Author: dickenslj

by guest blogger, Sue Glenn

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In August 2019, Sue and Mark Glenn and Jim and Lori Dickens met up to explore the Pacific Northwest in an end of summer adventure. 

The fun began in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA.    The Glenns ferried in from Seattle and the Dickens ferried the next day from Anacortes.  After dropping our luggage at the Tucker House Inn (wonderful staff, unbelievable breakfast, perfect location) we headed out to explore the island in a clockwise manner from Friday Harbor.  We began with the American Camp (not very impressive), 4^th of July beach (where we ran into Tom Lodge, Bucknell ’82 and his wife), Jackle’s Lagoon, Cattle Point Lighthouse and a hike to Mt. Finlayson.  Spectacular views of the ocean all around!  We then drove to the “resort” area of Roche Harbor and had a well-deserved lunch outside at the Roche Harbor Marina.  On the way back to Friday Harbor, we visited the Westcott Bay Sculpture Park in an effort to satisfy our artistic cravings.  

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The next day was all about orcas!  We kayaked in the morning at Jackson Beach where Lori and Slim got very up close and personal with a transient orca.  Since transient orcas like to feast on seals and since Lori was pretty much dressed like a seal, there were a few tense moments (at least for Lori)!  Sue and Mark kayaked close to shore and so were completely oblivious to what was going on.  That afternoon, we drove up the West side of the island stopping along the side of the road where we saw several people gathered.  For an hour we were treated to a spectacular show of a dozen resident orcas just off shore.  And we learned a TON of information from some folks who were REALLY into orcas in kind of a cool and slightly geeky way.  Once the orcas headed south, we headed to the Lime Kiln State Park where we had a fabulous picnic with many bees followed by a nice walk to the lighthouse.  Before heading back to Friday Harbor we stopped at the English camp (WAY better than the American camp that we saw the day before) and had a lovely hike on the Bell Point Trail.  The day ended with drinks outside at the Friday Harbor House (where we once again ran into Tom Lodge and wife).

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Then it was time to explore British Columbia!  We caught a morning ferry from Friday Harbor to beautiful Victoria!  Dropped our things off at the fabulous Hotel Rialto (lovely staff, perfect location, incredible muffins/banana bread for breakfast).  We spent the afternoon and evening exploring Victoria – enjoying the harbor, the flowers, the architecture, the food, the drinks!  Found the perfect pub patio to hang out at for many hours of eating, drinking and people-watching!

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The next morning we rented a car and headed out of the city.  First stop was the East Sooke Regional Park where hiked to Beechy Head, partly through the woods and partly along the coast.  From there we headed to Sooke Potholes Provincial Park and then to the amazing Butchard Gardens (even Slim and Mark agreed they were incredible). That evening, we enjoyed a relaxing, fabulous dinner at the Collective Wine Bar in the Cook Street Village area of Victoria.  

 Sand Bar Dinner with Mark and Sue expertly navigating our return to the Sutton Hotel.

Our final stop was Vancouver!  We took the very convenient BFI (bus/ferry) Connector from Victoria to Vancouver – definitely the best way to make that trip.  And well worth it to spend the extra $5CAD for the up-front seats!  Arriving in Vancouver, stopped at The Sutton Hotel (great location, mediocre staff, no breakfast) and then headed to Granville Island for a wonderful dinner on the patio of the lively Sandbar Restaurant.  After a walk back to the hotel we sadly had to say good-bye as Lori and Slim were flying home early the next morning and then on to other adventures later in the week.  Sue and Mark stayed on for one more day which was spent in beautiful Stanley Park followed by dinner at the Cactus Club on the beach at English Bay.

