First Snow

The cabin is at an elevation slightly over 10,000 feet, so we received 1/2" on our first night. The higher peaks received considerably more and reports are that the ski resorts will start "making" snow next week.

Aspens begin to turn

The smaller aspens at the lower elevations have started flashing their fall colors - we think we have scheduled our trip perfectly to witness the complete changing of colors.

Badger Basin WMA: Middle Fork, South Platte River

Fished a new stretch of the Middle Fork outside Hartsell. Typical meandering meadow stream set between mountain ranges - full of "S" turns,riffles,and runs that provide perfect habitat for wild trout. These trout are well-educated and can sometimes be quite challenging - therefore, I caught only two small brown trout - but they are wild and they are beautiful. And the setting is unbeatable.

Colorado Road Trip 2011

September 13, 2011
It is time for another road trip! After weeks of high temperatures, high water on the local rivers, and delays in getting our house started, we decided we could take a couple of weeks and head for cooler weather, changing aspen colors, and hopefully some monumental fly fishing in Colorado (recent reports point to excellent September fishing conditions).
So again we hit Highway 412, which carries us from home across the panhandle of Oklahoma before we hit I25 headed north for a first night stay in Walsenburg to acclimate to the altitude. Among several options of highways to Colorado, this route is our preference as we get a taste of small farming towns interspersed between miles and miles of wide open highway. We are drawn to the sights of the old homesteads, ranches, and towns with their abandoned windmills, machinery, barns, storefronts, and vehicles – but at the same time saddened that these once vibrant areas are slowly fading to remnants of what they once represented.
We are always on the watch for wildlife along the way. We always see red-tailed hawks in great numbers. We did see two dozen wild turkey pecking their way across a freshly-plowed field. And once in New Mexico, the antelope are plentiful near the highway.
Of course, hours of driving across hundreds of miles of relatively uneventful terrain can lead to monotony – but it doesn’t have to. Satellite radio provides endless useful entertainment with a heavy dose of Soultown, BB King Bluesville, and Classic Vinyl. And put on the recently released CD of Keb Mo, and a duet of Keb Mo and Vince Gill singing “My Baby’s Telling Lies Again” becomes a quartet with the two of us singing along, and even at top volume the cows and antelope don’t seem to notice (no humans are within eyesight). A little waist-up dancing does wonders for a tired body and mind.
Started raining the minute we unloaded at the cabin in Fairplay – and the first 2011 winter advisory for the high mountains for tonight. We only received about ½ inch of snow here at the cabin, but is a big change from the hot and dry at home.





Signs posted at the roadside rest area after entering New Mexico

Ben's week-end with Grandfathers

Ben wanted to visit his Grandfathers so he drove up from Little Rock for the week-end to visit with them. We drove down so we could all spend time together, first in Ft. Smith and then in Siloam Springs. It was too blasted hot to do much in the way of activities, but we did enjoy visiting with the families.


Three generations on Larry's side of the family

Three generations on Charlcie's side of the family

While visiting with our Dads

Ben had wanted to go fishing with Dad but the weather and river conditions were not favorable - however we all went over to Marval Resort below Tenkiller Lake to visit with Ronnie and Sally and Jeff, Heather, and Jaden. They have permanent trailers at the resort and a boat up on the lake. Had a nice visit and lunch at the marina.
While in Siloam Springs, Ben got to go to the casino with his Grandpa, Charlcie, Kevin, and Tami (I don't do casinos very well). Also, Charlcie, Tami, and Kevin wanted to have a picture taken in front of their old high school before it becomes a junior high when the new high school is completed.
A little bit of a sentimental journey this week-end.


Kevin, Charlcie, and Tami in front of the old high school

Ben wading with 2nd cousin Jaden

Taking Ronnie and Sally's golf cart for a spin - taking Dad for a ride along the river

Buffalo National River

Grabbed a picnic lunch and headed to scout out some of the Buffalo National River today - scouting for future floats. Starting at the Highway 14 bridge and then to Buffalo Point. This is the primo natural resource in the state in my opinion - on the week-ends it is loved to death by folks in canoes, kayaks, float tubes, etc. We are planning on enjoying it during the week when crowds are minimal even during the summer season. Charlcie also grabbed some flower shots over the past couple of days.

