I often say the fun should last at least as long as the time
it took to get there. That can be construed in different ways, I know, but what
I mean is if I drive 3 hours to go hunting, the hunt should last at least 3
hours. Of course it doesn’t always work out – I remember driving up to
Blackduck Lake to fish for walleyes, which takes about an hour, and sitting at
the dock, in the truck, waiting for the deluge of rain to end. It never did. At
least not while Dad and I waited. I don’t mind fishing in the rain, but that
time was ridiculous. Parked at the landing a few feet from the dock, we could
see the end of the dock, but not much beyond. We drank our coffee on the way
home.
I’m glad I only hold
that rule to the travel time. In a week the crew and I will drive a long day to
go trout fishing in Montana. Then we’ll fish for a number of long days and
drive home. It makes sense and seems right. When l count the travel time vs.
activity time, I’m not including the hours spent getting ready. Good thing,
because I’ve been getting ready for this trip for months.
Sometimes I think the “getting ready” gets in the way of the
actual “doing.” Especially when it comes to all the projects to do around the
house. I’ve got a few hammer and nails type projects pending and it’s like
“don’t worry, I’m getting ready.” I feel like I’m always getting ready for
something.
There are less obvious, but perhaps more important ways of
getting ready. Ways that any outdoorsy folk would recognize as sensible. Life
is short and so are the weekends, and when I spent a couple of those spring
weekends following bird dogs around at field trials I was actually getting
valuable and needed exercise that will come in handy for just about any summer adventure I partake in. The times I spent limbering up the fly rod
trying for steelhead may have seemed like time wasted to the casual observer, but
getting ready for upcoming fly fishing by early season practice casting can’t
be discounted. This morning’s mountain bike ride may have seemed like a good
way to get out of yard work, but the cardio benefit of off-road pedaling has
got to help – if it doesn’t do me in first.
After I put my bike away I pulled a chair out in front of
the garage and sat down. Aha! Says the industrious type. Resting is it, wasting
the day away?! Well, I was sort of resting, true. That biking isn’t as easy as
it used to be, but if you looked closer you’d have seen I was trimming deer
hair flies into some sort of useful shape. I’ve got a big trip planned for late
summer and I’m gonna need some pink and chartreuse pollywogs. Again, I’m just
getting ready!
Once in a while I looked over at Jack, who was sitting
quietly staring up at the birch tree. There was a squirrel in the tree planning
to make its way to the feeder to swipe the seeds I put out for my favorite
rose-breasted grosbeaks. The squirrel nervously inched down the tree. Jack was
getting ready, too.
Not every stage of getting ready involves preparing for
something big, of course. More mundane, everyday tasks provide good cause,
also. Like yesterday morning. I snuck out in the canoe for a short while, just
long enough to catch one little river walleye barely big enough to fit alongside some
eggs. I was getting ready for breakfast!
Sat. 5/16
