The 27th of the third

WARNING

Please go to this link and read about what Pinterest is doing to our artists.  This is very important and you might even find a family photo in a magazine somewhere, used without your knowledge and not paid for.

It's called Copyright infringement.

http://fineartamerica.com/pinterest-enables-copyright-theft-on-a-global-scale.html

The 26th of my 875th month

The Pike Place Roast burbles away in a pot in an otherwise very quiet household at five AM on a Monday morning.  Why is it that the night before the body says "Get me flat, quiet and asleep or I will not even respond to an Ambien?  You know you're tired and only about five pages of that novel away from blessed sleep.  Then "BOOM" at four thirty you're wide awake for no explainable reason.

  Excuse my while I pour the first cup.  The burbling is done.

I would seem that after 875 months I would have had some things figured out and would not need these nocturnal "What if sessions" with myself.  It's amazing for a guy to remember with absolute clarity the details of what should have been done (and maybe wasn't) about a situation 397 months ago, but not have a clue where the reading glasses are presently hiding.  And they do hide.

The stark realization is that the boat has left port and the only thing one can do is wait.  Photos have for the most part been taken, although there are probably a few thousand still out there waiting for me.  Bills pile up as a fixed income gets more and more fixed and the inflation bugs grow fatter with every passing of a new bill in congress.  Self serving power builders continue to suck the vibrancy out of a once great economy in efforts to change an already proven system.  For what end is the consecration of their own self importance and the deminishment or ours.

In Cory Ford's "Road to Tinkhamtown" he speaks of his own demise, doing what he was put on earth to do, and how he expected to handle the last chapter.  It was his peace.  It's not a dark piece, but a peaceful piece which needs to be read slowly whilst sitting on a stump in the big woods or on the end of a dock somewhere listening to the lap of the waves as the only accompaniment.

Or maybe even at five AM in the morning when the ambien has worn off.  And who else could so butcher the English language as to use some form of the word "Peace" four times in one sentence. 

Usually, when I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about something, over which I probably have no influence whatsoever, I go to the big lake and relive some fishing experience.  That generally gets me back to a least an hour or two of fitful sleep.  Not today!  Evidently.

If I simply set my mind's eye to the water at the edge of the dock from which I depart and cast thoughtful eye to the lure or fly of my choosing, I start to drift.  The water, at the edge, is the color of a short glass of a light fine scotch whiskey.  Clear with a little tint of taste.  And cold.  The sky is overcast at this hour and a dark fly like a red grey ghost is chosen.

Fly lines are usually of a color which can be seen by the angler.  They could be yellow, green, or even orange.  At any rate the dropping of a fly at the side of a boat departing the dock and the extension of a fly line through ever darkening water lends exquisite anticipation.  The whole connection is made visible from fly through leader to the line.  The water moves from the light scotch to a fuller Bourbon  born of age old oak barrels.  Many a land lock salmon has come to feed in such back of the bar shades.  Finally, the India ink of the depths take over and the spell is broken only by the "Put put" of the small outboard. 

 An expanding lake lies before me with more exploration to be done.  And so another day begins here in Shangra La south.

23rd day of the third.

Looks like the earliest "Ice Out" ever!

The 22nd of the 3rd

So much for fish that glow in the dark.  We decided to shift gears yesterday and went looking for strip bass on the Congaree River rather than float amongst nuclear fear.

As you can see it was an absolutely spectacular day.  Normally at this time of year I am looking forward to overcast, rainy, snowy, just above freezing weather on the big lake in New Hampshire.  But this is just bliss. 

These are Chesapeake bay ocean run strip bass.  We were looking for the landlocked kind that make a run up the Congaree from the Santee river system here in South Carolina.  Well, it was a beautiful day but the history channel is not going to do a "Prepper" show on how we catch fish to feed ourselves.

It is spring down here, and the turkeys are in full mating mode.  We jumped on male of the sand bar pictured above and he flew across the river right in front of us, landing in a tree on the shoreline.

The photo is back lit and not very detailed, but you can see the beard coming out of his chest indicating a male bird.  Just a pretty great thing to see.

My host for the day is Phillip, my next door neighbor.  He is kind enough to take me out fishin a few times a year and we do put in the time.  One of these days we're going to catch something.

The 21st of the third.

Still some ice lingering on the big lake.  Weather here is in the 80's again today.

I will be going out to fish Lake Monticello here in South Carolina today.  There is a nuclear energy plant on the shores of that body of water, so must be careful of green fish that glow in the dark.

Certainly hope I was just kidding, but hope to see some of these large mouth bass looking for an education is the attractiveness of artificial baits. 

20th of the Third

Looks like ice out tomorrow?

The day after St. Patty's

We will be in the mid 80's here on the south side of the sun for the next three days, and it will get to the low seventies in Wolfeboro, NH today.  Can anyone say ...............

ICE OUT!

They say that the water temperature is 39, and we all know that the ice in our adult beverages will melt at that level quicker than a cube in the oven.  In the case of the big lake (Winnepasaukee)....that's a good thing.

