tip of the
Gnarly from a new perspective,
wowsers!, and figure my right
turn is coming up soon.

FR19, settle into the 36:28 and
spin on up the hill thru a corridor
of green and gravel for 30 solid
minutes. Hit one of those high
mtn meadows and take in the
glimpse of a view, qwik sugar
calories and turn pedals on
uphill on a bit more, now against
a more give and take relaxing
rolly pitch for another 40ish minutes.
An hour-plus climb? been a while..

Hit the top, start rolling out the
ridge to the north, and suddenly
begin feeling really small and
exposed. Kind of a weird place
up there, so I sat down on a warm
rock and ate some cookies for a
snack break, marveling at how out
of whack my sense of distance had
become.

Pointed the bike back towards
Laneville and rolled down one
insanely nice fireroad descent
for a road bike. Packed tacky
clay w/ narry a stone or rippled
wash along its entirety, save for
one spot at the top that required
a qwik hop, otherwise, hold your
line and let it roll. Barely even any
braking bumps, just magnifique pave'.

Of course I stopped for a looksy at
the trout stream at the bottom and
breathed a sigh of relief for getting
that bit behind me, amazing what
you can do on plain old belted 25's.
Laneville road was classique holler
riding at it's finest, sneaking a peak
at MPC in summer dress. Finish with a
shortish climb up to the Valley, and spin
her home to the IceBox.

good times. To the legs, it felt like mid
70's, clocked out w/ 6 elapsed, 12ish for
a rolling average over the 67 actually
covered. killing it!

(oh, all pics shot with the new
Pentax toy, can't wait to take it
fishin' this wknd, will hopefully
shake off the skunk I picked up
last night and get some under
water shots...fishin's been good
lately, I was due.)

getting acquainted

2011-06-24T16:37:00.003-05:00

Went to the Allenberry Heritage Day last wknd, real good time, lots of history and talent in one place at one time, pretty neat stuff. Had on my mind that empty quiver slot for shorter 4wt, and when I came across a Duracane 704, pretty hard to walk away...especially after lining it up with the 4wt silk I just happened to have along. It's a Maxwell era rod and I've been a fan of him for a while now, partially due to T&T being here in the Cumberland Valley in their early days, homewaters and all of that......
So, figuring out where to take this rod for its first outing was a pretty easy decision, I kinda figure that those early rods were probably influenced in some way by these local waters, and breaking in this rod on this particular stream seemed to be just right. Charlie Fox mentions these waters in one of his books, and this 7' 4wt couldn't have been more at home up in the Tuscarora.

Finally had an open evening and rushed out of work on a hot and hazy day and ran for the much greener hollers over the ridge to reacquaint with a known beat and shake off the day. The occurrences of boiled & exploding waters accompanied by the wild native beauty of this spot quickly pushed all of that into the background. Plenty of quiet out there to enjoy, nice casting lanes from one spot to the next really let the 7 footer show it's legs, and picking pockets thru the braided riffles and thin plunges often surprised with a splashy take of the yellow Adams. Also saw a surprising number of yellow stones flitting about thru the evening air, this stream is always a surprise. The local brookies all showed this cranberry-ish crimson instead of the expected oranges, beautiful unique fish. The evening's 'trophy', came out of a thin little shin deep slot, a surprise for the both of us.

being graceful.

2011-06-20T17:48:00.004-05:00

there was a dark night,
many moons ago, seeking
an adventure to Denny's,
3am on foot.

'Aim for the bright spots.'

Was the lsson I brought
home with me.

Sunday, conflicted in someways.
Riding off the back, riding my
leg searching tempo, retooling.

Sneak into the line, follow a wheel
too closey up onto that rock,
and at least try to ride it out.

Was thinking last week, spinning
around town.. "I really haven't come
off this bike in a while."

Thoughts like that mean you're due,
soon. And now soon is over, and there's
a flesh wound where there wasn't one
before. And stiff shoulders from impact
absorbtion. Damn lucky considering
Meeshow's inherent pointiness.

"Aim for the bright spot"

Lets hope that bill's been paid now,
lot of shit happens in an instant.

Evening on Big Spring

2011-06-18T07:31:00.005-05:00

With sulphurs pretty much peaked out for the year, thought I'd head over to Big Spring and give the Letort a rest. Hit the lower end of the regulation water around 6:30ish and harassed a few large 'bows until they tired of my antics. Saw a rise under the shrubbery, tied on a #16 sulphur dun and hooked a nice fat brookie in short order. After his release, there was another rise but the sulphur dun was ignored. Tied on a goofy sparkly cdc emerger and got a take on the first drift...another nice brookie.

But these two brookies were kinda rough looking for wild fish I thought, maybe they had moved up from the stocked water which wasn't far below from where I was fishing?

Saw a few more rises here and there, so repostitioned & rerigged and ended up missing a couple takes before hooking into what would've been my big fish for the year. He took a #16 sulphur on the first drift and on that first run for safety wrapped the line around the unseen submerged sticked he was using for cover. Popped the 6x just like that, drat.

Re-rigged again, sun was getting quite low now, so worked up into some flat water where I was seeing more regular, though still sporadic rises. Eventually settled into the flow thru a set of old V dam rocks and picked up a small parr marked 'bow on a sulphur dun, but kept hearing a rather impressive gulumph at the head of the run.

Broke out the headlamp and tied on a #14 sulphur spinner. Casting on faith and feel into the darkness, heard the slurp, set into it and instantly the Hardy was singing her sweet tune. Nice fish, this one....just topping the one that had broken me off earlier. Kinda hard to get a decent pic being solo, but based on the size of my net, this 'bow was easily 19".

9:45, time for a beer, what an evening on the water!

crash course.

2011-06-16T19:47:00.003-05:00

here comes le Tour.
in it for the long wknd,
no less, no more. (well,
maybe the proglogue too
if the travel plans allow..)

tourista survival is
name of the game.
haven't ridden three
days straight in I don't
know how long, much less
three tour stages.

this. is. gonna. be. neat.

I'm sure.

I have ridden the road bike
twice in the last five days,
mtn bike oncet, plus a simple
spin around town to seat
the fresh knobbies.

wow.

Get in one more thirty mile
road ride by Saturday, and
at least I'll have the on tap
road stage mileage in my
legs this week...maybe I'll
even get in one other ride
beyond that.

Putting the emphasis
on the Tour part of
le Tour de 'burg for
sure. If you think I've
been off the back of the
Sunday Cupcake spins....

well, you ain't seen
nothing yet.

I'll be keeping that
DFL jersey warm for
somebody, bitches.

(as long as my legs
don't turn blue.)

bike shop rant...

2011-06-03T17:39:00.004-05:00

had to swing into my local,
in town, shop today.
not. my. preference.

but no time to drive to those I know.

was looking for a specific style grease,
for a specific job that Phil's green love
can't handle, (Hugi Star Ratchet, fyi...)

I would rant for the hell of it,
but the fresh wheel is back together now,
and I'd rather go for a spin around town.

peace.

staycation week.

2011-05-27T08:44:00.005-05:00

damn, this is what I needed.
been unplugged for more
than few, feels good. did
the mtn bike guide thing
over the wknd, getting paid
to pedal is a pretty sweet gig.
thnx Bucky & Ralph.

saw a lizard up along Vista.

and been doing some fishin'
here and there, daytrippin',
looking for streams that
aren't blown out, plenty of
rain this year, that's for sure.

pedaled thru the woods too,
got a new tire up front, the
fresh edges sure are grippy.

got home from the Little J
late last night, noticed branches
and shredded bits laying about
the streets....daylight revealed
the extent. Ma Nature did quite
a job on the neighborhood.