Here are some of the great discussions from the trip: 

• Did Slim pressure Lori to dress in seal colors before going kayaking in an effort to attract transient orcas?
• Which are superior: LLBean “shants” (Mark) or Lulu ABC pants (Slim)?  
• Is San Juan Island in WA or BC?  And what WAS the name of the town we stayed in?
• Is Deschutes fresh squeezed IPA just something that Slim made up? If not, why has no one else heard of it?
• Are drones REALLY not allowed in US State Parks or did the park ranger just not like Slim?  Was she even a park ranger?
• What are the statistical odds of 4 Bucknell graduates being on the same random beach on San Juan Island at the same time? 
• Is there any better vehicle than a 2013 Toyota Camry, even if its key fob does not work thus making it very annoying to get into the car or trunk?
• Who had the more impressive leg length to walking speed ratio – Sue and Lori….or Mark and Slim?
• Who was the favorite Canadian?  (1) Bill who drove the BFI bus from Victoria to Vancouver and entertained us with stories, (2) The British guy in Sidney who called the cab to take us to Victoria and kept checking for us to make sure it was really coming, (3) Bjorn the East Sooke Regional Park guy who directed us to our hike and became Mark’s new best friend, or (5) the guy who escaped from the Vancouver hospital and was roaming the streets attached to an I.V. according to Lori and Mark.  (Slim and Sue were in the middle of an intellectual conversation and can not confirm the existence of said guy.)

Our Pacific Northwest trip was fabulous, and made even better by being with such old, dear friends – can’t wait to travel with you again soon!

After over 30 years of comfortable sleeping in a bed, my wife agreed to sleep on the ground. To say she is tolerant and kind is an understatement.

By Jim Dickens

I am getting better at cadence now and we drove over two thousand miles without exhaustion. I am now learning flexible planning which allows you to more easily exceed expectations. Having a great vehicle like the Honda Ridgeline and your lovely wife with you helps a great deal as well.

Lori and I were married 31 years ago by her Uncle Dick a revered member of the Presbyterian clergy. He brought calm and confidence to the tense marriage process and Lori and I have a special place in our hearts for him. He and his wife Nancy and some of their family live way up northwest of Duluth. We visited there first, an easy traffic free 9 hour drive.

We stayed at son, Steve’s, and wife, Joanie’s, lake house. Son, Tim, showed us his fishing expertise. Uncle Dick and Aunt Nancy are still reassuring and wonderful. A big thanks to the Steve and Joanie for their warm hospitality of cousins they haven’t seen for years. I am now a big fan of cruising on a pontoon boat. I hope we keep in touch and we can return the hospitality, perhaps in Switzerland.

We left Minnesota after a couple of days and struck out for South Dakota’s Badlands and Black hills. My wife camped with me and even helped set up the tent. The Badlands were thankfully more lush and cooler than last time I was there. The hiking was good and we got to see lots of large mammals which Lori likes most. Her favorite is the sea otter and she has decided prairie dogs are land otters.

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We arrived just as the Sturgis Biker Rally was beginning and the parks were filled with unmuffled motorcycle engines blasting the wildlife away from the road. We’d avoid that next time. In the Black Hills, Mt Rushmore was under construction but still worth viewing including childhood nostalgia from previous vacations. Camping got us going to bed at dark and awakening at sunrise avoiding a lot of traffic and noise. However, we did have dinner at a biker filled bar, the Wagon Wheel, served by a tender with a Bucket of Blood Bar t-shirt. Good people and good pizza!

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Earlier this year, I purchased an Annual Pass to the national parks. So on our way to Cody Wyoming we took a detour to the Devil’s Tower National Monument for quick look. Because we had the Annual Pass it was no problem just to stop in.

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On to Cody, WY and then Yellowstone. No grizzlies but bison, deer, elk, prong horn, wolves, black bear and river otters.

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One great thing for me happened as I’m a little green. Forty four years ago when I first visited, Yellowstone’s fishing bridge had numerous large cutthroat trout rising. When I returned as an adult they were gone due to invasive species. This year, because of intense conservation some returned, fantastic!

We stayed in Gardiner and Big Sky then headed to see our brother in law, niece and nephew in Boise. We used our Annual Pass to do a fly by at the Craters of the Moon National Park.

