The Rock Creek Mercantile's Doug Persico shows the (impressive) "tale of the tape" for Da Twos, RCR concurrently noting that "retail therapy is a good thing" and Doug commenting, "God, I love Group Two!"
---R<'/C//><R
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
FW: Five Valleys Land Trust Presents!
A nice note from our pals at Five Valleys Land Trust:
Ron,
No — thank YOU. I wanted to thank you and Kathy for inviting us to join your group last Sunday. Wow, you really do it up right! What a wonderful place you have along Rock Creek. It seemed like all of your guests were having a great time (especially the ones that were new to fly fishing — what a great way to get started).
Our board is plugged into the MM concert [here in Missoula on July 31st] and I’ll check in with our Outreach Coordinator today to see about getting started on promoting it via our email list, FaceBook page, etc. I’m sure we will get a great turn out.
Hope you are ready for group 3. The fishing should only be getting better.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Best regards,
Glenn
p.s. Montana Matters, folks!
No — thank YOU. I wanted to thank you and Kathy for inviting us to join your group last Sunday. Wow, you really do it up right! What a wonderful place you have along Rock Creek. It seemed like all of your guests were having a great time (especially the ones that were new to fly fishing — what a great way to get started).
Our board is plugged into the MM concert [here in Missoula on July 31st] and I’ll check in with our Outreach Coordinator today to see about getting started on promoting it via our email list, FaceBook page, etc. I’m sure we will get a great turn out.
Hope you are ready for group 3. The fishing should only be getting better.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Best regards,
Glenn
p.s. Montana Matters, folks!
RCR
FW: Announcing the Line Up For Group Three!
Hi Ron: I'm packed and ready to go, but for now, sitting at my banker's
desk working away and dreaming of Montana.
See you tomorrow. I hope the fish are tired.
desk working away and dreaming of Montana.
See you tomorrow. I hope the fish are tired.
Sonya Wyland,
VP / Sr. Residential Loan Officer
Banker / Mortgage Broker
Announcing the Line Up For Group Three!
The long-awaited-for arrival of veteran-clad Group Three is just hours away now, gang, and, as noted earlier in the wrap-up of Group Two, Extravaganzaland has just received a thorough heaven-sent washing, cleaning the streets of the rubble left by Der Ones and washing away the errant renaming by Da Twos of Montana's pride and joy: Its rivers and their bounty.
Unlike the prior two groups which were "filled to the rim" with over 22 participants each, Da Threes are 18 fisherfolk strong (to be additionally accompanied, however, by our Extravaganza Coordinator Extraordinaire Patty Gallia and her two wonderful daughters--their first -ever trip to Extravaganzaland after she having planned so many of yours over the past two years)...this will make room for the multiplicity of dignitaries that will be joining The Threes, including American Prairie Foundation Director Jeff Hagener (together with his wife and armed forces veteran son), Montana Wildlife Federation president Tim Aldrich (and his beautiful bride Carol), Montana Wildlife Federation Issues Coordinator "Big Ben" Lamb (and his now one-year-to-the-date bride) and about 60 other folks who will attend our annual Fourth of July bash/guide appreciation feast/Rock Creek Casting Contest. What fun!
Multiple year Group Three returnees include (i) Mark "MoJo" Grassi who, at the last minute, instead of being joined by his (much) better half Jami, will be fishing with rookie his Sun Valley pal Matt Colesworthy; (ii) Ladd "Killer" Bedford together with his fishing spouse Kristine "Yellow Hat" Bedford--the former from Napa and the latter from a bit further south in the Bay Area; (iii) Sun Valley's Grady "GQ" Garrett and his (after 23 years of dating) new bride "Grinning Penny" Shawback; and (iv) Bruce "The Rookie" Mowat together with returning veteran son "Seattle John"---welcome back, senior veterans!!