I was waist deep sippin' a beer,
waiting on the evening sulphurs
when this all went down, barely
got rained on where I was..

Four more days, plenty of
pedaling and a bit more
fishin' on the agenda.

stone cabin

2011-05-21T20:39:00.002-05:00

and finally met the neighbors of the Stone Cabin,
Dave & Debbie....

"we ain't never seen nobody here before....nice to meetchya"

"been hammerin' her since she was 15."

ahhh local color, the Israelis ain't
seen nouthin' like that befoo.

low tolerance.

2011-05-08T14:38:00.003-05:00

ahhhh, the benefit of being fat and slow.

don't need to ride back to back 14ish hour days,
when Cupcake Focus takes you there in 4ish.
forgot how much fun it is to battle the cramp
monster, I thought this retirement shtick
would keep him at bay.

trails are riding great though, so how can you
not empty the tank out there?

fished a bit on Saturday, Little J from 9 till 4ish.
Caught a few, no rising trouts yet, though didn't
stick around for the witching hour. Was reminded
the challenge of wading waist deep in qwik waters,
kept my feet under me, but did pucker a couple
times, was not in the mood for a swim...

Hot racing actions!!!

2011-05-03T15:44:00.005-05:00

Maximus oh'11 is in the books.

Looked like everybody had one of those
miserably good times, sweet. The mountain
is overloaded with water and parts of the loop
showed it. Felt bad for the 20' & 10's, missing
out on the sweet stuff that's up high in the 40.
That loop out across Ridge Rd to newly finished
Vista is some of the sweetest riding in Michaux.
That's gotta be such a fun loop to race around,
except for the lower Adam's county slummin',
that's some gnarly ickiness down there. And it
puts you in pretty deep hole to climb up out of, ouch.

lots of hollow faces coming into the finish chute.
lots of respect out to all ya'll, hell of a ride you
put in..sorry about the rain, sorry about the
running water, it's out there no matter where
you go in the forest right now...should make
for good fishin' come July....will probably hit
some of the trails 'one more time' to see how
they fared. Another 3/4" of rain in the forecast,
imagine things will mend right back together....

J. Po. on RiceRocks! and thru the dippty-doh..

Ed is a smart man.

Churtle lines it up.

Only a witnessed two of these...

13 hours....

2011-04-28T19:54:00.010-05:00

it's a fucking disgrace,
the lack of respect the
human race has for our
little blue spaceship,
hurtling thru the Universe.

fuck me, we're toast.

http://www.propublica.org/article/response-to-pa-gas-well-accident-took-13-hours-despite-state-plan-for-quick

and to add on....because I've got few in me...found this in the comments...

“Dave Cesark of Mesa Energy in Grand Junction said the risk isn’t zero, but fracking has been used safely for decades."

Riiiiiiiight.....and it probably has been, for all they can tell under the dpeths of the ocean or out in the deserted plains of TX and CO. But as they seek out this ever more scarce 'resource', they encroach closer and closer to the environs we all live in....so yes, the statement is lawyerly true, but reaks of bullshit when put to the smell test. They are now drilling in folks's backyards, they are poisoning our water. They aren't out in some isolated locale with neighborly tumbleweed rolling by or thousands of feet deep where bioluminescence ain't just groovy, it's a fact of life.

13 fucking hours to fly in a response crew for TX??? Our state is so fucked unless something changes. The fines for violations are absurd compared to profit potential...the fucking bookies have that all figured out, cost to benefit baby. When the penalty is a margin call for that single location, the corporate conglomerate is happy to take that hit in order to maximize the ratios at the 134 wells that luckily didn't blow out.

But this goes beyond statistical anomaly. Look at the fucking watershed...it all drains into the Chesapeake, it's the lay of the land. Think about everybody downstream.....we moved to PA when I was 4. Grew up fishin' the Susky, smallies around the Accomac, Walleye near those scarey power plant walkways, catfish and Long Level and shad below the big dam, Otter Creek and it's history. It's all downstream from all of these incidentsess. And coming from Illinois, my Dad didnt like the taste of the fish out of the river...'they taste dirty....' he'd say. And compared to IL farm ponds and lakes, they probably were. Fish are products of their environs...and I'm sure the Susky downstream of Harrisburg in the late 70's/80's wasn't the most pristine habitat. Never heard him say that about the perch and bluegills out of the Project 70 lake we fished every spring...just an observation....as long as they were fried & salty and there was ketchup, I was content. Though I can't imagine eating a fish out of that river today....

And as to the bottom line, for the 'markets' it's a margin call on one out of how many? But add up those ones that are spread here and there everywhere, all of those 'isolated incidents', and look at what all is downstream.....

Am I just bitchin', or have any actual ideas???

yeah, here's a thought.

tax and regulate the fuck out of them!!!! Fucking tax the fuck out of 'em to cover the cost of thoroughly watching their asses, make 'em post up for damage caused to the common interest, to the common place...to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania/.

so yeah, fucking tax the fuck out of 'em....and if they wanna keep on keeping on and continuously record new profit records seemingly every other quarter, then let 'em charge us 10-15-20 fucking dollars a gallon or whatever Natural Gas is measured by..(I'm all electric w/ kerosene buffer here in Tomitown), no idea what gas is going for...then make us fucking pay the real cost of these extractive industries, and we'll see how quickly attitudes change.....

Yeah, so tax the fuck out of 'em, let 'em jack the prices to keep teh margins intact, and see what the 'market' has to say about that. ?Make them fucking pay the real extraction cost of not just the raw good, but also of the long term degradationa and an assumption of risk for when shit hits the fan......mistakes do happen, the shit does go thwap thwap thwap thru the blades of the fan. Nothing can be foolproof, but make 'em pay up front to assume their risk instead of leaving it on us to clean up their mess, common sense. The drill/well goes well?....then here's that part of your deposit back.

And make us pay too, at the pump, when the heating bill arrives, make us bleed even more for your % profit margin....and then maybe more of us might wake up, and then maybe 'the market' will begin demanding the new technologies that Obama and every single "Year 2000" article from the '50s on tells us about. Solar? yeah I remember learning how to cook a hotdog in the '80s, then we got a microwave. Wind? yeah, ever see pictures of Holland? That shit's medieval and we still don't have it dialed???? Guess there just ain't no money in it. I mean shit, how can you hold the wind hostage?

I mean, jesus fucking christ, I think the Model T got the same gas mileage as my CR-V.....yeah, ok, now I can go faster, and have AC and stereophonic sound...but at what cost?

At what cost.. ?

watch this.

2011-04-27T16:41:00.002-05:00

double clicky to link thru..

it's a shame.

2011-04-25T18:58:00.002-05:00

it's a shame that actual Meixcans
have replaced killer bees
as the biggest threat from
'South of the Border.'

Back in the '80s they were
'coming right for us!'

and all we got was Stinkbugs.

fact.

2011-04-22T15:16:00.000-05:00

I love the smell
of old books.

elitist flyfishing snobbery

2011-04-22T06:11:00.000-05:00

Hillbilly Troutin' and Smoky Mountain Visitor's Guide Video from Owl Jones on Vimeo.

Happy Earthday!

just ride.

