River Report: The Adventure Has Begun

Boy, I miss internet access. But mainly I really miss this blog.

The move is mostly under control by now, though I still need to go through a few things in the shed at the old house. We're getting pretty well settled in at the new house, but the internet provider is taking forever to get us hooked up. Mike, the local guy, would've got 'er done by now, but he sold out to a big provider just before we moved, so I guess we're tangled up in the transition. December 5th, they say. We'll see.

Meanwhile, I'm back at one of the hot spots in town with my work done and some time left to do a post. And, what do you know, it's a fishing post.

Fishing time has been hard to come by, but I also knew the move wouldn't really be complete until I got into the river at the new house. So I finally just went.

Getting out on this new stretch is like pioneering in new country. The only map is the river itself, and it will not be quickly or superficially read. There are many secrets to be uncovered, many layers of meaning to be discovered.

On this baptismal day I made my way across, left my footprints on the island, swung a fly here and there trying to picture where a fish might be in all that sweep of water, and made it back across even after finding a hole that left me tip-toeing in fast, chest-deep water that would have been willing to take me all the way down to the Columbia. The adventure has begun.