After 13 weeks I was feeling pretty good so I decided to risk an afternoon of trout fishing. Now trout fishing here in Nova Scotia is no walk in the park, there are downed trees to hurdle, beaver channels to jump, thickets of alders to tramp through, slippery rocks and all manner of obstacles trying to poke eyes, grab feet and otherise trip you up. If you want fish it also means a long walk, getting away from the more accessible and heavily fished waters. The downside of this is that you are well and truly on your own, so if anything happens, you're in trouble. I tried a trip last May, but the arthritis made it impossible for me to get the leg over downed trees, so I feared my trouting days were over. My wife thought I should leave it for another month, but the mayfly hatches were just about over, and the water levels were dropping. So it was now or never for this year's trout. Took a trekking pole with me to help in wading the river and negotiate the really difficult terrain. Well had a fantastic day. Yes the trout were a little finacky and well fed so I had to experiment to find a fly that worked, but once found, I landed about 20 and kept my limit of 5. Spent 3 hours walking up the river and stopped at a camp of a friend. I noticed that he had left some beer there. What a windfall! Helped myself to one can (which I will pay back shortly), and only one can given the long walk back. By the time I got back to my truck I was pretty well wiped out, after 5 hours of bushwacking. But no damage, a bag of tasty fish and a wonderful feeling. Few aches and pains the next day but mostly in my old hip (which has about 2 years of life left in it!) not the new one. It really is a wonderful feeling when you find you are able to resume activities you once feared might be gone forever.
Good work Jed!
I recall a hike I took with my kids this spring when I too stepped over a deadfall across the trail rather than having to go around it! What a liberating feeling! Of course my kids just looked at me with blank stares when I announced to them what I had done. Oh well. I'm really looking forward to hunting and fishing like a true Minnesotan very soon! Here's to many outdoor adventures!