Fellow Extravaganzers:
In follow up to the gaggle [read "multiplicity"!} of pre-Extravaganza emails that have befallen you In Box, as we ready in earnest for the arrival of Group One in just three [count 'em!] days, I am pleased to send you this, the first official email of Extravaganza 2010--the opening ceremonial email, of you will. Ahem...
Extravaganza 2010 marks our eighth gathering of friends from all walks of life, each of whom will share a series of experiences that surely will make that "remember when" list come a few years from now. And, my how we have grown over the years. Extravaganza 2002, our very first extravagant affair, boasted a total of 24 participants spread out over four separate groups, two groups fishing two days, two fishing three days. Group Two's veteran Doug "Popeye" Hamilton was among that long-ago few and, were it not for a bout with kidney stones this time last year, he would be our sole "100% Extravaganza" participant. Compare this year where 68 fisherfolk will fill our three groups, each group now fishing three days...in fact, Group One this year tips the scale at 24 participants--the entire 2002 contingency wrapped up in one zany group of veterans and rookies alike who, each year dating back to 2002, uniquely pride themselves on the landside watering ability--in true spirit of the spirits, that is!
And, folks, here it is....the official line up for Group One for Extravaganza 2010:
A seasoned group of 16 [count 'em!] veterans--that's 67% for those who are, indeed, counting--headline the Ignoble Ones whose most grizzled members include long time Group Oners (they simply will not fish with any other group [nor would any other group have them, btw]) cpa John "SOS" Reimann whose cheap opening day gag gifts have permanently tarnished the annals of Extravaganza history and my dear '64 SRHS classmate, superior S.F. commercial realtor Brad "Pinko" Colton--so named for his propensity to embarrass himself (as well as us--no small feat in that regard!) by wearing foppish pink attire while traversing the rivers of Western Montana--Brad: you can leave last year's pink boa home this year...that was too much, sailor! This "pair to draw to" is joined by also long-time Extravaganzer Brian "Moraine" Shepard (so named for his Alaskaganza preference to fish the Moraine ["glacial-made wasteland"] section near Lake Iliamna) who, in true Father's Day tradition, will again be joined by each of his siblings: daughter "Beautiful Eliza Jane" and co-Yellow Hat E-09 winners sons "Josef The Stick" and "Tsar Nicolas".
Multiple returning E-10 Group One veterans also include Napa's one and only Jim "Chaos" Hendrickson and his ferrous metal sidekick Demetry "The Ghost" Kondrasheff--so named because he is so quiet that even he forgets that he is here sometimes! This year "Chaos" [those of you rookie Oners will see just what I mean in a few days now!] will also be joined by his sister Bobbi and bro-in-law Davis Walker--maybe they will be able to bring order where, in prior years, even his Lady Di could not!
And then there is the "Kruger Four" who, blessedly, will again be returning to add true Marin County color to the rivers and bars of Missoula: John "Half Centurion" Kruger heads of this group of miscreants, and is joined, as in prior years, by returning veterans Frank "Ratatouille" Ratto, Mike "Oh So" Wise and Marin Catholic legendary coach Larry "Go Cats" Gondola. And, were that not enough, rounding up the Ignoble One veteran cadre is National Wildlife Federation Regional Representative (and co- Montana Wildlife Federation board member) "One If By Land" Tawney who, as in prior years will be giving his 4 1/2 hour Group One Opening Day keynote luncheon talk (based on last year's first Group activities--in which he was a true ringleader!) on "Abstinence In Fishing--A Study Of What Not To Do In Montana" which will be well listened to by CLG attorney John "Snag Em" Rosenbaum and his two young-uns, "Amiable Adam" and "Big Ben" [and, probably, no one else].
In addition to the Walkers, E-10 Ignoble One(s) rookie "imbibers-in-training" feature the father son duo of "Father Eddie" and Michael "Big Fish" Downer (yes, they being of Mechanics Bank fame) as well as by father son combo "Cal-Cal" Walters and his son "Jack-Jack"--so dubiously named until they earn their true Extravaganza names during this next week--and their pal "Dan-Dan" Rogers (Ibid) and last, (and arguably truly very least) by self named "Minnow Mel" McCormack, the former hailing from the East Bay and the latter, well, minnowing about from San Rafael, California--"Minnow" being the not-so-better-half of my wonderful SRHS classmate Pat (who is staying behind back home because she "didn't want to be embarrassed by The Minnow").
So there you have it, gang, the Official Line Up for Group One, E-10!! Hang on to your bottle openers and cork screws, as Extravaganza 2010 is about to launch in epic proportions....do you think we should file some kind of an Ignoble Environmental Assessment??
Welcome aboard, Group Oners--I will be there to meet you at the airport come this Saturday Morning....bueno, bueno, bueno!
Best to all from the now-anticipating scene of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
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