Additional returning veterans include Napa's Mr. and Mrs. Terry "Monty" Wilson (with brideful "Lovely Lyn" threatening to take one day off from fishing for horseback riding) and San Francisco's "Bulldog Don" Drummond, the latter returning after so many years of a respite he just emailed to ask, "What is this Twenty Inch Club thing?" who will be joined by a handful of incoming rookies star lighted by (a) our Alaskaganza pal "Utah Steve" Herron and his fishing mate Natalie Yellis-Draus; (b) Brand Engine's "Eric the Dred Read (who hopes to exceeds the fishing performance of his Group Two business partner "Still Will" Burke; (c) accountant-type David "Dry Fly" Hatch; (d) Helena's Al & Erica Swanson [if they make it, that is--it seems that their son smashed father Al's hand in a car door the other day putting him on the "possibly disabled" list]; and (e) lastly, but not leastly, Mechanics Bank ref-guru Sony Wyland and hubby Bill.
So there you have it, gang, the Group Three Line Up...bring it on, Ya Threes as we are fully awaiting your arrival(s) tomorrow!
Best to all from the scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
----<'///><
Group Tattoo Wrap Up
Well, all, the skies of Montana told it all upon the departure of the Wonderful Twos yesterday...within hours thereafter, the theretofore bluebird upper reaches clouded up and, later that day, thunder and lightening were accompanied by (a) a several-hour-long power outage here at Extravaganza Headquarters and (b) a night-long dumping of river-altering rains. Indeed, Twos, once again, you have left your special, indelible mark on these environs...in fact, not even the evening's rains dampened the sounds of your peals of laughter which, even yet, echo from the surrounding Extravagant trees!
After two [count 'em!} days of "tune up", Da Twos (finally!) got down to fisning business on their third day of fishing and began to light up the surrounding scoreboards. Witness the delivery of three entries into our Twenty Inch Club: (a) the Rogers' au pair, Gisela's 20" bull trout ([appropriately for Da Twos] shown above twice: Once with her doffed honorary Yellow Hat so awarded to her later that day and earlier streamside with her bounty); (b) Brian "Deer Me" McLeran's 20 1/4" bull trout (aslo benefiting him an honory Yellow Hat for his Napa auction purchase of an E-10 "free ride"; and (c) Kelley "Windy" Kinglsand's [larger] 21" rainbow--you can also see her above appropritely adorned with her "Sherlock Holmes' style" wearing of her two [count 'em!] won Yellow Hats together with her Yellow Shirt awarded for her Day Two even larger take.
When all of the whining was put aside (see Tom "Sockeye" Thornhill receipt of Day Three's Cry Dye Award from Ms. Lori for his bemoaned-of tale of visiting a yarn shop at the behest of bride Melissa enroute to the rivers..."..four boats passed us while we were there"), there was nothing but smiles and braggadocia spread around Da Two's evening report from the boats--a report that lasted well over an hour and a half (much to the chagrin of our Hostess With The Mostess, Kocktail Kathy, I might add). Witness even "Still Will" Burke and his Gang of Four telling of fish aboard--even rookie "Fishless Canadian Tom" Pogue landed his first fish of the trip--a "whopping 10" borwn--while "Colorado Duane" Primozich (try saying that name three times quickly, or even once correctly!) and sidekick T.J. "Nameless"McIntyre told of "catching Montana trout on a dry fly, checking off a box for me" while (i) Floridians "Joe Da Dish King" Samillano and bride "Tracie Sue" told of dancing with bull trout on the magnificent "Blackroot" river [some things just don't change, gang![ along side co-Floridians "Ballast Bobby" and Kelley "Windy" Kinglsand who told of the latter's 19" brown and "somewhere between 20 3/4" and 20 7/8" brownfish" while hubby Ballast did the balancing and photo work of the day; (ii) the SS Pollywog vessel of Paul "Woodchuck" Green and Dean "Follow Me" Donohue told of "dancing with a bullfrog fish...a 'swimmy thing' that chased 'a whitey fish' right onto the bank" and (iii) the SS McLeran spanked one 20 bull trout a ala brother "Deer Me" while other brother Ralph appropriately adorned himself with his new Extravaganza name, "Mr. Botangles".
Yes, folks, the renaming of Montana's bevy of prideful rivers and fish was so bizarre that, mid-report, Da Twos decided to engender their own language (something that seemed to happen Darwinian all on its own, however) to be known as "Tattooese" and to be chronicled in a sacred tome of biblical proportions by "Follow Me" as its designated scribe forever to be known as (appropriately given by "Deer Me" McLeran in recognition of Bob Wire's lyrical handling of "The Woodchuck Sanction") "The Shit List"!! Tut, tut, Two-Twos!