2011-04-17T16:12:00.003-05:00

ahhhh, Sunday Service.

it was fun, hit the portions
of the 40 Maximus. Amazing
what 4" of rain looks like in
real life, this sun & breeze should
dry it right out....trails are mucho
grande love for all of you singletrack
Don Jauns...to think that that's
only 22 of 40, dang.

Thanks to the 'cakes for waiting
for this gimp, sorry 'bout the broken
chain..hate to say it, but gears are
looking like a prudent choice, time
to re-up for a chain & cassette I
guess...ah getting old and lazy,
happy birfday to me...amazing what
a little stretching can do....maybe
I should try that shit out once again.

mmmmm

2011-04-15T07:15:00.002-05:00

3 for 3.

2011-04-12T18:18:00.004-05:00

i rode all three
of my bikes, on
three separate
days, all in a row.

and went fishin'
in between. it
was a good wknd,
with nice flow into
a warm Monday.

I saw turkeys along creek road.

And this is one of two ospreys out along Big Spring.

a gullible Letort brown.

saw more turkeys along 233 Sunday morn.

mmmm, trout food.

bloggin'

2011-04-04T20:14:00.006-05:00

went fishing on Saturday, Penn's.
Bigger water than I'm used to.
Didn't fish long, was really up
in that neck of the woods to
pick up a new toy in Coburn.
So, was just getting a feel for
the stream, getting acquainted
for future visits...ie, didn't catch
shit. New rod is pretty damn sweet
though, 6' 3wt.

And yeah, I actually rode a bicycle
again on Sunday, it was a grand old
time. 10+ group with those usual
energies involved. Some chomping
of bits, a few trailside repair clinics
and a bit of out of shape slacker slum
mixed in, get used to it Mr. Fisherman.
All in all, a pretty decent day.

Lots of new trail ridden. Some of it
on the grid, some of it not so much,
I love Michaux.

man.

2011-04-01T19:57:00.001-05:00

oh man, I had this poem
in my head. it would've
enlightened humanity.

But, I'm an engineer.

sorry.

a full wknd.

2011-03-27T16:39:00.004-05:00

saw the call
go out for
Cupcake fieldtrip to
super fun Lykens. My
Honest wknd warrior status
feels me lacking for the Sunday
pace. Not really in the head to
be the wait for me guy, so make
field trip north to Coburn hamlet
on Saturday instead. It was cold
overnight, probably not too good
for the fishin', pretty though..

Stop in at the Feathered Hook,
pick up some knick-knacks,
waggle some rods, oohh, ahhh.
Catch up, grab some flies and
hit the water, checkbook unscathed..
Hope for heat of the day lunchtime
activity, but water is flowing plenty
good, really good. Dose of sketchy
wading, sit down for lunch..

Feel lucky to actually flush one nice
trout from a bankside eddy. Tie on
a big bright Patriot dry just to stretch
the legs on the 6wt, cast a longish
line until the fly and guides are iced
up, and then bag it for the day.

Swing back into the Hook, and won't
even try to justify it, but walked out
with a new 5' one pc 3wt to add to
the quiver. Will be putting a similar
stick back onto the market soon...or
maybe some skis/touring bags/misc
gear, etc...stay tuned.

Sunday....here's proof that I do still
ride a bike. However, after scoping
out this stream, I bee lined the white
line macadam groove back to the
car to re-rig and get on that water.
Pedal strokes is pedal strokes right now...

Only found one willing playmate in
that realm today, a healthy, colorful
wild brown, what a nice fish, especially
on the new rod. Wish him well back into
the currents, back into one of the first
mtn Runs I'd ever fished, good times.

Can't wait for the temps to come up
just that little bit...feels a bit chilly yet.

on the surface

2011-03-23T14:53:00.003-05:00

It's kinda neat, to get
back onto a favorite
stream, in a familiar
meadow.

Scope out the scene
while rigging up, eyes
and ears open for subtle
slurp...stand still long
enough, here a gulp,
turn in that direction
and maybe see a set of
expanding rings become
interlaced with the glassy
eddies...was that?

Watch some more, relax
and there it is a gain, sweet,
a trout on the feed. Tie on
something buggy and work
out the line. Finally get the
cast right and there's a little
splish where there was once
a fly. Set into an exuberant
little brown, maybe the size
of the rod grip, but count him.

First Letort brown of the year.

Change flies and dig out a
fly I tied probably 15yrs ago,
a particular olive pattern I've
never fished. Play the hunch,
re-rig and start watching again.

Within a couple minutes spot a
subtle rise up along the far bank.
Bit out of range, so figure to fish
my way up there. Working the near
bank along the way, miss another
smaller one, then get into a good
spot to work that next lie.

Make a bunch of casts, nothing.
Move a few steps upstream,
another handful of casts, nothing.
Then another rise right there, what?
Take another step or two upstream,
another cast or three, when just like
that, slurp.

..cool....

Tighten the line and realize this isn't
just another little youngster, this fish
has some body and a bit of fight to it.
A couple of nice jumps, then struggle
to keep him up out of the weeds. Short
time later, bring him to hand, a healthy
12"er, nice. Needed that.

Pretty stoked on the outing, ended up
with a long distance release of another
and missed a couple more on the take.
All in all, a decent evening on the water.

spring

2011-03-19T17:26:00.003-05:00

itchin' to get on the water.
know of a stream that's good
to go during this 'closed season'
before official opening day.

a stream with native brookies
and a refreshing air. brought a
few to hand, a couple bigger
than the others.

missed on one of the most
beautiful rises I've ever seen,
to a Royal Coachman of all flies.
That made the day, then tinkered
with timed interval shutter snapping
with the newish camera..

encore!

2011-03-17T06:58:00.001-05:00

moving pictures from the last day of schussing,
another fun season in the books!

winter reprise from WVski on Vimeo.

spring ride

2011-03-13T14:41:00.000-05:00

45 minutes of Hero,
3hrs of Slum.
mmmmmmm, beer.

firepower.

2011-03-09T07:21:00.000-05:00

chasing.

2011-03-04T21:38:00.004-05:00

sort of a shitty, hectic, unappreciated
end to the work week.

get home and fight the demotivation.
throw the gear in the car.

boogy down the highway, hit the short
country roads and find a thankfully empty
streamside parking lot.

but has anybody been thru earlier?
twas a nice day out, and those wild
trouts will hide for a while.

rig up, forgo the waterproofing
and plan to fish from the bank,
speedier to the water that way.

pick a fly on a hunch, tie it on.
fish for a bit, finding the rythmn.

was that a car pulling in?
don't see nothin'.

swear I heard something, look again.

hrmmm, who's that? oh great, the local
WCO. is he gonna harass me about my
open beer?

well shit, it's Bobby, I know that dude
from back in that day...

'nice rod' he says, 'who built it?'

Jim Downes up in Coburn...we shoot
the shit, talking cane, give him lead
or two on a classic Leonard he's
might be sorta interested in.

Younger WCO partner..
"just checking liscences..."

yeah, its there on my pack,
I spin around...(please ignore the
open Two Hearted....)

Where ya from?
birthday?
yadda yadda, any luck?
yadda, yadda...

finally leave me alone.

