"Bill Mason" wrote in message
...
I pulled up at the prearranged meeting spot a few minutes late, and, sure
enough, Danl was waiting. ......

[big snip of excellent recounting, including certain exaggerations, of a
marvelous day afield]

...... Back at the cars we dried off as best we could and congratulated
each other for possessing that special insanity that leads some people
almost anywhere for a shot at a few 6 inch fish. My legs hurt a bit this
morning, and some joints are a little stiff, but it's a good, good hurt.

Cheers,
Bill

A most excellent adventure, Bill. A good hurt indeed. Just to clarify for
the readers, I *was* as happy as could be, despite the loud and incessant
complaining of my wretched body. There will come a time, all too soon, when
we all will wish, unsuccessfully, for the ability to abuse ourselves by
"hiking" to a fishing hole. I would like to think that the more we do it,
the more we will able to do it.

I think we both hooked about the same number of fish, but it was really
difficult to set the hook with the close canopy and the highly modified
dapping and slapping techniques we were using. I'll post a pic or two on
ABPF.

And again, many thanks for taking me to these Shagri-La's in the middle of
our desert mountains. It still staggers my imagination that these places
exist where they do! I'm am sure that many people pass by on the nearest
road and have no inkling what lays just a short, life-threatening,
sphincter-clinching drop over a cliff. Of course, the rain and mud on the
way back up were just icing on the cake. Thanks Gawd for the half mile of
rope or we would still be down there.

As Wolfgang mentioned, it is a wonder what great trail companions we stumble
upon in this little section of purgatory. If y'all get a chance to go
fishing will Bill, don't miss it. Just bring your best hiking shoes.

Danl