Meanwhile, cruising down the "Bitterblackroot River" [see The Shit List for further definition] was the rest of Dem Twos with Ken and Candy Deemer telling of swimming therein after landing a 16" brown (this being Candy's first fly fishing adventure ever!); the post-yarn-store Thornhills telling a fishing yarn Mellisa's catchphrasing "the 'Extra' in Extravaganza" (boy, I sure missed that wonderful phrase for nearly eight years now!) along with a dozen fish; father-son combo of Doug "Popeye" Hamilton and "Fire Pit Ryan" boasting a similar (but yarnless) day on the West Fork of the "Bitterblackroot" and yarning of outfitter's mascot Buddy fishing rod-in-mouth while sitting in the front of the boat;; and the Rogers-Johnson duo speaking of 20 such "swimmy things" in their Bitterblackfoot boat on dry flies.
The story of Day Three for Da Twos was clearly that of "Shanna Bannana" Rogers with her charge Gisela--a story of a young woman on her fist fishing trip ever dancing with a 20" bull trout that literally chased the 4" squafish that Gisela had earlier landed and let dangle on her line--a story that told of chase and consumption with the bull ending up on the longer but shorter line of the story "right after the put in".
Bravo, bravo, bravo...as I always say, "the fish catch you, not visa versa!""
So, whereas the Ones left Extrvaganzaland trashed (see earlier post-One garbage posting), Da Twos leave us in stitches with newly named Montana rivers to alter every future-drawn map of the great state of Montana and a whole school of newly defined "swimmy things" that will forever alter pectoral definitional coding. As we did with the Ones, we salute Da Twos on their (ad)venture here in God's own backyard and now anxiously await the arrival of the veteran-clad Threes--a blessed event to occur with the advent of tomorrow's morn.
Best to all from "swimmy thing" scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
---<'///><
Five Valleys Land Trust Presents!
As part of our (new) E-10 Presentation Series, as shown above, Grant Kier, Executive Director of the Missoula-based Five Valleys Land Trust (so named for the five [count 'em!] valleys that surround the Garden City), provides Da Twos with background history on his nearly 40 year old, five star non-profit organization that created some of the first land trusts in the country--now commonly known and referred to as "conservation easements". Grant, along with Development Director Glenn Marangelo, told the story of the (often much maligned) Rocky Mountain white fish which, over the ages, has migrated from its original Great Lakes origins over the Continental Divide to its current Montana-based situs.
Thanks, Grant and Glenn, for being with us--the Tattoos, at least, have a greater appreciation for that species that our guides commonly link with other "junk fish"--no Two more, however!!
RCR
Monday, June 28, 2010
An Extravagant Woodchuck Tale!
Posted earlier on Der Blog is the story of how whiner-award-winner Paul "Woodchuck" Green acquired his name after Da Two's Day One fishing by "coercing" RCR to buy him a prized, original Cynthie Fisher wood duck painting--shown above in the interests of fairness to His Chuckiness.
Well, after a night of reflection and morning-side sobriety, it seems that Woodchuck took exception to his Extravaganza-given name, deeming "Woodduck" far more appropriate and befitting. In the interests of fairness ("fairness in fishing" being a mantra of the Extravaganza), the matter was designated (at Woodchuck's plaintiff request) to be put to Da Twos for consideration, deliberation, and resolution on, appropriately, Day Tattoo.
So there they were...all of Da Twos in anxious anticipation of their Day Two boat reports when this small matter of business had to be attended to. To make matters worse, also present to witness this effrontery with embarrassed looks were the evening's guests--the ED and DD of the Five Valleys Land Trust, Montana Trapper (back for a second go around by popular request) and, yes, the wonderful Montana Matters performer, the one and only Bob Wire.
RCR allowed the protestant the right to proceed with his Change Of Name Petition first but (foolishly) the Woodchuck ducked and demurred, whereupon RCR called and swore in his first and only witness, guest Bob Wire, who (without prodding or prompting of any kind whatsoever [well, almost none, that is]), as shown above, proceeded to belt out the signature hit off his cd "Buffaload" with the words to "You're On My Shit List". Mid-song, and as advance warning of the temperament of the crowd, Da Twos, seeing the wisdom of it all and the futility of the Chuck's ducked request, joined in verse with the Wireman in admonishing encatation, "Woodchuck you're on our shitlist"...immediately whereafter Woodchuck (shown above) through up his arms helplessly in the air and conceded the (humbling) event--unilaterally withdrawing his challenge with nary a further chuck, duck or would-be Woodduck.