The rainbow, the one that was
here in November, that I hooked
and broke off, that big fucker is
nowhwere to be seen. fish up
as far as I can go with dry feet.

switch to a streamer and start the
downstream swing back to the car.

work the pockets.
work the riffles.

into the flat water, work the far bank,
finally get into a groove, it's been a while.

sun is out of the air, feeling the chill.
roll that bugger towards that gnarly
overhanging tree...one cast, two cast.

and there it is...a damn big trout out of
hiding, chasing, following. oh, there are
those dormant adrenals, hello again.

sort thru the box, brown nymph, black
nymph, tangle and undo..damn fish is still
on the feed. undo another tangle, god I
suck at this. sun is gone, fingers numbing,
trying to thread a tippet in the waning light,
everthing a shade of gray, I hate contacts,
or I'm getting old. then try to add some weight....
is that damn fish even there anymore?

oh yeah, there he is.

back to a streamer, then back to some little
buggy thing...drop untold shot thru numb
fingers trying get some weight on the leader,
suddenly a fan of moldable tungsten.

change flies again, cast into the darkness?

nah, fuck it, it's dark, at least I got out
and learned where a big fish lies.
time to finish this beer, glad Bobby didn't
give me shit about that....only had the one.

damn, I needed that.
I love clean flowing water.

an affliction...

2011-03-01T20:36:00.007-05:00

if you ever start fly fishing,
do yourself a favor and stay
away from bamboo rods.

don't ever cast one, don't
ever allow yourself to
fall under their spell.
because once you do...

I wonder how I can do
this, the damn things ain't
cheap, that's for sure.
But when you're not
budgeting all that dough
to chase number plated
glories, and the bike
frames are still under
warranty.

So, why the fuck not?

Why fish with mandralled
robotic autoclave plastique?
I don't ride plastique bikes,
why on Earth would I fish
plastic rods?

Those beautiful trouts,
their homes, deserve more
respect than that. From the
Earth, to the Earth. It's where
we come from, it's where we
eventually end up...well, at
least that's the plan for
this carcass. Who knows
where the energy goes...

May as well use a tool
that encompasses a bit
of love in its creation, rather
than cold machine made
spec'd out marketing profit
ploys.

One of these days, I'll hopefully
be building my own...but until then.

The latest addition, built by a
master in the '70s....damn she
throws a wonderfully smooth
line, can't wait to introduce her
to the Letort:

And a family photo,
serial digits are within
30 of each other, and the
wraps are even a match...if
I ever find their long lost 7' 4wt
sibling, does she even exist?

well, that'd be pretty sweet.

oh, have been pedaling the
Jabberfixy recently, Vista trail
is now a bit longer than before,
if you know where to look....

got game?

2011-02-26T17:36:00.000-05:00

compared to Bruce,
you ain't got shit.

damn.

boxes of bugs....

2011-02-25T16:00:00.004-05:00

never really did much
on the yaBe until I got
back into all of this fishin'
stuff....

have always liked the vintage
stuff, picked up another old
box of flies. this one is another
1920's era Wheatley, w/ 'vintage'
flies. It's 16 compartments with
felt in the lid..pretty much all of
the flies were 'meh' and I doubt
I'll use any of them...but the box
is plenty serviceable.

then there's this find that just
arrived today. The Wheatley
32 compartment is often called
the 'Rolls Royce' of fly boxes,
and for good reason.

Have always wanted one, amazing
capacity, great style and they'll last
forever, see the above 80+yr old box.
Picked up these two for a song, less
than retail for a single new one.
Granted, one is missing 2 doors....no biggie.

And the dang thiings were filled
with flies. Filled. And not with
somebody's old junk, packed with
quality flies that I'll actually use.
Well, maybe not all of those marabou
jigs, but the other 150 or so flies will
probably find their way tied to end of
a leader at some point. Got a bit of
sorting and re-reorganizing to do.

I think I actually got a pretty
good deal this time 'round.

But first, I have a wknd date with
some brushes and a roller or two...

bugs

2011-02-17T19:33:00.004-05:00

fur, feather and steel.
it's what I use to catch
those beautiful trouts.

there're always conversations
that pop up, 'if you had just
one fly....'

if I had just one fly, it would
be an ant. tied the standard
way, two lumps of dubbed fur
with a hackle 'round the waist.

black is the standard, but
I was having a lot of success
with an orange and grizzly
variation late in the summer.
ants are everywhere, and the
trouts know it. present 'em
on top, or drown 'em down
underneath. very versatile and
they work everywhere from
the Letort to trickling mtn brooks.

of course, until it warms up
and the ants become active,
I have a couple other favorites....

fishing underneath is never
my preference, but sometimes
it's the only game going. for
those times I've had the most
success with a simple shrimpy
scud pattern. dubb it, wrap it
w/ some fine copper and pick
it out to make it look buggy.
fooled plenty of Letort browns
with this little fly...

I don't fish many nymphs in
the mtns, when I do, it's
usually a generic buggy
pattern like a Hare's ear
or a Prince. Want to try out
some soft hackles this year,
so I tied up a handful of these
a week or so ago, gonna do
more in a darker color scheme.....

And thinking towards that
week i'm planning for chasing
hatches in late May, this was the
best sulphur pattern I used last
year. I have a box filled with all
kinds of sulphur patterns, cut
wings, parachutes, extended
bodies, classic Catskills and this
simple thing worked the best for
me last year, go figure. need to tie
up a bunch more of these too.

so those are what I found
to work the best for me last
year. if only it was that simple,
right? Variety is the spice, and
it's good to have choices....cuz
you just never know what you'll
find out along the stream. These
are my two take anywhere boxes,
one for the spring creeks, one for
the hemlock brookies.

Those trouts sure can be a
finicky bunch, back to the vise.

just around the bend..

2011-02-07T18:54:00.003-05:00

Wellllll, looking at forecasts
along with the calender...sensing
the vibe that Winter might be
wrapping up pretty directly. A
shift in the pattern is coming,
a lasting shot of warm air is on
the way and we'll be into March
soon enough.

I guess that's good and bad,
depending on whether or not
you managed to top off your
powder fix for the year...I think
I have. Definitely keeping an
eye open for one last shot of
March snow...but the 40deg
sunshine on Sunday found me
cruising over to a local trout
stream instead of the lift
serve circus.

I imagine there was spring snow
to play on, but I had a new rod
that needed to be fished and
some freshly tied patterns to
try out. Missed a few hookups,
then found a pod of brookies to
harass. Can't think of a better
way to break in a new rod, nice
way to start the new season...

Man I love those colors, my favorite fish.

four oh.

2011-02-02T20:52:00.005-05:00

I'm forty, and have just
started to purposely
huck off of shit on skis
in the past year.

My form sux, but
gotta start some
where's.

Wheeeeee!

thnx for the pic Abe.

pow houndin'

2011-01-31T18:06:00.007-05:00

Bought a lift ticket Saturday.
Spent the morning gettin'
rowdy over at CVR w/ Abe.
I think we skied one 'groomer'
all morn, Maching down gravity,
who says big skis can't carve?
Lots of fun turns picking the
pockets of that little mountain,
plenty of fun lines if you have
an eye and look for 'em.

Then raised funds for TCT
at Hellbenders...beverage
proceeds went to the club,
I did my best to help out.

And so had a slowwww
start on a foggy Sunday
morn...much like everybody
else it seems. Lots of the
unmotivated milling about
until the Sun finally popped
out from behind grey shrouds.

Got back on the leathers and
had a blast on the packed in
and fassssst singletrack up high.
Out solo so worked a nice tempo
seeing how qwikly I could cruise
along....yeah, man that's a lot fun.
Those local HASH's they do must be
a blst, and there is one at WG on Sunday...

what I said....

2011-01-27T19:40:00.004-05:00

in response to a thread on a fishing forum about
folks packing heat while out fishing for trouts.

yes, you do have the right to carry, a permit, whatever...I don't get it.