This is a web cam from this morning at the "Weirs", which is the northern end of the lake.  Won't be long.   Ice out will happen all at once.  The lake ice melts, fills with air holes which in turn fill with water making it heavier than water and Wooooooooooops, the whole mess sinks.  That's ice out.  It will probably go this next week.

Sinking ice pushes the warmer water up from below and the fish life follows the warmer water to the surface........That's when we want to be fishing there.

  Which of course is the purpose of this blog today.  Just commemorating the best fishing trip in history.  Same guys, same lake, same spot and about the same time for 42 years.

  Our last year of that trip was 2010.  Our first was somewhere around 1968 and one or all of us made it every year.

After a long winter (Which this past was not), the lake, in the above state, gets our piscatorial juices flowing and you just gotta be there.

There may still be some snow in the "Big woods", but the lake is ready to go.

This is one of the rainbow trout that took part in one of our over 40 seasons of chasing ice out.

And the really scary thing about that place and that trip is that we, in our little cabal, are ALL still alive. 

Now, here's your homework assignment.  If you go back over the years I have published this blog, you will find the whole story of this trip.  But ya gotta work for it.  Have fun and tight lines.

The day before St. Patricks day

As usual I am a day early and a dollar short.  Or is that a day late and a dollar short.  The only thing we know for sure is the dollar short part.  Anyway, happy St. Patricks Day. 

I don't think these are shamrocks, but it's the close as I could come to a bunch on short notice.  Next year, I'll have 365 days to plan.  Although, I had 366 day this year and still didn't make it.  Well the thought is there.

So here's to boiled potatoes, cabbage and green beer.  Have a great celebration!

The Fifteenth of the Third.

I have been on a couple of adventures in the past two days.  Finally, coughed up a lung to pay for filling up the car with gas and was able to get from point A to point B with still have a half tank left over until the next lottery winning.

First a very Happy Birthday to the best daughter an old man can have.  She is way older than I think I am, but it happens and she deserves the best.  So Happy Birthday Heather.

Today on March 15th we are to surpass 90 degrees, so life is toasty here on the south side of the sun. 

Tuesday I made the trek to the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens to check out the spring plantings in the gardens and hopefully make some images which would seem appropriate for an Easter Theme.  And with our warm weather you can rightly assume a riot of color of tulips and other flowers that I could not even beging to name or remember.

Of course with all the flowers and warm air, the local lizzy had to come out and show off.

Remember if you click or double click on the photographs, you will find a better resolution.

Yesterday, was Road Trip!  I had heard that the peach blossoms were in full tilt.  Sorta like the cherry blossoms in Washingto DC.  An event if you catch them at the right time.

It was a nice day and good to be on the road for a change.  More to come if you check out the FAA site.  I will be posting some more images there.

And if you ever need some bait, this place is right in the forefront of the business.  Don't know if they have a website tho.

The 12th of the 3rd

I just made a bunch of additions to the "Feathers" gallery including the image below.

http://skip-willits.artistwebsites.com/

The 9th of the 3rd

ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE

One of the lighthouses that I have found most difficult to photograph is the one in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  No rocky shores or sandy points with ideal waves crashing at this one.  Inner city urban landscape where they try to do their best to offer a decent view of this piece of history.

The shoals of Absecon and Brigantine had to be marked by a light of some sort in the early 1800’s when Atlantic City was but a small ocean side village.  The Lighthouse was first authorized in 1837 but not built and lit until 1857.  Built by the active Lt. George G. Meade of civil war fame, the tower was erected on a stone foundation, which rested on a wooden platform.  The structure rose 150 feet and was fitted with a first order Fresnel lens as was befitting a coast line light house.

Shipwrecks had been many along that coast on the aforementioned shoals, but after it’s construction the incidents of wrecks in the first months became nil.  In 1872 the tower was white with a red band around the middle but in the latter part of that century, the light was painted orange with a black middle band.  Until 1998 tower was white and red. It has been since painted a light yellow with a black band.  The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1932 and was turned over to the state.  It is now the centerpiece of a town park.

I wrote the above some years ago as a part of the image package I was selling and it gives a little insight into the history of the place.  They still have the Fresnel lens in the tower room which can be seen in this image of the top of the tower.

The seventh of the third

"Yes sir.....How may I help you?"

Spring weather and a young man's thoughts turn to fishing.  Or finding a second job mowing lawns or packaging bags at the local super market.  I always think of the fishing first, which is probably why I am trying to sell the photos I take and not doing physical labor. 

I guess in this time and age, I should be thinking more about the work than the fishing.  As the economy continues to limp along, second and third jobs seem more the norm than the exception. 

Although I will say that some of those people working in the service areas of the economy still take their customers for granted.  Two restaurants this weekend (and not high end at that) were absolute disasters for me because of a stupid and arrogant wait persons who did not appreciate their chance to work, nor the customers who were "Expected" to leave a tip.  But maybe I should stick with fishing and not be a food critic.   Honestly, these people didn't have a clue!  Perhaps they are part of almost 50% of the people in this country that depend upon the govt. for a living and just work for fun or to piss off old people like me.