Ah, the Tattooing infamy of it all....
As so faithfully reported,
Yours truly,
--R<'/C//><R
Group Two, Day Two: "Whining Pays Off!"
A tough "bluebird" Group Two, Day Two is now in the record books but not without Da Two's first entry onto the Twenty Inch Club...but, as is nearly always the case with the wonderful Tattoos, last things first:
Over the past extravagant years, I have had nothing but trouble getting boats off the water in a timely manner (to wit: 6:00 p.m.)...no longer the case, however, as ably demonstrated by Dem Twos last evening: With the Twp's Hooter's bar tab escalating by (literally) hundreds of dollars on a daily basis (it seems that the "first boats in" have, indeed, caught on that the menu and bar is their dream--one without financial consequences!) and E-10's policy now (effectively) being that the first boat in "opens the tab" and the last boat in "pays the tab", Da Tattoos not only racked up an Extraganza record $460 (pre- tip!) open food and bar ticket but the last night the "last boat in" arrived (get this!) at 5:45 p.m. [that's 15 minutes early, all!!) with (a) not-quite-fully-understanding boat captain Lori "The Fawn" Ware proclaiming, "Whoopee, I always wanted to the the winner...clearly the rest of you don't get out much!" and (b) her sardonic guide. Evan "Beaver Man" Philippe responding to a RCR inquiry of any guilt on his part with, "No worry--it's not my tab!" To the rescue came the wonderful Mr. Rogers who not only picked up the tab (and tip) for Ms. Lori but also commented on the probable lack of a guide tip the next day for the sardonic one!
The reports from the boats on Day Two told more of both the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers yet being in transition mode and, for the one boat that ventured out onto the yet-chocolate-brown Clark Fork, that this is a river yet to avoid. These reports, however, were preceded with a protest by Paul "Woodchuck" Green over the propriety of his RCR-designated name--a matter of such import that it is worthy of and receives its own separate blogsite posting--needless to say, however, the protest found its proper situs, namely as one appropriately withdrawn after all of the evidence was submitted...Da Twos now know just"how much wood can a Woodchuck chuck if a Woodchuck..."!!
Back to the fin-driven relevancy of it all, simply stated, the second day for Da Twos was one of unbridled hilarity. On the one hand photos separately posted on Der Blog show well the riverside antics of "Da Winner" Fawn Lori--complete with her just-caught rainbow literally tie-dyed in her arms, and on the other(s) with (i) "Canadian Tom" Pogue proclaiming, "Fly fishing is frgging hard" [thereafter winning him Ms. Lori's daily Cry-Dye award to "he who protesteth too much]; (ii) Dean "Follow Me" Donohue proclaiming that his "bass set" proved ineffective for those "trout swimming things" [btw, sorry for misspelling your handle yesterday, Follow Me!]; (iii) the McLeran Bros. proudly describing (in unnecessary detail) their {multiple] "tangles of the day"--it seems that brother Ralph would catch a fish right after each tangle...gee, Uncle Ralph, just think how many "swimmy things" thee might catch without them, Mr. Botangles!; (iv) "Still Will" Burke proclaiming that he now has caught "infinity plus one" fish (i.e., his first E-10 fish, a beaut of a 16" rainbow); (v) the duo of T.J. and "Colorado Duane" proudly claiming title to their "infinity plus two" day; and (vi) Doug "Popeye" Hamilton proclaiming that he was sure that outfitter John "The Great But Propaneless" sure had "big cohones to take us out on the Clark Fork today and, equally as sure, does not have big enough ones to do that again tomorrow!!"