Since there's a chance this'll be deleted by the MODS, figured I'd preserve it here...yeah, I'm one of those dirty fucking hippys who just doesn't get why people live in such fear of each other that they think carrying a sidearm is appropriate or necessary behavior.

Man, this place is so fucked up.

linky to thread if you're bored: hotlink clicky

------

''Suburbia', cute retort.

The reason I ask is that, yes, I too have had numerous 'wildlife encounters.' Momma bear w/ cubs, coyotes day and night (spooky as hell when you're out XC skiing thru the woods in the dark), rattling snakes and yes, even a rabid varmint or two....and never once have I wished to myself, "if only I had a gun."

So, I'm really just curious about how often it happens that a weapon needs to pulled while out on the stream? I'm pretty sure I could fend off a rabid coon with a few swift kicks and evasive actions....pretty easy to tell the innocent childrens to 'run back to camp/safe place' and defend them against that rabid 15lb beast.

And as far as the human factor...glad you felt like a big tough guy once those fellas got a glance of your piece.

But, really? Seriously?

[rant on]
Don't lecture me, or anybody else for that matter, about the risks of being 'out there', The dangers of hillbilly methheads, wtf? Suburbia? yeah, whatever. You have no idea about my travels or experiences, just as I know nothing about yours, beyond your persona here.

Personally, I like to believe in the good in people, and bank a bit on the laziness of your common thief. I'm more concerned about somebody breaking into my car at the trailhead, than an encounter a half hour's walk from said trailhead. I'm banking on the fact, that when I'm out there, anybody else out there is there for similar reasons...enjoying the marvels of this big blue marble we live on.

When I do run across somebody packing heat, open carry or concealed, I will cut a wide berth. Because I figure that that fella & I have totally different approaches to living, and if he thinks he needs to carry that, around here...well, who knows how he's wired? sorry, just don't get it. just don't get that fearful approach to living. best defense is a good offense? or something, yeah, whatever, it's still a defensive position...not very welcoming in my mind.

here's a little scenario to ponder...say two fellas decide they wanna try out this flyfishing thing, cuz you know, bassin' on the river kinda sucks right now, and maybe this flyfishing can cover this slump. So they get their new outfits from Bass Pro, combo discount!, and the salesdude there in the flyfishing department tells them about this great hole on such & such creek. It's stocked, ez fishin for bucketed in trout, and these guys had just hit it up last wknd, caught some fish and had a blast. So they come back this wknd. They know there're trout there, so that's where they go...straight there, straight from their truck to that hole, making a fast splashy beeline to their newly found hotspot. Stealth, respect? They're green, clueless, used to flinging jigs and plugs from a boat.

But, dang it, there stands some dude fishing their new favorite spot. He's see's them coming and immediately glares at them. They pick up on the evil eye and they're like, WTF? They pull up and observe this guy, feeling this weird vibe that that grump is putting off. They don't know of any other places to fish, they don't know any better, so they just hang out, maybe hope to learn something by watching this guy fish. And they watch, and they watch and watch. But see, this fella ain't catching anything. hmmmm....so, maybe they figure he'll move on since he ain't catching much, and let them have a crack it. So they camp out, waiting.

But this guy keeps giving 'em the evil eye, and then they realize thru a flash of sunlight into a fold of the vest, that that grumpy weird dude is packing heat....

"Well, eff that, like we're gonna learn anything from him, we're out of here..."

Or, maybe they were really there to jump you and take all of your gear...but I doubt it.
[/end rant]

perspectives, personal choice...call it whatchya want it's all good. But I just don't get the overly fearful mindset that drives folks to feel the to need to carry in situations where it's simply not called for.

Out west, packing heat for grizzlies, yeah, I can understand that I guess...but the old dude packing heat that I met on the Letort last spring? W.T.F.?

and hopefully that's all I'll ever say about that...Mods delete if you feel the need.

good times in dem dar hillz..

2011-01-26T09:21:00.000-05:00

January Sunshine and Snow from WVski on Vimeo.

in with both feet.

2011-01-21T16:25:00.021-05:00

so, as you know, with that knee thing last year, I found some welcome reallocated time to get back out on the trout stream. also recognized some tendencies that are, well, just how I am. I find it pretty easy to focus on something, and then pursue just that...college/racing bikes, move to Carlisletown, then it was fishing, riding/racing again, then flying RC sailplanes, a broken collarbone and back into bike adventures for the last decade w/ lots of skiing for 'balance' over the last 6ish yrs.

Then this tendinitis thing in the spring was either that physically serious, or I had finally pulled the plug on always just 'riding thru it.' Just didn't/don't have the motivation or desire to constantly tell myself those bullshit lines about 'pain is temporary, weakness.' There's only so much fire in belly to keep turning yourself inside out, just so you can see how much further you really can push yourself, it's a rule of halves I think. You'll never quite get there.

I'm quite happy with the level I took it to. I've never reeally written about my fourth ever fixed gear ride before. That first ride around the W101 loop...I recall cramping and wanting to cry like a baby, then finally reaching the CP at the bottom of Sassafras after walking up the entirety of both of those previous two fireroads, you know which two... Then I remember sitting in a chair at that CP having that cliche-esque internal debate...

"well, you didn't come here to not finish this on a fixed gear.
if I press on, I will probably have to walk every climb.

and will cramp into potentially permanent
disfigurement at the bottom of every descent.

and IF I continue, I really am not normal.
I apparently really do have issues, cuz this
ain't right...

hmmm, may as well see where
this rabbit hole leads...."

Here's where I popped out:

And, God damn!!! That was one hell of
a ride! So glad Mr Photog was there to
capture that moment. That moment,
that week, the journey to get there, this
fucking blog, le Tour!!!, all started fresh
by standing up from that chair at the base
Sassafras, and doing it one foot in front
of the other.

How else you gonna get there?

So, yeah, peak bike experience, then reap Ullr's rewards with a season for the books, peaking out an off the charts ski-o-meter. Do it all with a slim to none preventive maintenance program, stretching?, and you end up with lots of 40yr old imbalances, outside of the head. Yeah, sure, I could've listened to Dr. Evil from the gun, dude knows his shit....but I know part of me was like, cool..an excuse, err, valid reason, to 'step back'....

"my knee is wrecked"

Other than admitting that I'd had enough and just couldn't keep pushing, because I just didn't have the desire to take it to another level. Because I just couldn't, can't, wouldn't, couldn't, can't, just don't fucking want to anymore....for now, or something...Jesus it's hard to let go...I just don't have the stomach to commit to that workload, what it takes to be 'fast', or simply survive at times when you toe the line...not when I could be standing knee deep in 52deg crystal clean trout water conditioned air while everyone else battles triple digit heat out along painted white lines. Do all that work for what? sorry, been there done that, don't need to go back, admit that I can't reach the next level....run the body into the ground and reboot and find other challenges that satisfy this enginerd's minutiae analyticalness.

Mix in a physical challenge with way cool gear and shit, I'm more than happy. Bikes are a mechanical love affair. Racing, a physical quiz relying as much on Jedi mind tricks as raw power to weight ratios and how to achieve all of that balance in the punk d.i.y. fashion, always a first love....then when I was flying/building/designing gliders, how I loved the handlaunch events! Throwing your toy glider, this marvel of basement craft. Molded kevlar, carbon & foam launched into the wafty updrafts you can just feel...the higher you throw, the further your range, the longer your search for 'good air.' yeah, finally some rocket science and a day's worth of running around a field throwing gliders against your typical American fare all day long....that's my kind of game....until they introduced discus launch for those old lazy fucks...

