Coming to thankful

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It always begins just like this, “Wanna go fishing?” And the answer is always the same, “Yep,” said by either me or my fishing buddy, Mac. And so begins our Autumn fishing buddy story for Thanksgiving.
It always begins just like this, “Wanna go fishing?” And the answer is always the same, “Yep,” said by either me or my fishing buddy, Mac. And so begins our Autumn fishing buddy story for Thanksgiving.
Mac and I have one solid rule on our fishing trip, and it is simply this: When we see a road less traveled, we take it. And so we once again did.
Mac and I have one solid rule on our fishing trip, and it is simply this: When we see a road less traveled, we take it. And so we once again did.
… and this time it led us to …
… and this time it led us to …
… here, a cabin on the West Branch of the Delaware River near the foothills of the Catskills. A river that is the border between New York and Pennsylvania.
… here, a cabin on the West Branch of the Delaware River near the foothills of the Catskills. A river that is the border between New York and Pennsylvania.
Here’s the inside of our cabin …
Here’s the inside of our cabin …
… that’s Mac cooking a very healthy breakfast of …
… that’s Mac cooking a very healthy breakfast of …
… this. The breakfast choice of fishing buddies everywhere.
… this. The breakfast choice of fishing buddies everywhere.
And so yeah, this is what we see when we open the cabin door on our first morning …
And so yeah, this is what we see when we open the cabin door on our first morning …
… it’s one of those mornings that tingles your nose, a morning when you can smell the mist, smell the hill and the trees. One of those mornings when you stop dead and just look around and smile.
… it’s one of those mornings that tingles your nose, a morning when you can smell the mist, smell the hill and the trees. One of those mornings when you stop dead and just look around and smile.
At the launch site near our cabin we watch as this group of guys hit the water first. They’ve come here on their “annual buddy fishing trip” from as far away as Colorado, Michigan and the semi-close state of Vermont …
At the launch site near our cabin we watch as this group of guys hit the water first. They’ve come here on their “annual buddy fishing trip” from as far away as Colorado, Michigan and the semi-close state of Vermont …
… and they couldn’t wait long to fly fish. That’s them fishing already basically within sight of our cabin.
… and they couldn’t wait long to fly fish. That’s them fishing already basically within sight of our cabin.
Meet Kevan Smaracko, a local guide here out of the West Branch Angler Resort where we are staying, and this, this …
Meet Kevan Smaracko, a local guide here out of the West Branch Angler Resort where we are staying, and this, this …
… is his drift boat. When I asked where the motor was he just smiled and showed me his arms. It’s a rowboat drift boat. Yep.
… is his drift boat. When I asked where the motor was he just smiled and showed me his arms. It’s a rowboat drift boat. Yep.
This morning it’s only going to be Kevan and Mac fishing until about noon when I meet up with them …
This morning it’s only going to be Kevan and Mac fishing until about noon when I meet up with them …
… I’m going to sit here on land and …
… I’m going to sit here on land and …
… look at this view …
… look at this view …
… and this …
… and this …
… this too. Mac loves to fish — loves to fish — me I love to take pictures. We both get to do our own thing that …
… this too. Mac loves to fish — loves to fish — me I love to take pictures. We both get to do our own thing that …
… takes us away from the grind, brings peace. Peace is good. By noon I’m at the midway point of their drift waiting for them and trying to focus on these small clippers on the ground. I’ve been around fishing long enough to know why this is here, but suddenly …
… takes us away from the grind, brings peace. Peace is good. By noon I’m at the midway point of their drift waiting for them and trying to focus on these small clippers on the ground. I’ve been around fishing long enough to know why this is here, but suddenly …
… a movement, a movement way far away catches my eye. As I look up I see someone standing in the water fly fishing …
… a movement, a movement way far away catches my eye. As I look up I see someone standing in the water fly fishing …
… turns out it was father and son out on/in the water. Bob Reed Sr. and Jr. have been fishing this river together for the past 32 years. Bob Sr.: “Ya know I’m 78 now, not a lot more time to do this with my son so we try and get in as much fishing as possible.” We walk up to my truck together and I grab a couple of new crankbait things and hand them to Sr. and Jr. — “Just in case you happen to see a bass out there.” They looked at me like it was Christmas so I told them “Merry Christmas” and headed back to the drift boat meeting spot …
… turns out it was father and son out on/in the water. Bob Reed Sr. and Jr. have been fishing this river together for the past 32 years. Bob Sr.: “Ya know I’m 78 now, not a lot more time to do this with my son so we try and get in as much fishing as possible.” We walk up to my truck together and I grab a couple of new crankbait things and hand them to Sr. and Jr. — “Just in case you happen to see a bass out there.” They looked at me like it was Christmas so I told them “Merry Christmas” and headed back to the drift boat meeting spot …
… just in time it seems. Mac jumps out and, well, huh, you know. (I debated using this shot but then again it’s also a fishing buddy thing).
… just in time it seems. Mac jumps out and, well, huh, you know. (I debated using this shot but then again it’s also a fishing buddy thing).
So I’m in the boat and we launch …
So I’m in the boat and we launch …
… into “fairly calm waters.” Hmmm … boats!