Meanwhile back at the fishing ranch, several of the boats of Da Twos even caught fish yesterday, including the S.S. Thornhill up on the Blackfoot and the S.S. Samillano down on the Bitterroot--each boasting prideful second days, each for the second day in a row, I might add. But the big boat of the day was that of Bobby and Kelley Kingsland (or should I say, "of Kelley Kingsland"!), for, after a first night's kicking herself in the butt for missing "a bunch of them fish" "Windy Kelley" (so now named for her first night's cursing of Montana's Mariah) "kicked butt" on the river landing, as shown above, not only a gorgeous 19" brown on the Blackfoot "right behind your new house, Ron" but, also, a 21" rainbow beauty, also shown above, now, with only one more day of Tattoo fishing, putting "Windy" [shown above proudly signing into the Twenty Inch Club doffed in yellow--it kinda looks good on her, doesn't it?!?] in the driver's seat for taking home to Florida with her a nice Yellow Shirt to go with her fancy new name..."and they called the wind.....Kelley!!"
Of great interest yet to come this third day of Group Two's fishing is (a) who will "win" the Hooter's bar tab; (b) how big that ever-expanding Tattoo tab will be and (c) with the rivers now settling in but with temps now soaring into the 90's, just how productive Day Three will be for Da Twos.
Best to all in constant awe of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
----<'///><
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Cynthie Fisher Presents to E-10!
The Bitterroot Valley's world renowned naturalist painter Cynthie Fisher paid a visit to E-10 over the weekend, bestowing on Group Two a plethora of absolutely stunning original artwork. Affiliated with the Montana Matters campaign, Cynthie wowed the group with stories of her African hunting safaris and showed pictures and prints of literally hundreds of original artwork that she has produced (many of which are shown in the above display that she set up at E-10 headquarters).
Ten percent of all sales will go the MM campaign, including those from her cute original wood duck painting also shown above. It seems that Paul "Woodchuck" Green was sitting in the E-10 living room yet complaining about his having to pick up the $365 Hooter's bill just hours earlier, when he reached out to yours truly and said, "Hey, I kinda like that wood duck painting, Ron; why don't you buy it for me?" Being of a basically charitable nature, my reply was , "Sure I will, but if you had only got to Hooters a bit earlier tonite, you could have bought it for yourself and had some change!"
So, the wood duck painting is now the proud autographed possession of "Woodchuck"--he being so named in the process, having the visage of a chuck, not a duck...but next time you see him coming your way, I would do just that....duck!!
R<'/C//><R
p.s. Thanks for being with us, Cynthie--you are the best!!-----RCR
Yellow Rules!!
Yes, here in Extravaganzaland, Yellow rules!!
Shown above are co-Day One, Group Two Yellow Hatters (appropriately, #1 in the dinner chow line!) Lori" The Fawn" Ware (an awardee for her Day One "grand slam"--see the fishing report of an explanation) and Fred "The Guitar" Johnson for his 19 1/4" biggest fish of the day, a Blackfoot bull trout (likewise shown above along with Fred's colorful day One Hawaiian Shirt attire---hmmm, maybe there is a fishing lesson there to be learned!!
Best to all from the glorious scene of it all,
--------R<'/C//><R
p.s. Each are prior year(s) Yellow Hat awardees...a(nother) lesson, perhaps?!?
Group Two, Day One
Sunday Greetings, all on this "Hump Day" for E-10 (the day on which half of this year's Extravaganza is in the record books and half has yet to be recorded):
Group Two arrived in belated style (it seems that, unlike Group One whose every arriving flight was on time, every Group Two incoming flight [from Orlando, Louisville, Denver, San Francisco and Salt Lake City!] was delayed), in true Tattoo style, with the inimical Lori Ware going up and down the aisle of the SLC-MSO leg of her trip tattooing with her self-created Rockin' C tattoos, laying them on everyone that looked like an Extravaganzer [with one errantly marked returning military veteran asking his seatmate, Doug "Popeye" Hamilton, "just what type of a cult have I involuntarily been initiated into?"].
And, with so many returning veterans in Group Two it truly was like a homecoming with, as shown above, Brian "Deer Me" McLeran being reunited with one of the Hooters beauties that visited him in his post-E-09 hospital room after he attempted "catch and release hunting" with a deer doing 60 mph--fortunately, he survived to tell it all but, alas, the deer did not, and, soon thereafter, the guide gag gifts of Lori "The Fawn" Ware and "Shanna Banana Rogers ["The Two Beavers] presenting their monogrammed gag gift of two beavers to their guide Evan "Beaver Man" Philippe, and, then, yes, the fishing activities of Group Two.