Killin' Time

Generation from the dams continues to be too high to facilitate wade fishing and is expected to be that way for some time. Weather is too hot and humid to get too excited about many outdoor activities (enough sweat generated doing the mandatory yard maintenance). Too many ticks, chiggers, poison ivy and snakes keeping us from working on the property. To keep from becoming too lethargic we have engaged in activities to get us out of the house and to learn more about the area: early-morning picking of blueberries (yummy - and healthy!), live music on the square, live music at the library coffee shop, bird-watching, and scenic drives are some of the things that fill our days. We're always sure to encounter wildlife such as young wild turkeys, herons, doe with tiny twin fawns. Lately, we have been invited to join the weekly Sunday pm "Ramp Party" at Rim Shoals - which offers some respite from the heat as the cool mist is carried by breezes off the river. This gathering of new and very interesting friends tops off our week as we assemble on one-half of the ramp,and in between issuing performance scores for trailer-backing skills for the departing fishermen, there is lively discussion, storytelling, wildlife/bird/fish spotting, and hearty laughter. Have I said that we are having fun?

I can fish again!

After weeks of flood control releases from the Dam, the Corps has initiated some hours of zero generation until the lower White gets back to normal levels. This opens up some wading opportunities to chase hungry trout that have been eating well with little pressure from people like me. The result was an amazing day of fishing with friends Bruce Ritter and Clay Henry who drove over from Fayetteville. On the river by 6am on a beautiful day (nothing so refreshing as standing waist-deep in 60 degree water on a 95 degree day). We were so successful that we stopped counting early and many of the fish, primarily browns, that were in the 14"-17" range. My highlight was catching a dozen of these beauties on a dry fly during a prolific sulphur mayfly hatch. As far as I'm concerned there is no better thrill in fishing than sight-casting to a trout with a dry fly - and feeling that line zing off the reel!


Sunrise on the river - the mist lasted for a couple of hours - very soothing

Not a good picture, but these brown trout are a great combo of brawn and beauty

Butterscotch fins and vivid spots

37 Years

37th Anniversary! How to celebrate? Go out to dinner and eat until we're in a semi-coma, get a dessert to go to finish before bedtime. Does it get any better than that? By the way, the chocolate coconut cake was mighty tasty! And we are still in love after all these years!

Celebration Week-end in Branson

We traveled to Branson for the week-end to spend time with Charlcie's sister Tami and her husband Kevin - and to celebrate Tami's birthday and our 37th anniversary that are coming up this week. It was a full week-end starting on Friday night with our participation in the Relay for Life - Tami and Charlcie were troopers; Tami was there from 3pm until 5am the following morning, and Charlcie lasted until 3am - and both of them walked several miles in the stifling heat. Kevin and I lasted 'til midnight after helping to set up several of the participant tents - he returned at 5am and I slept in. We don't know many people whose lives have not been touched by cancer. Our families have certainly been impacted, so we were thankful to be able to participate in a small way to honor those that have been affected and to help raise money towards the search for cures. The lighting of the memorial luminaries and the silent walk around the track to view them was an impressive and moving moment.


Luminary lighting




After some sleep on Saturday morning we went to see the Legends show at the Dick Clark Theatre. I'm not one that necessarily gets excited about Branson shows, however all the ones that Tami and Kevin have taken us to have been very good. This Legends show featured some very talented impersonators and was a real hoot - featuring The Blues Brothers, Martina McBride, The Temptations (these guys can perform anywhere!), Michael Jackson, and Elvis. Capped off the evening with an excellent meal at Red Lobster - we would highly recommend their current 4-course $15 special - one heckuva good meal for the money.
We capped off a really cool week-end with a 4-hour Table Rock Lake tour on T&K's pontoon boat on Sunday morning.


Sun gazing: Charlcie couldn't resist showing my expanding forehead!

Memorial Week-End: Visit by Ben and Myka

Enjoyed having Ben and Myka up for the holiday! First opportunity they have had since they were here for Christmas. The high water on the rivers curtailed fishing activity, but we did get to spend some time exploring Dry Run Creek and the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. And we were able to share some of our favorite dining establishments in the area: PJs on the White River for fine dining, KTs BBQ, desserts from the Shady Ladies/Heidi's Crazy Cakes at Shady Grove Country Store, and dinner with new friends/future neighbors at White River Valley Estates. We had a great visit and are looking forward to the next visit from our "kids".



In front of PJs; excellent food and atmosphere!


At Bull Shoals Dam overlook; 17 spillway gates open



Stealthy Ben trying to get an underwater fish pic


Nice cutthroat trout


Rainbow trout rising for a bug

Higher Water

We have heard reports that the releases from Bull Shoals dam are as heavy as they are going to be this go-around. We thought we had witnessed the peak levels yesterday, but returned today to see just what forces are released with 6 generators and 17 floodgates open. We joined a parade of folks that were walking across the bridge to capture images. Many houses, docks, businesses have been trashed - we see entire large trees floating by from time to time - pretty powerful stuff!