And Fishing, yeah, fishing, fly fishing, harassing the trouts....been fishing as long as I've been pedaling, and, ha, yeah, just recalled that an early girlfriend had Trout for a last name...go figure. Anyways....fishing, casting a fly, fishing, casting, fishing, casting, fly fishing, flycasting. Casting a fly rod....man, how do you describe it? Like everything, you gotta work from a solid center, and from there it's about rhythm and feel, acceleration and flow. But, all you're doing is waving a line thru the air, with a fancy stick, a way fancy stick. But there's also all the hippy shit, being in touch with the environs, having a sense for what's happening, about to happen, and then dropping that specially selected fly into that seam of current just so, with just the right follow thru to get those silky slack loops in the line, all the better to deal with those eddies and whatnot.

All to put those goofily arranged feathers convincingly into Mr. Trout's line of sight.

And if that happens once every ten, 40, 100 or who knows how many casts for me, I'm a happy fella. Mtn brookie fishing is as much about walking thru beautiful places and making challenging casts, as it is about the actual fish caught. Like tele skiing, there's always that 'perfect turn' that brings you back. Oh, and yeah, I've at times considered fishing w/ a hookless fly...I mean, if you fool that poor fish enough that he actually strikes at your fly due to your perfect presentation, do you really need to drag him out of his environment, torturing him thru battle along the way? Beyond 'pics or it didn't happen,' if you're already practicing catch & release, then why not snip off your hooks at the bend? But then again, they're 'just fish,' right? right?

So, yeah...
"that's where it's at,
that's how it is,
check it,
check it out."

and uhmmmmmm, I guess the short of it, is that yeah, I'm pretty much 'retired' from bike gaming if you haven't figured that out yet. Still making cogs and riding for sure; grassroots get togethers, will be behind the scenes at the local Meeshow events, lending Mumbles a hand with his race day needs (new camera!!) and taking a shot at the ever elusive Mutant 100 here in the backyard of Meeshow. That would be my self supported, local mega trail loop dream...and looking at the route sketch from '08ish vs newly discovered trail = an even longer day into the night, but worth it I'm sure. Ands there's still that week long bike tour dream of somewhere to somewhere, maybe with a laid back fishing rod tag along approach in PA, or maybe big miles and big mountains along semi-familiar border country terrain...see how the Spring plays out.

And still wanna make time to chase hatches in the spring, mid-late May? I do now have a full quiver of fine cane from 2 thru 6wt to abuse the fishes with. Yeah, I'm a gear junkie, sue me. Right tool for the job, why deprive yourself of enjoyment? Make sacrifices elsewhere and find balance..there's probably something to that Jedi shit, don'tchayathink?

With that, with alllll that, I'll see you on the slopes or whooping it up in the woods for now, possibly on the trail when the weather suits or maybe on the water when it's more in balance with the air temps, by spring creek standards.....I sure hate fishing in gloves.

i dunno...

2011-01-19T16:25:00.002-05:00

something I've got to learn.

got to learn that sometimes
it's best to step it back, and
avoid painting oneself into a
corner.

Looks like it thawed a bit in
the valley, same as here locally.
snow is forecast, same as locally,
gonna get frigid fucking cold again
too.

Which means that that sweet
natural packed powder base
from last wknd is gonna lock
up solid by the wknd. Just a
matter of how much Ullr drops
on us to sugarcoat it, but I've
got a sneaky suspicion it's
gonna be ankle to boot top
light fluff over pretty solid
hardpack. hmmmmm...

could be a good wknd to use
that pass I bought for RT. And
get out into the forest to break
in whichever picture takin' gizmo
I end up with...there's still marginal
snow in the backyard, imagine
a smidge more in the nearby
hollers. Maybe get out for
some creekside cruising....

an old box of flies.

2011-01-18T16:10:00.009-05:00

ran across this during the most
recent expansion of the rod quiver.

An old 1926-ish Wheatley Box,
with flies. Thought was a neat
little bit of history, speaks well
that after 80+ yrs, the box is
still usable if need be....neat
old flies too.

couple of salmon flies

maybe a bass fly?

a streamer or two.

and a handful of classic wets,
some w/ remnants of the
original gut snelling, others
w/ modern eyed hooks..

on and on and on and on

2011-01-17T16:05:00.006-05:00

this winter just keeps delivering.
WG was off the hook yet again,
condish were very, very, very good.

A cupcake tour on Saturday, picking
up good vibe Foofs & Sajkovich & bud
along the way. Got out to the Nat'l
Nord before most, lots & lots of soft
snow to play in, then back around to
the frontside for qwik tour lap or two
to polish it off.

Apres' follies and celebrations,
help out here and there with
rental returns then sneak out
during the 6pm dinner for a
staff ski tag along. damn.

I mean, damn, those WG groomers
are so thrilling in the dark! Making
turns by feel and whatever instinct
can be mustered, dancing thru
charcoal on parchment scenery..

no better way to learn, right?
Deprive the senses and rely
only upon the ones that matter
chasing locals thru moon shadow
darkness....got bliss?

Usual groggy Sunday morn, I do
love the sunrise, just one more
snooze though...Hook it up with
the Rocktown crew, mainslope
warmup laps reveal a settling
snowpack with a hint of extra
speed and an interesting crunch
from the flash freezing mist that
mustv'e blown thru overnight.

Conditions shift, shift the approach.
Low angles with speed are a blast,
singletracking is groovey and plenty
of fun hot lap leap frogging with the
group, finally dropped one of the
Cathedral Rocks, whoot! stomped it
until that tree got in the way on the
runnout, gonna figure out these damn
leathers....finish the day with blown
out legs and sketch mach looney
spectacularity straight down the
mainslope, ahhh, good times.

And of course, can't ever ever ever
say enough about the good vibes of
WhiteGrass, what a special place.
Thanks for everything Chipper & Crew.

So, yeah, pics might be limited
for a bit, there was, a, uhmmm,
incident. It was a good 3-4yr
run with the old SX100, but I
smushed it pretty good while
skiing a really fun shot of trees
on Saturday...lens no worky
no more. I'm honestly surprised
that it lasted this long. (There is
onboard helmet cam of said
moment, btw...)

Now I'm shopping for something
that I won't be worried about
while out on the water, the old
Canon did get dunked once or
twice last season. And also want
something that takes a higher
quality picture...manual input
controls are desired. Thinking
the D10 or Panasonic's TS-2.
Anybody using either?

neener neener neener...

2011-01-10T11:03:00.002-05:00

if you weren't there,
well, then you weren't,
and you missed it...

pic from Chaga.

ring it in.

2011-01-05T18:51:00.005-05:00

lot's of not's going ons.

triple crown sort of wknd.

1: Skied the big plastic at RT
on NYE morn, damn...couldn't
make a turn for shit with those
things. Trying to finesse with
fine movements wayyy too much
and it's totally different than the
freewill of leathers. Plastic & burly
skis ask for a different application
of power.

When in doubt, apply speed.

Then kick in those finesse moves,
and it all comes together. One lap
of chasing OMW's roost and things
were finally back on plane for the
rest of the day, can't wait for WG
to reload though...hope that was
it for the 'January Thaw' of oh'11.