Fishing this year has been one week delayed both performance and weather-wise for our first two groups. Group One saw the remnants of a wet (as in "very wet") spring deliver high but very fishable waters (as earlier reported, The Ones landed an Extravaganza record number of (very) large browns while Group Two on Day One saw the "transition day" that normally greets Group One--the day in which the rivers do a major shift from wetter spring fishing to drier and hotter summer fishing. As a result (as with every fishing transition day), the overall fishing was "tougher" with technical proficiency meeting rewards and rookie-itus being met with greater opportunities on this, Day Two, after a (partially) night-long reliving of their casting, mending and setting lessons.
Witness the rookie boat of "Still Will" Burke and Tom "Canadian Dollar" Pogue (it seems that he came to us from his now native Canada with only Canadian dollars in his pocket--try that out for a successful guide tip!) who launched with RCR and Bruce the Builder (accompanied by trusty E-10 co-mascot Ma'am [shown above in the last picture retrieving a large brown from the Bitterroot] where the former had a day of invaluable casting lessons and the latter had a 15+ fish day sprinkled with two doubles (one shown above with Bruce the Builder's 19" brown on the right with RCR's smaller 18" rainbow on the left) and multiple rainbows, a la the single shown above. It seems that the largest catch of the rookie boat was that of "Still Will" himself, who somehow was left behind ashore after a (well-earned) potty break...hence his now extravagant new handle!
Other Bitterrooters included the boats of (a) rookies Duane "Colorado" Primozich and T.J. McIntyre (the latter being far too much of a ghostly unknown to have even earned his Extravaganza name) whose boat sported a gaggle of fish highlighted by a 17 !/2" bow; (b) that of Ken & Candy Deemer (Ibid) whose best catch, apparently, was Candy's $40 winnings at the Bunk House's Texas Hold "Em poker game the night before (the McLeran Brothers having been suckered in by Candy's doleful asking, ""Just how do you play this game...I've never played before?!?) matched by Hubby Ken's 18 incher on the water the next day [and, speaking of the McLeran Bros, they spanked over 15 Root fish "without a measuring tape" but with the largest of the bunch being Ralph's beauty "somewhere in the 14 inch range" {read "12 inches"}]; (c) of rookieites Joe "Da Dish King" Samillano and his bride Tracie "Sue" [because I have errantly so named her all Two-- that being the unknown-to-me name of her mother and, hence, now hers while here in Montana] who ventured way up to the upper reaches of the West Fork of the Root to pridefully report of a 15 fish day with a 15" incher being the largest {notice the symmetry of it all?!?}; (d) veteran Tom "Sockeye" Thornhill and his rookie bride Melissa who spoke be lovingly of a productive day highlighted by a brideful 17" brown--her first landed fish ever!; and (e) deservingly so, lastly, the besmirched vessel of rookies Paul "Woodchuck" Green (yes, there is a story there!) and Dean "Follow Me" Donogue (Ibid) who boasted first fish each and (winningly) the honor of being the last boat in to pick up the $365 Hooter's bar tab, thereafter bestowing on each the Honorary Miz Lori Group Two Whine Dye kerchief awards for their bemoaning the (alleged) facts that (i) they were really in Hooters before 6:00 p.m., (ii) they "were late" because they had to stop by Kesel's to "pick up something" [they rode in with me, folks!] and (iii) it was really before 6:00 p.m. when they had arrived in Hooters...nice try, whiners!