In Boise, our brother in-law was was a gracious host. I took his son, our nephew out for a day’s fishing on the Owyhee river. Very cold water, very hot air and three golden eagles added to fishing for very large and strong brown trout. Meanwhile, Lori joined our nephew’s wife and their four children, keeping them cool and happy on a 100 degree day. Only one injury required treatment, a split lip. A thank you again for warm hospitality from our family.

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Lori flew home from Boise and I drove the truck to Bozeman to store until I returned in September. I camped along the way in the Gallatin National Forest. Camping by yourself takes some getting used to and camping by yourself not in a campground in grizzly country is even more intense. I awoke at 4:30 in the dark to great horned owls calling to each other. Before I drifted back to sleep an animal larger than a squirrel walked near the tent. No more sleep and out at first light. I intend to stay in campgrounds from now on although I bet the stats say humans are more dangerous.

By Jim Dickens

Off the hook is a term that older people have coopted from the younger. We tend to over use it but it is what I think when describing the Ridgeline Tour in July.

Just before July 4, Lori and I went with 4 other couples for a week in Sonoma County, CA. We rented a home with bedrooms and bathrooms for each couple, a pool, a hot tub, a bocce court, a steam room, a sauna and a full indoor outdoor sound system. Great views, chamber of commerce weather and lifelong friends made the stay.

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We biked the Dry Creek Valley and stopped at a couple of wineries, Capo and Dry Creek. Capo was built over the last couple of years by two Naperville sisters, one who sold a radiology practice and the other left an engineering manager career. We liked their wine and really liked them, a great experience. I would recommend only visiting one winery while biking. People started getting lost and wrecking after the second winery. However, it did make for interesting stories.

We paddled canoes down the clear sandy Russian River with redwoods and wineries on the banks. We hiked the scenic coast line where the river enters with eagles and harbor seals resting.

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Jersey Tom took us to 5 wineries while giving the history of Sonoma County. It was 2 too many wineries but very fun. And we completed the World Cup of Bocce playing at different wineries with the finals at home. We also had a chef come in and do dinner for us and masseuse man the extra bedroom for an afternoon. It was perfect and just short of decadent.

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Upon returning from wine country we unpacked then repacked and headed to Philly for my niece Teresa’s wedding to Matt.

I would describe Teresa’s wedding as tastefully lavish while being totally comfortable. There was no drama, the toasts were thoughtful, entertaining and well spoken. The reception music had broad appeal. The wedding party was elegantly dressed. The venue, the food, the string quartet were special in a good way. Lobster, crab and champagne at the reception cocktail hour and filet for dinner. We had a string quartet during the reception cocktail hour that had a little backbeat or a syncopated jazzy style. It was all hosted at The Ben in downtown Philadelphia, a room featured in the 2018 hit movie Silver Linings dance competition scene. It was a three story vaulted roof beautifully lit with lavender highlights and decorated immaculately.

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The bride and groom families were accomplished socially and made everyone welcome, included and comfortable. My 90 year old parents enjoyed. My children and nephew motivated Lori and I to after party on the roof of the Logan Hotel. We closed down that bar looking down the avenue at the museum steps made famous in the movie Rocky. It’s been a long time since I stayed up that late. It was so fun I may do it again soon.

Well, meticulous planning by the experienced with a great eye for style made for two jet setter weeks from California to Pennsylvania. Thank you Denise, Janet, Teresa and Nancy! For me it was truly off the hook. It’s time to shift gears and tone it down a bit by driving out west.

By Jim Dickens

I spent the first two thirds of June doing a little more of the usual. I played golf with great friends in Pittsburgh and Cleveland at their clubs. Thank you Andy and John. Then came home and detoxified myself.

Next, I went with some of the officers of the local Trout Unlimited Chapter, Willie, Dale and Dave to the driftless area of Wisconsin. The driftless area is the area that was not covered with glaciers during the last ice age and has a nice rolling hill topography with cool spring fed streams. We had a great time there catching lots of trout and inspecting some restoration work we were involved in.