Round two of the triple was spent
up in the hamlet of Coburn, picking
out a new trout assaulting weapon.
More than a few times last year,
fishing the Letort or the Little J, I'd
find myself wishing that I had just
a bit more reach when spotting that
riser up along shadow's edge, parked
just a rod's length beyond what you
can do with this 4wt. Or for when it's
time to sling some big flies at dusk,
when those big Letort browns come
out of hiding and show themselves...

So, I had it in my head that I needed
an 8' 5wt to fill that niche. Ran up to
see Jonas in Coburn, and spent a couple
hours waggling and casting a fine selection
of rods he had on hand, settling on a rod
from local builder Jim Downes. An 8015-
Swelled-Para taper...whatever that all
means. All I know is that for me it's
mindless unthinking instinctual casting
compared to the others. And a drop
dead beautiful rod to boot. Paired it
up with a Hardy Cascapedia MkII reel.
Classic looks, modern quality.

Damn fine lookin' outfit, eh?

Third jewel was getting out on the
Jabberfixy for Sunday Service. Had
ridden her the other night on the
A.T.V. ride, seemed to flow pretty
good, knee reacted decently enough
so I played Ride Dictator and picked
out a lowlying loop with plenty of
creekside flowiness for Sunday's
group thang....can't get over how the
trail network in Meeshow has evolved
over the years.

Linked up a solid loop, mostly all in
the woods other than the deer fence
zone and railtrail between the parks...
sing it with me now, 'a three hour tour....'
but with no storms or wrecked boats,
although the sponged out and thawing
frost heave was taxing here and there.

And, as always, there was that moment
of sweet Jedi zen pedaling thru sunlit
strobing tree shadows that makes it
allll worth it and leaves you wanting..

bring it Ullr, you fucking pussy.

Happy New Years!

2011-01-01T20:50:00.002-05:00

remember to keep it simple.

good times, eh.

2010-12-22T18:39:00.001-05:00

sweet, sweet, sweeeet edit
by Chaga, nice work mang.

can't wait to get back to the Valley!

White Grass local powder hounds and rippers from WVski on Vimeo.

another dimension

2010-12-20T18:45:00.006-05:00

man, and there it is.

there's that spark that
lights it up. change of
plans, commute on Friday
instead of early am. Thaw
out the IceBox, literally, oh
how I love my 0 deg down,
mmmm....

Sluggishly roll into the WG lot
8am-ish, first car there and
here I thought I was running
late...gear up the big 4buckle
plastic, figuring on a solo day
of skinnin' & chasin' turns..

when who should appear?
Mumbles, Maynario & Jason.
That's trouble..a lightly twisted
arm and i was switching out to
the leathers and playing lets make
a deal with Chipper for some
new 3pin love.

man oh man oh man!!!!

so, we go out on tour, run
into good buds up on the
Knob, it's a WV Night Club
celebration!, best of luck
LB!, and then off we go into
the enchanted forest.

mmmmm, freshies.

Man, I'm diggin' the new kit.
Finally got a ski that's an
incredible match for the
leathers. Light, nimble and
incredibly stable when you
let 'em run....fun, fun, fun
out in the open, tree skillz
are still a step behind though.

damn, enough words, we got out
there, and it sucks to be back.

Great tour with the Rocktowners
and a silly fun hot lap of Fern Gully
with Chaga & Adam to finish the
day.

Sunday was another good ski,
but on tired legs with many a
humbling episode. Great tour
of some of the frontside with
housemate Abe. Amazing how
tracked out it is, word is out
I guess..

Found a pretty groovy rythmn
for a bit on the main slope
finish, Anita's alternate for
a bit of softness...but, ugh,
the viddy don't lie:

i've got a lot of work to do....
I'm seeing a good bit of ridin'
the cow in my future, back
to square 2..

the early season.

2010-12-12T11:58:00.005-05:00

so, we work our way over to CVSP slopes
for a qwik gravity poach. Find very turnable
snow, but it's just enough, watch your hands
if you go down. Use finesse to make the arcs
or you're churning up leaves and grass. But
its smooth and consistent...

Get into a good groove, link up
a bit of floaty feeling schuss, let
them dogs run, square up to pre
jump a water bar, skis go pop,
landing is smooth, lay into a big
carve to shut it down and hear Mike
hollering SKI!..Ski! Ski!!!!.....

huh, whut?
Fuck yeah I'm skiing!!

SKI!!!

huh, whut? yeah, I look down.
yeah I still have both skis on my
feet, didn't think I'd lost one, but I'm
kinda warped right now, so maybe I
did kick a shoe..

SKI!!

look down again, yeah, I'm good....
oohh, whut?

SKI!!!!
Finally look back over my shoulder
see a solo ski sliding down the slope
and into the trees...

chuckle..

SKII!!!

Ohhhhh, Mumbles just learned
about flipping that G3 heel piece
up out of tour mode when it's time
to go down ze mounTain....kicking
a shoe sucks, but is often good for
a laugh...good times.

christmas lights

2010-12-12T11:36:00.001-05:00

thank god, for all
of those windmills.

jesus, what a display.

hello Jack!

2010-12-06T18:07:00.006-05:00

mmmm, Jack Frost,
celeberatin Ullr's
seasonal visitation.

Amazing good vibes
as usual, reconnecting
with long lost friends
that haven't been seen
in years, months or
a day it seems....It
all melds together.

short story: cook chili.
commute, late lunch
arrivee' at the IceBox,
settle in, catch up with
mates. They pedal, I go
for a ski. Ski up to Bald
and explore 'tl dark:30.

Sample a hoppy beverage,
PoTLUCK! Full belly, friends,
laughs, smiles, catching up,
the Shot ski, then just roll
with the vibe. Barry's Wurld,
Other Wurld, Bonfire, Shot Ski!!
Gary's Wurld, the new Yurt
and Sauna House too, and
dance party in the lodge, if
all the live mtn jammin bands
ain't enough and more new
friends and familiar catching
up good vibe of everybody
hearing the call of Ullr's breath
across 'that damneded 50deg
lake Erie.'

or something, wow.
it was snowing when I left...

then purge the system
with a welcome back to
cold Sunday tour. Felt good
to be cold, a good reminder
to not fuck around out there,
Been a while since I've dealt
with freezing gloves. Qwik
reality check to not fuck
around with old man winter.

Skied the leathers. Snow was
thin over warm recently rain
soaked ground. So out and
about kickin' & gliding for
scenery & quiet and systems
checking, easing back into
it, ya know? good times.

ever wonder

2010-11-29T16:34:00.001-05:00

which is faster?

(h/t Lil' e)

Sunday ride.

2010-11-22T19:14:00.003-05:00

hey, I'm not attacking,
just trying to hold on.

just trying to hold my
spot in line...

hey, I'm not attacking,
just didn't wanna hold
you guys up thru there.

hey, I'm not attacking....

but the fact is, sometimes I
thoroughly enjoy pedaling
like a crazed Jedi ninja thru
the woods with nose to chin
snot droolping onto stem.

it's a pace which is really
only found within a group.

somebody is always willing
to go fast, just for the sake
of going fast....we all have a
bit of RickyBobby in us, admit it.

A chance to explore that twisted
numb mental state of full body
tingliness...where the only thoughts
involve pedaling and breathing.

and going f.a.s.t.

instinct handles the rest.
rocks, roots, it's all about
hitting the 'bright spots'....

keep it honest, and if you
or when I blow up, pull
over, let that train roll
by, then run the sweep.

tag, I'm it.

regroup on up ahead there.
refuel, enjoy a beer perhaps,
enjoy mother nature, clouds,
sun, ridgetops and conversations
that inevitably explore the
crudeness of cruditude.

