Reality Break

 It's too early to drift a dry fly, but I needed to anyway. Sometimes it's good to take a break from reality, and focus on something healthy for the body...and to give yourself a mental break as well. That's what I've been doing the last few days, taking a break. The best type of break for me is a road trip down a two-lane road. Might as well include a trout stream too. I was needing to step into some flowing water in a pretty mountain setting.

My trip this week is one of my favorite drives, and so too is the little mountain village I enjoyed during my stay. The road takes you along some straight stretches of landscapes that are wide open grasslands with ranch gates, separated by many miles. The Ponderosa Ranch has nothing on these cattle spreads. And it's not uncommon to see cowboys on horseback herding cattle in the middle of nowhere which speaks to what the West has always been about. Yup, the place is a throwback to an earlier century.

And then. As you're rolling fast down the road, between the ranches you suddenly see The Very Large Array. It's even more amazing to see in person as it is to watch the movie Contact, based on Carl Sagan's novel. The radio dishes are HUGE, impressive, and mysterious at the same time. Cloud formations above the dishes helped to make it seem as though there truly are aliens from outer space. Or, maybe I was sensing angels above?

What I especially like about this trip? I get to drive the road twice...down and back. And between those drives is a stay in a mountain village that is near some amazing creeks holding one of New Mexico's rare native trout. It's a different experience than other streams I fish, and that's one of the reasons I consider each time I'm there as special. 

The canyon stream did not disappoint, and was indeed good medicine for this dry fly guy. It was so peaceful. No, I didn't land a trout into my net. However. I did wade into a stream. I did float a fly. I did walk a trail along a stream in a magnificent place. I was the only angler there. And even though I didn't land any trout, it was absolutely a most wonderful trip. Yeah, it's too early for dry fly fishing.

Gear: Winston WT 7' 2wt fly rod; VR Design fly reel; Rio LightLine WF3F fly line; Simms sling pack; Useless dry fly.

Streaming: Just A Closer Walk with Thee - Patsy Cline