And Just Like That
its Labor day weekend, rolling out of summer just the way I rolled in, at the lake with friends, different friends, but the same fun none the less. It is an appropriate end to one of the best summers of my life. No doubt hectic, but who am I kidding, its been a hectic few years. I wouldn’t want it any other way. livin’
Spent a solid portion of my summer acting like a giant kid, wake surfing, reconnecting with old friends, making new friends, watching my daughter pitch softball, boating, traveling internationally with my daughters, swimming in turquoise water on white sand beaches, beach strolling, jet ski riding, snorkeling, diving for Queen Conch, eating fresh Conch salad, seeing Dead and Company at Deer Creek, riding my bike, mowing my grass, setting up my woodworking shop , and completing non-trivial piece of my house remodel. Just the way I like it.
Now on to fall, there are plenty of hot sunny days ahead, though their numbers finite. Cool evenings and afternoon breezes, fresh and crisp, it has a taste, it tingles your tongue as if biting into a perfect apple. New adventures looming as “The Van” and I roll into Wyoming to chase elk with archery gear. Mountains, high deserts, and broken canyon country will be home for a couple weeks. What is likely to be the final adventure with Joshua on the bridge of the spaceship known as the “The Van”.
I will be happy to be there and will wallow in the amazing of my adventure, but I do have high expectations of myself. If I can find elk, I should have solid chance, I moved way up the steep learning curve of archery elk with the hours I logged last season in the Missouri River Breaks. In other words, I failed a lot, I got close, but ultimately failed, learning a lot in the process I suppose, at least that’s the story I tell myself.
Two weeks of looking through glass for animals, sock foot stalks on bedded bulls, cussing swirling winds, hiking your guts out to beat that herd of elk over the next ridge, early mornings and late nights, sunburns, biting flies, blisters, tired legs, and all that suffering for maybe just for one opportunity at a mature bull elk in range of my razor sharp broadhead tipped arrow.
It is proving to be one most challenging things I have ever attempted. Hard is good, that is what makes it interesting, at least that’s the story I tell myself. Either way what a fortuitous end to summer and beginning of fall. Been jamming out with the Foo Fighters as of late, sort of summarizes my feelings as I ready my hunting and camera gear, time to change gears and wander for awhile.
but first more wake surfing for the epic finale of summer
Foo Fighters, Walk