But fishing........Ahhhhh!

No more admirable enterprise according to Sir Isaac Walton.  I, while educating some sun fish at Lake Murray, had the opportunity to entice one onto a "Woolly Bugger" fly using my $600 plus fly fishing outfit.  The rod and reel certainly up to the task of the tiny creature.

Remember to click or double click on the photos for better resolution. 

Whilst "Playing" (a little fishing lingo there) a small sunfish I was struck by a long torpedo shape image that shot out of the shadows and grabbed my poor sunny amidships.

 

The fight was on!   My fly line was quickly disappearing from the reel and the backing (back up line used for emergencies only behind the real fly line) was showing to be insufficient as well.  This was far better than arguing with an incompetent waiter.  The fish was close to three feet long and while not in the same category of fight as the acrobatic salmon or tarpon, it certainly could have taken two hundred yards of line and left me there looking the fool. (Again)

 

For those of you that really care this was a Gar Fish.  In the above case, rounding up some shad for dinner.  Wikepedia says this...

In American English the name gar (or garpike) is strictly applied to members of the Lepisosteidae, a family including seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands.

Fortunately I practice catch and release fishing.  That is, I don't kill em and grill em like my idol Ted Nugent. 

In this case it was a good thing because that fish is 98% bone and two percent fish scales. 

To make a long story short, the poor sunfish was pretty mauled by the 8 trillion teeth the gar has in it's head and did make a meal for the big fish after it dropped off my line.  That's call the "Long Distance Release or LDR", which I practice as well.  In other words he got off.  I saved my fishing equipment, hand an adrenalin rush, and the gar had dinner.  The sunfish had the satisfaction of confirming he was part of the food chain.  Actually not a bad experience all around.  Unless of course your the sunfish.

  If the gar had been a tuna, I might have considered keeping it.  But one cannot often catch wild tuna too much west of Myrtle Beach.

THE FIFTH OF THE THIRD

RED SHOULDERS

Another of the things I miss about Maryland and the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake is a simple little bird of which the marshes are full.  The red wing blackbird is a marsh bird primarily and flits from plant to plant with raucous cries.  Showing off his plumage.

The red and yellow on the shoulders is very distinctive and one has to wonder what the good Lord was thinking when it came to camouflage.  But that's the way it is.  I suspect the coloration has to do more with the mating ritual than hiding amongst the reeds.

THE FOURTH OF THE THIRD

SPRING CLEAN-UP

Somewhere off to the left, in the mid distance, behind that point, hidden by the pine tree to the left is "Hole in the Wall".  Actually, only a small channel between two islands but a neat name for a "Place".

There appears to be some open water on the big lake and that means the real work of the winter starts.  Spring is inevitable but always seems to take it's good time to arrive and the clean-up of winter debris along the shore and the repair of the road is something that just cannot wait till the ice is completely gone.  For you see, just when the ice leaves, the fish are on top filling their lean bodies with the spring run of smelt.  That is the occurrence that takes precedence and work must be out of the way well before that event.

The memories of landlocked salmon past, just triggers the "let's get ready" mechanism in my head.

Or a football sized Rainbow to surprise us all.

I mean........This is the important stuff!

And one must be prepared.

But Alas!  There is!

Pot holes created by winter run-off and normal erosion wait to be filled and the road graded.  The big woods is not yet alive and even the fiddle heads have not put in an appearance. 

They say these things taste like asparagus in the early spring, but it takes a man more hungry than I to test that theory.

Beach clean-up may be premature because the "Ice Out" spring winds have not cluttered the beaches yet.  But it is a chore where the mind can drift to more pleasant chores.

Those early spring winds can be a game changer for not only the shore line, but the fish behavior.  I know that the winds certainly change the plans of the fishermen on the lake.

It's early but the first warm day signals my blood machinery that it's time to crank up and the anticipation is just too much.  I suppose that I could seed some of the carrots and summer onions that I bought, using large plastic pots that can be moved as the sun moves.  May not be too early for those seeds to start germinating.  And if it is, well the seeds are cheap enough and I can start all over again in a month, or just add to that which I plant  this day. 

If nothing else, I have the opportunity to take a nice long walk through nature and smile.  Small chores for the most part, but big blessings.  A chance to briefly take the mind away from the day and thank the good Lord for a life time of memories.

The second of the third

We had a wonderful thunderstorm come through about five this morning.  Not any wind and only enough thunder to get my village idiot barking and running around the house briefly chasing the noise.  I don't know whether that's a real sentence and don't care. 

An hour's more sleep with the rain pounding on the pergola roof and the promise of a good steaming cup of Pikes Place Roast running through my head.

Finally, both idiots needed to go outside and I had to get out of a decent dream which I could not remember if I even wanted to.  Another bad sentence.  Live with it. 

I opened the door and it sound like an aviary outside.  Evidently another flock of robins were working their way north and were very happy that the rain had ended.  And so another day begins here in Shangra La, south.

The first of the third

MY SWAMP !!!!