A jar of what?

jesus.

And then back into it, fucking
pedaling with abandon back
into that floating smiley face
balloon mode trying to hold
on until you simply can't stand
it. done, fini, cracked, cooked.

good times, felt good
to get out & breath.

is winter coming already?

true cost.

2010-11-15T18:02:00.003-05:00

if you had to tear it all down,
tear it all back down
to raw form....

I imagine that process
is about as nasty for
Mother Earth, as it was
to extract & create it all.

what a mess.

SPOOOON!

2010-11-13T19:19:00.006-05:00

Dunno whut got into me, a Friday
work interlude inspiration and a

"yeah, why the fuck not?"

attitude had my
mind set in motion.

Ullr is coming, he expects a day
long commitment to truely schralp
those forested white fluffy gifts.

chasing ze trutta has softened me.
that knee thing softened me.

it's all for the better, I needed a
step back from it all, a reboot.

and so, considering that this was
the fish of the day on my last
outing, I'm guessing the trout
have pretty much shut down
their surface feeding for the
year...except on the LeTort,
and I'm not much up for that
chess match..

SO, Friday, eating lunch, I thought
that maybe 'Roxbury to HorseValley
and then home via the 'best' way
considered at the time' loop would
be something fun to do.

Turns out, I was right.

If you consider yourself in any way
a seasoned cyclist, it pays to listen
to your internal 8-Ball instinct.
Don't even ask, you know that
"All signs point to yes"

GO, now. !

"ok."

It always pays to push for a few hours
into a charming headwind and then climb
up one of few storied climbs in the area.
Opens up that direct channel to pedaling
on instinct, counting on that Country
Store that's up at that four way on up
the road from here.

Bounce the helmeted head off the
low hanging Diesel sign and have
a chuckle with the local feller filling
up a rather raw looking drum in the
back of his pick up... mmmmm, locals.
mmmmmmm, Shoefly Pie....the perfect
SouthCentral snack, sitting on a bench
in the late lunchtime sun.

Spin on up 75, then blissful seclusion down
thru rolling rolling HorseValley, This place
takes me back to rural roadie riding during
the VT days....what a hidden gem. Once
you're in, you're in, just pedal to the other
side and soak it all in.

Qwik refuel in East Waterford, new store is
open, so sterile, modern, compared to
before. bummer flashback to the night it
burned, was there the day before while
out pedaling, and then directly after, freaky....

From there it's just a head down, chomp the bits
and pedal 32T whirlwind circles all the way home.
Intercept the perfect sunset timing from down
valley before the Turnpike, chasing it via sketchy
feeling blurred descent of Wagg's...ride it on old
school instinct...these old Campy brakes are 'speed
modulators', not BRAKES!! We're coasting now...

hit the line from memory and just trust that shit
and relish one final ripper down ze mountain.
Snow could be flying soon and it's been a while.
Maybe coulda caught that car and those Harleys,
but only a 32 ring, and sanity prevailed...did close
the gap though, freakin' vest zipper fumbling....

good times, good times indeed.

day long adventures, oh how I've missed thee.

doing this again

2010-11-09T18:42:00.001-05:00

will be a lot of fun.

damn it was cold
that day, can't wait.

Baldy Face, Jan oh 10! from Tomi McMillar on Vimeo.

meh.

2010-11-04T22:53:00.001-05:00

i could write something
belligerent and ranty.

but I would rather
go to sleep.

the election.

2010-11-03T16:40:00.003-05:00

last night pedaling home from voting.
saw an older grandparenty couple,
walking up sidewalk to their quaint
little early suburb brick home. it was
quiet, enjoying a moment of crank
whirring serenity enhanced by that
'I just voted' good vibe. ahhh.

the old couple, she leaning on him
as they also returned home from
our local polling spot. And, oh, look,
a sign in the front yard...

vote for Toomey. ughh.

What a shame, guess they maybe
don't understand the bill of goods
they've been sold.

Quite the hustle.

friday stoke.

2010-10-29T15:54:00.000-05:00

gotta get back there.

Dispelling The Rumors - a ski movie - Squaw Valley USA from UnofficialSquaw on Vimeo.

ya know.....

2010-10-20T20:27:00.002-05:00

I read a bunch of
those blogs by those
dirty fucking hippy
leftists.....

and they all, all
of them, complain
about how the
'mainstream media'
treats stories about
the USCofC, Rove's
and the Koch brothers
shadowy groups.

How they, the media,
try to find an equivalency
between secret foreign
contributions and the
spending and financing
of liberal groups, like
Unions.

Now, why the fuck
would you expect
otherwise???

It's not "Mainstream
Media", it's fucking

CORPORATE.
CONTROLLED.
MEDIA!

look at the fucking parent
companies and wake the
fuck up, the journalists and
the editors know who butters
their bread.

Of course corporate owned
media will shill for the
corporate interests vs
journalistic integrity
which actually does a
service for the greater
good of our society at
large...you know, that
fabled fourth estate.

it's been bought & sold
just like pretty much
everything else, neat.

three trouts

2010-10-18T14:54:00.004-05:00

yep, the Breeches has
some wild ones in it.

and more pretty leaves

I CAUGHT A FISH!!!

2010-10-15T20:01:00.004-05:00

Big

fucking

deal.

sometimers.

2010-10-15T19:58:00.002-05:00

yeah, somtimers.

sometimes.

sometimes, ya just
gotta say, what, ther is
to dSY, AOMETIMES
WELL RITEN, SOMETIMES
not. well written.

decide for your fucking self.
as always.

peace.

tonight.

2010-10-13T17:31:00.003-05:00

tonight, rolling thru
the four way, in front
of Drinkerson Ociffer,

I got to flip the bird
and holler, "nahhh,
FUCK YOU!!!"

fucking self important
nozzle of douche driver.

ahhhh, road riding,
how I've missed thee.

day in the life.

2010-10-03T18:29:00.002-05:00

morning.

afternoon.

it's autumn,
can you dig it?

catching up..

2010-09-25T07:37:00.013-05:00

So, got that MRI done,
guess I really should've
listened/believed in Dr. Evil,
and saved myself that hit
from the in$urance
deductable. But, damn,
never had tendonitis quite
this bad before. I needed
to see what was going on
inside. No doubts, ya know?

Been spinnin' a bit on the
road and stretching and
doin my interpretation
of the yoga flow and
rubbing in the arnica.
And, shit, that damn
knee of mine is actually
feeling better, go figure.

Not willing though, not yet
willing to trade my Saturdays
on the stream for pedaling
long distances. Harassing
those trout is great balance
to the elevated heartrate,
sometimes dizzy tunnel of
the Sunday ride....

Autumn is here, colors
are changing, in the trees,
in the water. Got up to
explore the Little J a couple
times now. Got turned
onto it after reading about
the electro survey.

Survey says that it's pretty
much a wild brown fishery.
Not stocked, not too many
hold over fingerlings, wild
streambred browns, cool.

Great day up there last wknd,
best day of fishin' I've had
in a while. Hungry & feisty
wild fish, best one went 15ish
on the guesstimated ruler,
average was a solid 12.
Freely rising to a dry presented
in that just oh so right way,
good times....

And the local brookies!
BLING! The males are starting
to strut their stuff trying
to impress the ladies and
are soon to get it on, producing
the next generation, sweet.

Meeshow is an amazing place,
world class riding, world class
natives, and it's all right out
the door. Damn, I sure am
lucky to have such an incredible
backyard playground.