So in addition to travel, skiing, fishing, and golf I have been spending some time getting involved with a couple of non profits. It’s something more than the usual. I am currently helping raise funds for Trout Unlimited, TU. TU restores streams flowing out of the mountains and springs improving the water and surrounding habitat making it healthier. Most of the USA is downstream of these initiatives and the water you live on is better because of it.

When I moved to Chicago over 30 years ago, none of the streams we fished would have had trout in them. This is because they used to be polluted, muddy and warm. The introduction of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts combined with improved environmental science, government funds and volunteerism are what keeps us living in a safe clean world unlike many other countries. It is really nice to be part of improvement not just hanging on to what we have.

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Farmers, townships, federal grants and contractors catalyzed by TU have improved hundreds of miles of driftless area spring fed streams making them healthy. With the exception of mining pollution, most streams can be turned around. I think we can and should keep improving our environment. And, I think it is high time the USA does much more by adding real climate change mitigation to the Clean Air and Clean Water efforts.

Among the first few non profits I have contacted, TU has turned out to be a good fit for me. I am looking for one more non profit to be involved in and am open to suggestions. Look for a sober account of a drunken week spent in Santa Rosa, CA (wine country) next.

By Jim Dickens

Some people have minds that automatically track where everything is and how to properly do things. They have orderly lives, are almost always in control and things are squared away. I am not one of those people and am thought of as absent minded needing lists and special habits to keep from losing things and missing appointments. My old fishing mentor, Dr. Z is squared away.

Dr Z.’s 4 wheel drive Mitsubishi Outlander is about to eclipse 200K miles. His trailer while the oldest in camp is fully functional and his river boat is self refurbished to last well into the future. His fishing gear is well organized and he is always prepared no matter the conditions. It’s comforting knowing we won’t have delays and a poor outing due to being unprepared or disorganized or unknowledgeable.

The Upper Delaware River flows finally calmed down enough to wade fish, so I made my way out flying through Scranton. As you can see above in addition to my customized Yeti cooler, I have added beginner drone photography. You always need to up your game.

The fishing was difficult as the river was still high with some pretty intense rains limiting the opportunity. Once, the fish started feeding just as it started pouring down, and I could not see my fly as the fish surfaced all around. It was a frustrating lost opportunity. However, we did manage to avoid getting skunked and the fish in the river remain large and rambunctious.

Rolled back home through Philadelphia and flew the drone for my parents at the reservoir behind their house. Took picture of my brother’s house and went to dinner with his family.

Then headed home stopping in Pittsburgh at the home of Marine Colonel Ian Ferguson another squared away guy with a 260,000 mile Ford Five Hundred and a functional flip phone. I highly recommend the pub dinner at the Blawnox Pa, Nox’s Tavern and Grille.

I admire people who are squared away and it’s always good to have someone along who is. They remind you to get your phone charger and keep you out of avoidable danger. The tour is heading out to Viroqua WI, Gibsonia, PA and Mentor, OH next. The tour is in full swing.

By Jim Dickens

There is a past Viagra commercial where an old guy sails his boat alone and suddenly the main sail breaks loose.  He calmly MacGyver’s a repair and continues sailing happily along in the sunny evening.  Here’s a link to the commercial. https://youtu.be/y1ZqQ55T25c  So when the toilet starts to run/leak and I fix it quickly with one trip to the hardware store or less, I declare myself Viagra Man to any one in earshot, usually my wife.  No one gets it and they often think I am uncouth. But I get it and that’s enough.  I like the idea that old guys are special and I think there is some truth to it.

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When you get to my age, 57, you have declined significantly although many fail to realize or acknowledge it.   You are slow and weak.  Your reflexes are bad, you’re less flexible, you stiffen up easily and you are covered with aches and pains.   Your mental agility has slowed and your memory suffers. You can’t learn like you used to.  And it’s going to get worse so what is so special about getting old.

I like the confidence and economy of having broad experience and wisdom.  For example, the recent 8 day Ridgeline Tour travels to Pennsylvania went south quickly.  A friends urgent unplanned business trip and high Upper Delaware River flows eliminated my plans from Monday evening to Thursday evening right before departure.  I left Monday morning on my travels not knowing where I would be Monday night and without anywhere to be until Thursday 7PM.  Strangely, I was relatively undisturbed by any of this and headed out.

