Preparing for a trip is part of the fun

Some people are content to show up at a destination and let a trip unfold. Although I agree there is something to be said for spontaneity, for me, the preparation for an upcoming trip heightens my anticipation and helps to make the journey last for months instead of days. There are many directions that this planning can take, and, depending on your personality, it can make the final travel experience more meaningful and rewarding. I'm a bit of an analytical, so I love information. I enjoy spending time choosing the destination, figuring out transportation and accommodations, researching what there is to see and do, and assessing and acquiring the gear needed for the trip. As the puzzle comes together the excitement continues to build right up to the day of departure. As Don Williams Jr. once said “The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” I believe that preparing for a trip is part of the journey. Stay tuned for future posts about the factors to consider in the planning process.

First Fish of the New Year

The fly fishing gene runs deep in our family. We have a tradition of catching a fish on New Year's day. This isn't always easy because we usually spend the holiday at the family ranch in the North Cascades where winter temperatures freeze most of the local waters. But on the lake at the Ranch we run an aerator all winter to oxygenate the water and reduce the risk of winter kill. This aerator manages to keep about an acre of water ice free and is the one place where fish can still be caught. Some would say we're insane to venture out into this open water just to catch a fish. But we're talking about the first fish of the entire year here. This year my father Mac road the snow mobile up to the lake while the rest of us cross country skied up. He claims to have caught the first fish prior to our arrival at the lake, but has no witnesses. My wife Teri received the official honor, catching a nice Rainbow Trout just after noon on January 1st.