… into “fairly calm waters.” Hmmm … boats!
Soon Mac is up and casting … I am not.
Soon Mac is up and casting … I am not.
Soon I am up and taking pictures. Dudes, you need to see this place.
Soon I am up and taking pictures. Dudes, you need to see this place.
Around a bend we come face to face with what can only be described as a real life American pastoral painting. A lone angler in a river, in a valley, sound only of rushing water, both Mac and this guy’s line silently float out in the air and gently land on the water. Kevan stops rowing, I stop taking pictures, it is here where the whisper in my head said: “Coming to thankful.”
Around a bend we come face to face with what can only be described as a real life American pastoral painting. A lone angler in a river, in a valley, sound only of rushing water, both Mac and this guy’s line silently float out in the air and gently land on the water. Kevan stops rowing, I stop taking pictures, it is here where the whisper in my head said: “Coming to thankful.”
Another bend, this time a group of anglers all bunched up in one hole … where have I seen that before. Mac is casting when Kevan looks back at me and says, “We are coming up to the scenic part.” As I quickly look at my camera battery level I mumble to Kevan, “Wait … what …”
Another bend, this time a group of anglers all bunched up in one hole … where have I seen that before. Mac is casting when Kevan looks back at me and says, “We are coming up to the scenic part.” As I quickly look at my camera battery level I mumble to Kevan, “Wait … what …”
Mac is still standing in the front of the boat. I forget the technical name for the front part of boats. He’s now casting to the other side …
Mac is still standing in the front of the boat. I forget the technical name for the front part of boats. He’s now casting to the other side …
… a herd, or group, gang, or bunch of geese (possibly gooses) fly by and then, then …
… a herd, or group, gang, or bunch of geese (possibly gooses) fly by and then, then …
… comes this …
… comes this …
… and this. It seems Kevan’s been here before.
… and this. It seems Kevan’s been here before.
As I’m staring at a rock or a tree Kevan gets my attention and moves his head with the universal sign that means pay attention and look this way, and when I follow his head I see what can only be an Ansel Adams photo stretched across the river.
As I’m staring at a rock or a tree Kevan gets my attention and moves his head with the universal sign that means pay attention and look this way, and when I follow his head I see what can only be an Ansel Adams photo stretched across the river.
There comes a time in life when life itself says “Wake up, shut up, listen …” Slowly, silently we drift under the bridge, all I hear are the waves around me and the cars driving across above, both in tune and in rhythm with each other.
There comes a time in life when life itself says “Wake up, shut up, listen …” Slowly, silently we drift under the bridge, all I hear are the waves around me and the cars driving across above, both in tune and in rhythm with each other.
The geese fly back above us, the beat of their wings the baritone section, and slowly, Kevan rows as if the conductor to all of this.
The geese fly back above us, the beat of their wings the baritone section, and slowly, Kevan rows as if the conductor to all of this.
It is getting to the end of the drift, as if on cue Kevan puts the paddles in the water and turns them slightly to slow time down, to get every ounce out of this drift. Both Mac and I smile at the same time, neither one looking at the other one.
It is getting to the end of the drift, as if on cue Kevan puts the paddles in the water and turns them slightly to slow time down, to get every ounce out of this drift. Both Mac and I smile at the same time, neither one looking at the other one.
Night comes quick this time of year, and it envelops us as we step on shore. Mac didn’t catch anything this day, I did. I caught these photos, caught not only the drift of the boat, but the drift we are all on.
Night comes quick this time of year, and it envelops us as we step on shore. Mac didn’t catch anything this day, I did. I caught these photos, caught not only the drift of the boat, but the drift we are all on.
The next day Mac went out alone with Kevan as I stayed back to work on this story. Mac ended up catching and releasing 10 pretty looking trout … so I guess I was the skunk on day one …
The next day Mac went out alone with Kevan as I stayed back to work on this story. Mac ended up catching and releasing 10 pretty looking trout … so I guess I was the skunk on day one …
… this is exactly how I found him standing on the bank. That’s his
… this is exactly how I found him standing on the bank. That’s his “I caught 10 fish today” look.
Oh, later that night, our last night on the river, this photo was sent to me. It seems Bob Sr. and Jr. put those crankbaits to use and they wanted me to see that both of them caught a bass after hanging with me. There you go.
Oh, later that night, our last night on the river, this photo was sent to me. It seems Bob Sr. and Jr. put those crankbaits to use and they wanted me to see that both of them caught a bass after hanging with me. There you go.
Final view as we were leaving and vowing to come back again and stay longer. I wish that we hadn’t named this rock in space we live on, Earth. I wish in fact that we had named it Miracle, because in our solar system and as far out there as we can see, there’s nothing like us we can see, and that’s a miracle in my book. So from Mac and myself, our families to your families, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and we wish that we all at some point get to … ”Coming to thankful.”
Final view as we were leaving and vowing to come back again and stay longer. I wish that we hadn’t named this rock in space we live on, Earth. I wish in fact that we had named it Miracle, because in our solar system and as far out there as we can see, there’s nothing like us we can see, and that’s a miracle in my book. So from Mac and myself, our families to your families, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and we wish that we all at some point get to … ”Coming to thankful.”