The First Last Monday Report

Extravagant Gang:

Here it is, Opening Monday for week one of Extravaganza 2007 and, thus, your first last Monday Report.

And what a Monday it is here in God's Country: Azure blue skies speckled with cottonesque roving clouds are kissed by a light, a sweet breeze blowing downstream; indeed, as Ann Murray correctly suggests, "What A Wonderful World." All signs are that we are going to have every opportunity to paint our own Extravaganza canvas in our own style, without untoward outside influences: The rivers are flowing nicely and beginning to clear right on time; the weather is on a warming trend this week, which will only escalate the now legendary 2007 yellow stone fly hatch--that has been the "go-to" bug on Rock Creek; the salmon flies have elected to stay on the ground so far this year (instead of engaging in their more traditional whirling dervish antics), and, day by day, the fishing reports are improving, with the Blackfoot being (still surprisingly) the "go to" river, yet followed in order of fishability by the upper Bitterroot and then the Clark Fork. You can also check out the latest Rock Creek discharge report here [this report will be updated every three days, so check back!].

As for Extravaganza Headquarters, just as last year, this cusp Monday marks this place looking more like an ant farm of contractors than the site of serenity that it was designed to be. Bruce the Contractor is scampering from here to there doing last minute touch-up details on his handiwork (that threat of having the heavy hands of Group One finish any of his undone items seems to have done the trick); Eric the Landscaper is here, with an entire crew now, to finalize the sodding, bedding, rocking and planting that he excels in in the completion of his wonderful craft; and, wonder of wonders, the gutter folk even showed up today to install their custom blue product that will be highlighted by "down-chains instead" of unsightly gutter spouts. All in all, it should be quite a transformation here at Extravaganza Central before the day is over.

Tomorrow I have my now traditional "Opening Lunch" with GH managing partner Dan Shepherd and his Extravaganza Coordinator and, as tradition also has it, I will be having him put together "The Package" in anticipation of your arrivals. For you rookies out there, "The Package" results from my going shopping for each of you, putting together a trio of products that I think will be of most use for each group based on the most recent weather forecast, and then negotiating a heavy package discount on your behalf. As to be separately highlighted, Group One's package most likely will include (a) a high tech layering top; (b) zip-off fishing pants; and (c) a GH T-shirt of your choosing. We'll see, however. . .keep an eye on Der Blog for final Group One package details.

Speaking of Der Blog, as of a few minutes ago, we were at visitation #490 (a huge number, by the way, as we enter our third blog week); camp out folks, as visitor #500 needs only to print off that page with the number showing to earn a bottle of Rock Creek Red--a wonderful cabernet sauvignon soon to be enjoyed by you all, along with our private-labeled Rock Creek White and Rock Creek Noir.

Well, my "honey do" list beckons me; as you make your final preparations to join us, know that all on this end is in good order and that we anxiously await your Delta debarkation!

Best to all from the scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron