This Extravaganza 2007 mid-way report comes to you, appropriately, from Extravaganza Headquarters early this beautiful Montana Sunday morning on a day that not only marks the half way point of 2007, but also the half way mark of this year's Extravaganza.
And what a year and Extravaganza it has been so far! Cruising easily towards attaining an admittedly high RCR target of 2,000 fish caught (and released), both the weather and the fishing have been legendary for this year's trek into the known and unknown of yet unspoiled Montana. Fishing being what it is, our per-person fish totals have ranged from a rookie low of 6 fish in one day to the all-time Extravaganza record-setting 60 fish intake by now universally respected veteran Tim "Squawfish" Rodgers (and he also had another 30 fish on the line that same day that didn't make it to the net--90 fish in all in just one day!). As to the weather, one factor speaks to it all: With temperatures daily reaching into the 80's and evening lows delightfully dipping into the 50's, we have had only one Extravaganza 2007 rain day, and that day was the transition day between Group One and Group Two---it simply doesn't get any better than that, gang, and the forecast is for more of the same.
Extravaganza 2007 has been marked by a record number of participants (65 fisherfolk in all) and by a record number of (very pleasant) surprises (no, I will not reveal them all until after the departure of Group Four), not the least of which have been the addition of Der Blog at www.montanta2007.blogspot.com , a daily chronicle of our enfeebled attempts to fully capture the truly multi-faceted elements that comprise each year's Extravaganza (where fish, food, fun, frolic, hilarity, tears, smiles, flora and fauna each run a-wild), and the coronation of our truly extraordinary on-the-scene Blogmaster, CLG's own Dave Stallard. Dave has artistically and wonderfully encapsulated portions of each day's Extravagant activities, but, frankly, it would take a book of encyclopedic dimensions to fully do so, as Der Blog quickly approaches its 1500th site visitor.
As Group Two's Rob Cooper said so well, as he stretched onto his Harley Davidson hog leaving here Friday night to join his wife that night atop nearby Lolo Pass, "I don't know just how I am going to explain to her what happened here to me--you really have to be here in person to believe and understand it all." Well put, Rob--come play with us again next year! And well done Der Blogmaster, for, as and if you were to take the time to string together and read, in one sitting, his superb daily reports that are now forever posted on Der Blog, you each would see that, bit by bit, he has masterfully strung together the multiple pearls that comprise each year's Extravaganza. If you were to look at one report, you see but a bead; if you were look at them strung together, however, you will see a truly powerful chain.
Group One and Group Twoers: Thank you for being with us this year. As forever inspirited by Group Two's official mascot, Napa pre-school legend Lori Ware, we each are better off as a result of our individual and collective Extravaganza experiences, as the true goal of each year's Extravaganza is to travel the erstwhile path of mythical Jonathan Livingston Seagull and to witness a journey into the self as, at the same time, we experience a journey into the glories of Montana, God's own backyard. For those that were here with us in Group Two, few will forget Lori's tear-filled description of her experience of walking up Rock Creek, sitting quietly by its bank for an extended period of personal battery-recharging time, only to then peacefully look up, over and into the doleful eyes of a newly born fawn that, perhaps not coincidentally, had been sharing those same moments of new world reflection with her at the same time and in the same place--an epiphany of the first order that I am sure now will be shared in the future with hundreds of the future generations of her pre-school fold. That said, in true Extravaganza multi-dimensional playful and contrasting form, her latex balloon fish banner yet proudly flies next to the birdfeeder on Extravaganza Headquarters' main porch, reminding us all that epiphany and hilarity are wonderful neighbors, being but a few letters apart.
Group Three and Group Fourers: Bring it on, Baby! In anticipation of your arrival(s), we have brought in the reinforcements (and, boy do we need them!) in the form of veteran legendary bbqer, son Tyler (to handle, among other things, the whole pig that we will roast on a spit for our annual Fourth of July bash and Rock Creek Casting Contest), and, all the way from Florida, Kathy's twin sister Julie together with c0-family member Barbie Kingsland (whose two boys will, again, be fishing with us in Group Three), and, just yesterday, I purchased something I have been eyeing for a long time--a digital picture frame for you each to enjoy (that now hosts over a hundred of the hundreds of digital photos that have captured the special Group One and Group Two moments of Extravaganza 2007 and that, each night, will now host the pictures that you have taken that day). What fun!
So, there it is: Your Official Extravaganza 2007 Mid-Way Report. May the spirit of the Extravaganza live with each and every one of you for not only the balance of this year but forever.
Best to all from the mid-way scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
No comments:
Post a Comment