On the Monday drive, I had a think and made plans to stay at the posh Glen Dorn resort where I had never stayed before.  Having mental maps in my head from lots of travel and a remembrance of a positive reference from a Pittsburgh friend it just happened.  Siri and I were getting along so searching and communicating while driving was easy.  Tuesday was an awesome day on two private creeks. At 5 PM, I started driving east and made arrangements to stay near where I had fished almost exactly 40 years before, Kettle Creek.  I met and had a beer with a couple of youngsters sitting in the plastic chairs outside in front of the room doors of our bare bones motel.   They oriented me and the next morning I stopped at their recommended fly shop got advice and the correct flies.  The fishing was awesome and at 6:30 PM I started driving east again.

I noticed my old University, Bucknell was a couple of hours away on the road to my destination, Philadelphia.  I figured they would have a decent restaurant and a good place to stay.  Thursday, the weather turned sunny and warm so I switched from fishing to golf and played 18 just outside Philadelphia.  I had dreaded being alone but the people I met along the way made it better than I expected.  However doing things with friends and family is so much better.

Monday in Cleveland, I stopped in to see my daughter Emily’s ex-college soccer coach.  I really liked her not just as a coach but as a human being as well.  She helped Emily, her teammates and the college immensely. It was well worth stopping in and telling her I noticed.  Giving positive feedback is way better than giving someone a piece of your mind.  Thursday night in Philadelphia, I had dinner and drinks with college buddies.  We forgot our age and stayed out way too late.  Actually not too late,  it was worth it.  Saw my two sons, wife, brothers family and  my parents in Philadelphia and attended the forty thousand strong, ten mile Broad Street Run. Lori, my wife, and I watched 5  family members run in the pouring rain.  I stopped in Pittsburgh on the way back and had dinner and breakfast with an old college friend turned Marine. All were cherished experiences.

When you get old you start to know how things are gonna turn out.  You have the context of your experience to draw on when things change so you adapt quickly with less effort.  You have some real and helpful advice for others.  You know how to be happy.  It can truly be a golden age.   For some the glory days are their high school sports or their college GPA or their successful career.  For me, it could be the hugely enjoyable Ridgeline Tour unless I think of something better.  

It’s one year since the blog started and the Ridgeline Tour kicked off.  There is no end in sight which brings to mind “it’s about the journey.”

By Jim Dickens

The California Bureau of Tourism runs commercials with celebrities showing all kinds of first class recreation with oceans, mountains, vibrant cities and numerous spectacular attractions. It’s all true and why it’s exorbitantly expensive but 40million Americans still live there. My sons say it’s a fun tax that is worth it. Lori and I visited for 11 days and decided we will do it again next year.

We went to visit our sons, one who lives in Northern Oakland and one who lives in Watsonville, on two weekends at the end of March. In between we visited our friends Pete and Gayda in Lake Tahoe and the iconic Yosemite National Park. Instead of a long chronology of what where and when, spin through the slide show below. Not pictured are the many humpback whales in Monterey Bay. It was too much work to photograph versus just being there and enjoying it.

A cool concluding story. My son’s buddy, Reese, was a dreamer in high school and had a flair for the dramatic in college. Now he lives his dreams. He has managed to sign on with Google and leased a small transit van which he sleeps in. As you may know, Google provides free dining, fitness, clothes washing, and showering facilities. Jack’s buddy takes advantage of all and is saving 80% of his paycheck to realize his dream of becoming a real estate magnate. It’s great to see his success through his willingness to do what it takes including getting out of his comfort zone. Idea guys are a dime a dozen, but dreamers that do change the world.

It was great experiences with great people in a land of amazing places. Too bad it is so crowded. We will be back next year!