With the plurality of our Group Two boats going to the Bitterroot (in the wake of the beaming success of the Ignoble Ones), the balance sauntered up to the Blackfoot in the wake of hearing of Group One's John "Half Centurion" Kruger's now E-10 legendary battle with "a 30+ inch bull trout" with (very) mixed results. As so often happens, two boats will put in on one section of the river...one will light up the scoreboard, the other will just watch the lights. Such was the case with the boats of Fred "The Guitar" Johnson (who fished solo on Day One) and that of father-son combo Doug "Popeye" Hamilton and his son "Fire Pit Ryan"--The Guitar lit up the lights with approaching 20 fish (the largest being his Yellow Hat awarding 19 1/4" bull trout) and the watchers succeeding mainly to (literally) lasso each other and their bewildered guide, Popeye philosophically reporting to the assembled Twos at the nightly Boat Report that, reflecting back on the day, "the scenery was excellent." Orlandans Bobby and Kelley Kingsland likewise ventured onto the legendary Big Blackfoot to join Popeye in their day's end comments only to be contrasted (in, literally, every sense of the word(s)) by the "Beaver Boat" of Lori "The Fawn" Ware and "Shanna Banana" Rogers who guided their guide down the Blackfoot with one of their above-shown mascots bungee-tied to the back of their raft only to see Ms. Lori, among their 14 fish catch, earn a Yellow Hat for her "grand slam" of landing a bull trout, a rainbow, a brown and a cutthroat all in a single day.
So, there you have it, gang, Group Two, Day One...all together a wonderful but tougher fishing day...as the weather goes into transition mode here, those to follow will benefit, so sharpen up those fishing tactics Group Three-ers, as the table is now being set for your early July feast. It will be interesting to see how Da Tattoos do on the water today--something that I will report on to all in the morn.
Best to all from the warming scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
----<'///><
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Announcing The Line Up For Group Two!
Fellow Extravaganzers:
As we quickly head into the second trimester of E-10, I am pleased to announce the 22 member [count 'em!] cadre of this year's Group Two--"Da Twos", "Da Tattoos" and "The Group Formerly Know as B"!! Unlike The Ignoble Ones, however,who were 67% strong as (seasoned drinking) veterans, Da Twos this year have a predominance of rookies with folks coming in as far as from Philadelphia, Orlando and Denver--12 rookies in all.
The seasoned veterans who will have the solemn responsibility to oversee the newbie's include long time Extravaganzers Tim "Squawfish" Rogers (so named by insisting on counting a squawfish/junkfish in a bet years ago with RCR--and, hence, his perpetual name) accompanied (as always) by his stupendous wife "Shanna Banana" and her inimical sidekick Lori "The Fawn" Ware. It was this band of three that, two years ago, sought out, purchased and then delivered to Extravaganzaland the Circle C tattoos that adorned every parts of their E-08 bodies and that are so prominently seen in our Extravaganza video produced that year.
Group Two veterans also include our "most veteran" Extravaganza Doug "Popeye" Hamilton who, this year, returns for his seventh [count 'em!] Extravaganza this time with his athletic high school son Ryan--he of the lacrosse fame that recently claimed the club level statewide (California, that is) championship boasting an undefeated season. Other seasoned veterans include Tom "Sockeye" Thornhill (who, blessedly, after many, many years of co-coaching and urging along with RCR is graced at his side by his humanitarian bride, Melissa) and by Fred "The Guitar" Johnson (who, as in so many years before, will be accompanied by his trusty guitar to be tuned and played around the Extravaganzaland evening fire pit).
Returning for their second visit to Extravaganzaland are the Brothers McLeran--this time sans motorcycles with (a) bro "Deer Brian" traveling via Delta Air Lines this year at the request of all (including the deer population which was depleted in singular part on his return trip home from E-09...a trip that suddenly converted from a motorcycle ride to a helicopter medivac to Missoula's Community Hospital where, for two weeks, he successfully recovered from his rearrangements and was visited my many...including a Popeye-inspired [brilliantly so, I might add] visit one afternoon from four of the Hooter's girls who, as recently as E-10's Group One, are still inquiring as to their patient's well being!) and (b) bro "Fly With Me Ralph" this year flying to Extravaganzaland in his own airplane...alone!! Also returning this year for their second visit from Orlando, Florida are "Benevolent Bobby" and "Killer Kelley" Kingsland who will be joined by fellow Orlandans "Mother Barbie" (of Bobby, that is) and Kathy's twin sister Julie--the latter always being truly invaluable and welcome additions to each year's Extravaganza activities.
And then we come to the rookies--a whole flock of them! "Benevolent Bobby" is bringing his contracting partner Joe "The Hammer" Samillano together with his daughter Tracie; Brand Engine's Will Burke will be joined by three of his out-of-state pals, Tom Pogue, Duane Primozich and T.J. Mc Intyre [it will be interesting to see just what Extravaganza names these folks endear to themselves!]; Southern Californian angel investor Ken "The Redeemer" Deemer will be joined by his wife Candy; and, rounding out Da Twos and flying in from the East Coast are Mike Stakias surrogates Paul "I'd Rather Be" Green and Dean "Da Driver" Donohue.
