It’s been a spectacular September. The weather and the fishing could not have been more cooperative. And yet, once again, many of the lodges are either empty or close to it, and you are hard-pressed to see two boats on our vast lakes in an entire day. Here are Bill Hudson, Charlie Lighthipe, Sandra Lloyd, Nicole Adams, Joseph Kievitt, and Mitch Kotok, all demonstrating that September fishing in Grand Lake Stream is our best-kept secret.
Here I am with Morgan Poirier of Cape Breton, NS on “The Bonnie,” in the Gaspé, QC, the clearest salmon water in the world. You can see that in the picture of me releasing a salmon. It’s really that clear!
I’ve just returned from fishing one of the most storied waterways in North America, The Bonaventure River in the Gaspé Peninsula, QC. I was the guest of Camp Bonaventure, surely one of the finest Atlantic Salmon lodges in the world, located near what has been called the clearest salmon river in the world. If would-be lodge owners were looking for the best way to learn the hospitality business in the sporting industry, I would send them to Camp Bonaventure to see how it is done best.
It was not only a successful fishing outing for me, but for every sport I met at the lodge. I enclose a link here to a short video of a friend releasing the salmon he’d just caught. The clarity of the water in the Bonaventure stands out. If you’re looking for that once-in-a-lifetime Atlantic salmon fishing trip where you’ll stay in a lodge that attends to every detail and treats you like a king who’s after “the king of fish,” definitely check out: http://www.campbonaventure.com
The soundtrack is provided by Jim and Craig Fowler of Easton, MA and Carbondale, CO respectively. This eagle picked up a fish only four canoe lengths away. Craig, who is featured in my new book, Wide and Deep, named this bird Earl since he kept us company all day.
The funeral of Ray Plewacki Sr. at Arlington National Cemetery was one of the most compelling testaments to the human spirit that I’ve ever witnessed. The chapter title, “92 and Growing” in my new book, Wide and Deep: Tales and Recollections of a Master Maine Guide refers to Ray Plewacki Sr. We had been friends for 14 years. Ray lived large, all of his nearly 94 years, but long before my time, he had done amazing things over the Pacific as a Navy aviator in World War II. Ray flew with famed Black Sheep Squadron pilot, Pappy Boyington (even though Pappy was in the Marine Corp and Ray was in the Navy) on the same mission when they were both shot down during a raid. As you will read, things went remarkably well for Ray, and remarkably badly for Pappy.
Every detail of a full military honors funeral at Arlington is considered and choreographed to the fullest affect. The best word I can find to describe it is “overwhelming.” Close to 100 men and women are involved. A caisson with full Navy escort and the proverbial riderless horse led the way to the burial site about a quarter mile through the labyrinth of Arlington memorials. A Navy band played flawless accompaniment. After the flag was ceremoniously folded over the remains, a lone bugler standing a football field’s distance away began “taps” right on cue. The “Lady of Arlington” presided throughout, there to represent the President, the Navy, and the nation.
Ray never talked of his missions, his medals, or his sacrifices. That was all done for him at Arlington National Cemetery this past weekend. Among those of us participating, there were no dry eyes.
One of the highlights of my recent book tour/road trip happened on Martha’s Vineyard when 5 year-old Amber Codding presented me with an artwork from her own hand, one she said she’d drawn especially for me. It is now hanging in my studio in Holden, Maine.
About 30 people had signed up in advance to be at the Ashlawn Farm Coffee http://farmcoffee.com book launch for Wide and Deep. Others came in during my talk and stood in the back. I always bring a guitar to these events, and at this one, I performed three songs that had to do with the content of the new book. At the end of my 30-minute talk, I opened the floor for questions. This lasted for another half hour. The oldest person in the room was around 84. The youngest was 7. Both of them, and many of the other attendees asked good, engaging questions of the sort that you tend to ponder later.
My heartfelt thanks to the entire Ashlawn Farm Coffee crew who put so much care into this event. Please look in on their website as there are always interesting events going on at Ashlawn.
Back in Bangor, ME, on April 23rd, I’ll be on 92.9 “The Ticket” at 4:45 pm with Rich Kimball and Bruce Pratt, talking about Wide and Deep. The show is broadcast live from from Seasons Grille and Sports Lounge, 427 Main Street, Bangor.
On May 5th, I’ll be talking with students at Fort Kent Valley Middle School, Fort Kent Community High School, and University of Maine at Fort Kent at the Third Annual Fort Kent, Maine Author’s Conference.