“Now the reason I’m smiling, is over on an Island on a hillside in the woods where I belong”

Guest Blog By Legendary Fly Fisherman, Peter Perkins

I don’t think James Taylor was singing about Green Turtle Cay, but the lyrics capture my sentiment for this place. It’s a wonderful little island that Kit and I have visited for several years now, and we were very honored to welcome Slim and what I believe is the first international leg of Ridgeline tour.

Fly Fisherman Extraordinaire Peter Perkins

Slim arrived right on schedule via Jet, taxi by Rose, and ferry, and was well into a Kalik and plate of cracked conch by the time I picked him up at the Green Turtle Club.

It was a beautiful day, so after dropping the bags at the house, we headed out to town flat in search of bonefish. Prior to Jim’s arrival, Town flat had reliably produced shots at lots of incredibly spooky big bonefish. For some unknown reason, they seemed to have vacated the flats the first day and a half of fishing, and we only saw a few fish in many hours of wandering. Fortunately Slim took it pretty well and with the help of more Kaliks and conch was able to slip into Bahamas mode. We took him to some of the Islands finest eateries, Pineapples, and Shortys where he seemed to be quite impressed with the minced fish and house cocktail, the Gully Wash.

The third day we sought out professional help and enlisted the services of legendary local guide Ronnie Sawyer. True to his reputation, Ronnie put us on bones, and in spite of some strong winds, we were both able to each land one before our half day of fishing was up. Ronnie was suffering from a pinched nerve, so he couldn’t do a full day.

Slim’s fish fell for one of Ronnie’s weighted yellow eyed gotchas. It was a large fish and once it felt the sting of the hook, it was off to the races. Ronnie was barking out guidance as the fish went well into the backing. We were a little concerned as we saw the backing rapidly depleting and even more concerned as I saw Slim pinch the line in an effort to slow the fish down. It’s sort of like trying to grab a band saw. After two huge runs, Slim boated a nice 6 pound bone.

At this point I should humbly mention that in the Bahamas as well as Montana last summer, Slim has caught bigger fish than me. This has been a very painful experience for me which I am currently being counseled for. Pisces envy!

After leaving Ronnie, I took Slim to a little flat behind the town cemetery. Just as we reached the end of the sidewalk I spotted two large bonefish and put Slim on them. He got one to take, but unfortunately, the fly snapped off on the set and our yellow eyed Gotcha was gone.

On our last trip to town flat, the elusive bones had returned in droves. While we saw many fish, these fish lived up to their reputation of being the largest and hardest to catch in the Bahamas.

Pete and his buddy 50 Cent getting the island a little barbecue from the reef

I’d hoped to get Slim out for an Island adventure of conch and lobster diving with local character 50 Cent, but the winds kicked up and the ocean started rocking. Something to look forward too next time.

All too soon, Slim’s visit came to an end and we put him back on the ferry and on to the land of the free. As always, we greatly enjoyed his company and look forward to the next great adventure of the Ridgeline tour.

By Jim Dickens

There are situations that are just comfortable and it seems it is different depending on who are and your previous situation.

After getting fit and cross country skiing in the cold winter darkness for several months, going to see my friend, Peter Perkins, in Bahamas turned out to be a perfect comfortable transition. Pete was renting a house with his wife Kit for a month and I went to stay with them for 5 days. Pete and Kit are warm, non judgmental people capable of being laid back on a warm tropical island.

A couple of other things that made this comfortable for me. Pete is the best fly fisherman I know including guides. I knew we would be fishing in the right places the right way. Another comment on that later. The other thing is Green Turtle Cay, a small island two miles long and 800 yards wide with about 500 people on it. There are no Marriott or Hiltons and the businesses are small locally owned and operated. Hence the division between the visitors and residents is small and you are as likely to see a resident enjoying the beach as a tourist. Things are a little worn taking the pretense out and making it more laid back. Hand your money through the window and get a fish sandwich and a cold beer and sit at the picnic table in the warm sunshine. Ahhhh!

Pete introduced me to a new fishing style which I found addictive. There are large sandy flats around the caribbean islands where the sought after bonefish patrol like wary ghosts. You quietly walk the flat searching for their moving shadows.