So, there you have it gang--the whole flock of Da Twos, each of whom is in final preparation to wing their way our way in the early morrow's morn--my fervent wish to each is that they are blessed as wonderfully as the (deserving?!?) Ones have just been with the abundance of Montana's fishing bounty...we shall soon see!
Best to all from the still rainy scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
---<'///><
As we quickly head into the second trimester of E-10, I am pleased to announce the 22 member [count 'em!] cadre of this year's Group Two--"Da Twos", "Da Tattoos" and "The Group Formerly Know as B"!! Unlike The Ignoble Ones, however,who were 67% strong as (seasoned drinking) veterans, Da Twos this year have a predominance of rookies with folks coming in as far as from Philadelphia, Orlando and Denver--12 rookies in all.
The seasoned veterans who will have the solemn responsibility to oversee the newbie's include long time Extravaganzers Tim "Squawfish" Rogers (so named by insisting on counting a squawfish/junkfish in a bet years ago with RCR--and, hence, his perpetual name) accompanied (as always) by his stupendous wife "Shanna Banana" and her inimical sidekick Lori "The Fawn" Ware. It was this band of three that, two years ago, sought out, purchased and then delivered to Extravaganzaland the Circle C tattoos that adorned every parts of their E-08 bodies and that are so prominently seen in our Extravaganza video produced that year.
Group Two veterans also include our "most veteran" Extravaganza Doug "Popeye" Hamilton who, this year, returns for his seventh [count 'em!] Extravaganza this time with his athletic high school son Ryan--he of the lacrosse fame that recently claimed the club level statewide (California, that is) championship boasting an undefeated season. Other seasoned veterans include Tom "Sockeye" Thornhill (who, blessedly, after many, many years of co-coaching and urging along with RCR is graced at his side by his humanitarian bride, Melissa) and by Fred "The Guitar" Johnson (who, as in so many years before, will be accompanied by his trusty guitar to be tuned and played around the Extravaganzaland evening fire pit).
Returning for their second visit to Extravaganzaland are the Brothers McLeran--this time sans motorcycles with (a) bro "Deer Brian" traveling via Delta Air Lines this year at the request of all (including the deer population which was depleted in singular part on his return trip home from E-09...a trip that suddenly converted from a motorcycle ride to a helicopter medivac to Missoula's Community Hospital where, for two weeks, he successfully recovered from his rearrangements and was visited my many...including a Popeye-inspired [brilliantly so, I might add] visit one afternoon from four of the Hooter's girls who, as recently as E-10's Group One, are still inquiring as to their patient's well being!) and (b) bro "Fly With Me Ralph" this year flying to Extravaganzaland in his own airplane...alone!! Also returning this year for their second visit from Orlando, Florida are "Benevolent Bobby" and "Killer Kelley" Kingsland who will be joined by fellow Orlandans "Mother Barbie" (of Bobby, that is) and Kathy's twin sister Julie--the latter always being truly invaluable and welcome additions to each year's Extravaganza activities.
And then we come to the rookies--a whole flock of them! "Benevolent Bobby" is bringing his contracting partner Joe "The Hammer" Samillano together with his daughter Tracie; Brand Engine's Will Burke will be joined by three of his out-of-state pals, Tom Pogue, Duane Primozich and T.J. Mc Intyre [it will be interesting to see just what Extravaganza names these folks endear to themselves!]; Southern Californian angel investor Ken "The Redeemer" Deemer will be joined by his wife Candy; and, rounding out Da Twos and flying in from the East Coast are Mike Stakias surrogates Paul "I'd Rather Be" Green and Dean "Da Driver" Donohue.
So, there you have it gang--the whole flock of Da Twos, each of whom is in final preparation to wing their way our way in the early morrow's morn--my fervent wish to each is that they are blessed as wonderfully as the (deserving?!?) Ones have just been with the abundance of Montana's fishing bounty...we shall soon see!
Best to all from the still rainy scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
---<'///><
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
