what season?

winter, spring. spring, winter-ish. cooooool spring.
 
Boy that was an odd jumpstart?
Freakish snows, followed by a few
days in the 80's. now consistent 60's,
if that. and some rain...fishing heats
up, fishing dies down.

 riding warms up, riding remains the
same. fluxious states, eh? riding has
been spring like, but with another
year on the tally. oy.  (and by 'spring
like' I mean fat & slow, double 'oy')

 fishin' has been up and down. Love
hitting a winter hatches on the Letort.
 But, boy, she gets tedious here for a
spell before the sulphurs kick in a few
weeks. Then it's a sweet month plus
of twilight dry fly heaven.

 There are the classiques while ridin' bikes,
and then there's the sulphur hatch for us
workaday fly fishin' types. Punch the clock,
get home and sip a beer while preppin' gear,
then hit the water 6:30-7ish and fish well into
the darkness. Perfect.

Grannoms & Hendricksons on the Breeches have
been a fun distraction recently. Snuck up to the
Little J. chasing the tail end of the grannom hatch
for a birthday treat. Was told I missed the hot action
of the day while on the water, but still managed two
feisty trouts to hand and stung one other in the few
hours I visited. Definitely on par with the passer's by
beta, so not sure what I missed...
 

Water sure was flowing up there, post wknd ride
legs had me question a few swift current wading
decisions, but managed to stay dry, whew. Ahh spring... 

Otherwise, I've tied some flies,
for T.U. Getting more involved,
putting money to mouth where
it is or something. Time to just
simply get more involved and
try to have an actual influence,
time's now. Time, Time, time.

 We'll see, how it all works.

In the mean time, I'm on paper for
(3) dozen size 16 Adams. (And some
days spent streamside helping out..)

18 down, 18 to go.


I love fishing this fly, but I don't think I've
ever tied 36 of one pattern in my life, evah.
I tie 3 or so of what I just ran out of, then
go fishing... And I gotta follow the recipe
on this one, and I'm going from memory, hmmm.

 Looks like an Adams to me, I'd fish 'em.

 Oh, and here's a bit of a pleasant surprise,
entered a picture into a contest..took second place...dang.
Ain't never done something like that before....won me
a new flyrod for my ladyfriend.

 Here's the pic if'n you're curious:
 

I should post something...

here're some pictures, playing with the new camera...

the latest latest.

Where'd we leave off? The Holidaze were whirlwind amazing, I'm a lucky fella. It snowed in WV, finally.

Spent New Years in town, walking to and from is awesome.

Went back to Wv for a bluebird Saturday.

Found some welcome quiet places on greybird Sunday.

The Falls of Blackwater, I need to fish that.

It flows thru here,

and here.

Valley Forge

Bit of sightseeing, soaking in history.

more pics, smaller water.

took a walk up along TumblingRun with the film camera...

adventures with film.

since Montana been playing more with picture taking.
Dad hooked me up with his nice old Nikon 35mm,
picked up a couple rolls of Fuji 400. Been learning
about that whole 'manual' setting, good times. These
are just the digital copies you get with the developed
pics, nothing hi-res.  Curious about the difference...

Ricketts Glen:

  Out n about Boiling Springs:

see, I got this new bike...

and I've been feelin' decent
enough on the Sunday rides
for the last couple weeks.

Mix in a handful of 2hr spins
one night a week from the Furnace
to get to know the new sled,
and why the hell not.?

Let's roll off the couch and do some racin'...


It was neat, lined up for the big boy
loop at Teaberry in the Vet class and
figured to ride a solid tempo, just see
where it puts me.

Start was good enough, slot into 2nd
wheel and roll it comfortably.  Hit the
first little climb, wait for the field to catch
me, feel no breaths down my neck, drop
into Stooges and try to play to some strengths.

then psssssssss....great, just flatted, kinda
early for this bullshit.  The fix took longer
than it should have, as always, and now
way back in the field, lonesome. May as
well get my chase on, see where it takes me.
Steady gunning tempo with some focus is the
name of the game, finally catching riders down
into the Narrows...then perform a sweet dismount
to face plant on rock.  Ouch, that'll leave a mark.

Check point one, finally.  Fill the bottles, qwik
bit of chit chat, smooch my honey and pedal on
up the hill.  Things are going well, and then another
flat on Tumbling Run, damnit. Many thanks to Greg
for the extra air supply. A bit qwicker fix and back
to reeling 'em in down Spooge.

Clueless about the aids, expected one at the
bottom of Southern Gas, dang.  Find a quiet
place and munch those carrots on up the hill
while Mr. Crampy starts tapping the hammies.
Long haul to the top, fill the bottles and start
catching more familiar faces, am I actually
riding back into this thing?  Interesting.

Try to make time across Rocky Ridge, make a pass
and try to ride like a hero.  Then fall over at 0mph.
Get up and rear wheel won't spin. What. the. fuck.
Oh, must've just knocked it loose in the frame....
Still won't spin.  Are you fucking kidding me?
I just taco'd my fucking wheel.  Great.

Get it off the bike, "what would Buck do?"
Find the highs and lows, find an appropriately
sized tree and put some weight into it, hear those
spokes go twang, do it again and slip it back into
the frame...wow, spinning clear now. Barely.
Well, now back to the task at hand, make up yet
more lost time. Clock's still ticking.

Groove the remaining bit of trail, make the turn
for home and battle that old foe Mr Crampy as the
trail turns up, every muscle between knees and hips
going into full revolt. Awesome.

Just pedal thru it, remember??? Remember?

ain't this fun.

Just keep on keepin' on and finally roll her
into the tent for a sub-5 finish.

Eyeball the board....5th vet? no. shit.

Then check the times...less than 2 minutes off the Vet podium??

Less than 2 minutes, are you fucking kidding me?

two flats, a trashed wheel and rolling a carcass that's
way above 'race weight', hmmmm....

Well, call it moral victory, drink some beers.

Maybe I'll do it again in another few years.