We had some poor weather, a cold front came through and some high winds, but I like being out in it. We saw an almost stranded Manta Ray, a couple of sharks, and many barracuda, pretty cool. While the fishing was difficult, we remained undeterred and still enjoyed wearing shorts and flip flops.

While searching for bonefish we did catch a few other species, Palmetto, Barracuda and Needle.

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We did manage to catch Bonefish. They are prized for fighting above their weight and there was some question whether or not I would get spooled (where a fish takes all your line off the reel and breaks off) on one large one. For those of you who fly fish, Pete made a double haul 100 foot cast into a stiff quartering breeze right on the money and the fish missed. So he did it again and made the catch below. It was amazing.

If Pete and Kit are there next year, I’m going to try and come down as well. It’s great weather, a great place with great people and an addictive experience. Next year, better flats walking shoes, a boat to get to all the flats, and improved stealth.

It’s time to enjoy the rest of spring. Eleven days in Northern California should do it. Next blog post, California here we come!

By Guest Blogger Carlos Navarro

Administrator’s Note:  Carlos is the toughest guy I know having run 35 Chicago Marathons, climbed mountains on several continents and never shied away from a challenge.   Carlos never loses. Just once in awhile, he runs out of time.

Several years ago, a work colleague of ours recommended Jim and I join him for a cross-country ski event up north in Wisconsin.  This seemed like a good idea.  Possibly an annual event to balance the summer races and fall marathon cycle.  The only problem with this good idea is that Jim and I live in the Chicago area which now a days doesn’t get the annual snow fall it once did which makes training for the Birkie challenging.

A rational person would say well that’s not for me and let it go.  Well lucky for me Jim, Lori, my brother David and his wife are not always rational people when it comes to jumping into athletic challenges and that is how we get to this year’s Birkie adventure.

I’m going to break this down into three parts: traveling to and from Hayward/Cable Wisconsin from Chicago, the race itself and the time in Birkie land not racing.  

First the race: the American Birkebeiner Classic 55K 

Race day. Saturday Brother David and his wife Kelly who had a bout of rational thought and did not race this year but did come up with their son Nick to provide support and partake in Birkie fever. Saturday morning it’s 30 overcast some snow flurries on a base of 3 feet of snow.  Perfect Birkie weather. Nevertheless, I’m nervous.  My preparation for this race consists of 2 loops of the Argonne 9.5-mile Waterfall Glenn loop and a 10-mile Kettle Moraine loop aborted after 3 miles due to ice. I’m facing a 55K hilly fast winding course and I’ve two real practice loops.  I told you I’m not rational about these things.  We all pile into David’s Volvo wagon and head for the start with WOJB on radio playing Birkie fever songs. Soon enough the songs do their job and calm my nerves.  We get to the start area and its full of energy from all the very fit Birkie racers.  Jim and I were placed in wave 5 (out of 8) which was too slow for Jim and too fast for me.  We are dressed appropriately which means that when one standing around not moving one gets cold.   Soon enough they call our wave and off we go at 9:35 AM.

The first 15K are crowded with a winding gradual elevation increase of 10M.  Jim is clipping along at a 6:36 min/K pace.  I’m doing 8:10 min/K.   This first 15K has us cross High Point at 12K which is just that the highest point in the course.  I haven’t fallen yet.  

16K – 25K OK.  No falls I’m getting the hang of this again my pace however slows 8:32 min/K.  Jim continues to fly along at 6:36 min/K.  

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26K – 40K Continued up and down with a lot of long fast downhills.  I fall twice not too bad.  No blood. Even with the two falls I clock through 40K at 8:22 and Jim is at 6:44!  I’m gaining on him 😊!  

15K more to go and I’m starting to feel good about this year’s Birkie.  Reasonable performance all things considered.  The thing about a race like the Birkie is that you end up spending a good amount of time with the same group of fellow racers.  Are you picking that up, racers not just cross-country skiers.  These people are just one level below Olympians.  Yup.  That is an example of the kind of thoughts that go through your head after hours out on the trail.  It’s how I justify my pace.   Then it happened.  Just as I’m starting to feel good about this race, I fall. I fall hard at the end of a fast winding run and I cracked a rib.  Hmmm.  Shake it off and keep on going.  I see David and Kelly on the course. Wow.  What an unexpected boost.  Now I start to count down the kilometers and when I get to 50K I frame it as only a 5K more to go, it will be easy because the last 1.8K is over a lake which means flat.  I figure by now Jim is done. I was wrong he was done a long time ago.  When I was at the 45K point he was crossing the finish line.  Wow he is fast.

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52K – 55K – Hayward Lake!  Almost eureka. I want to think that I’m keeping my pace going but I feel I’m slowing down a bit.  Turns out I was right.  I averaged 8:32 for the last 15K.  Jim on the other hand realized he might not break 6:00 hours so he stepped it up.  How he was able to do the math while on the trail is beyond me.  He averaged 6:28 Min/K for the last 15K.  OK I’ve 2.8K more to go and I’m giving it all I have.  Crossing the lake, I see David, Kelly, Nick and Dennis Kelly’s dad out there about half a mile from the finish cheering me on.  Wow again.  At this point I’m giving it all I got, and Nick is running next to me cheering me on.  Either he is very fast or I’m very slow.  On to the streets of Hayward up and over the American bridge across the finish line.   Done!  I finished in 7:51 137 out of 149 in my age group.  Jim finished in 5:58 he hit is goal of sub 6:00 hours.  Amazing given what he went through last April, you know the golf ball in the head episode.  

Birkie Land Time not racing

The race now behind us its time to enjoy a good meal with friends and family.  Dave drives us all back to Kelly’s cousin’s amazing cabin, nothing like a hot shower after 55K and we head out to the Garmisch for dinner.  It’s become a tradition of sorts that after the race we eat at a table at the bar which is perfect.  Great conversation lots of laughs, excellent cheeseburgers made better with cold beer and fries.  Its at this point that we start to make plans for next year’s Birkiebeiner.  Yup with more time dedicated to practice I’m sure I can break 6:30 maybe even 6:00!  One can always dream.   Jim hit his goal of breaking 6:00 hours not quite up to his record finish but truly an amazing time given his limited practice for this race.

Back at the cabin after the dinner we had a nice conversation with Mike, Bill, Ralph and Clay who are friends of Jeff who is a friend of one of Kelly’s other cousins.  The common thread across these guys is that they are all excellent cross-country skiers they are all avid fishers and their love of the outdoors be it mountain climbing biking or skiing.  Turns out that Kelly’s dad is also a serious fisherman.  More great conversation.   I’ve heard said that runners are generally nice people.  I think what’s more accurate is that people in general are nice and that people who are active are even nicer.

Traveling to and from Cable Wisconsin from Chicago

Cable Wisconsin is 435 miles away which is normally a 7-hour trip.  Jim and I did it up there in about that time on Friday.  The time went by catching up on family Ridgeline tour adventures (Jim’s) and work (me).  The drive back home was a different story.  We caught some serious snow whiteout weather which turned the northern first four hours into six hours.  We had Lori’s amazing Infiniti SUV which made a tough drive doable.  Clearly the drive would have been easy in Jim’s Ridgeline.  Happy to report that all parties made it home without incident.  Sore stiff late and happy to be home.

In summary what makes the Birkie adventure worth doing each year is more than the race.  Don’t get me wrong the race is part of it but it is more a barometer to checkpoint one’s athletic health each year to see how one is doing; am I getting slower or faster given all that is going on in one’s life.

I want to thank my buddy Jim for being a key part of the reason I did it this year.  If he hadn’t been poking me about my practice or lack thereof and driving me up to the icy trails of Kettle Moraine I might have done the rational thing and said no.  I’m not prepared for 55K.  I can tell you all of us flatlanders who went up to Birkie land are happy that we did.  I got a chance to catch up with Jim, we renewed friendships with Bill and Jeff and made new friends with Mike, Chad and Ralph and got to hear the those wonderful Birkie fever songs again.