Taking in the Lines

This is my most recent publication in the Kings County Record.  I have to tip my hat to this publication for faithfully publishing my bi-weekly submission.  Through this experience I have learned a great deal about writing and about my self.  One of my favorite topics is fishing and so this column follows my passion.  Hope you enjoy it.  If you want feel free to follow my blog or leave a comment, I'd love to hear from those reading my writing :)

 

It was an incredibly entertaining day today.  The Millstream River was flowing deep and peaceful and people were enjoying the gravel beaches near Lester Bridge.  It had been sometime since I had been on this stretch of water and I forgot how nice it was.  It winds gently toward Apohaqui with curves and lines that entice you like those of a sports car.  The serenity of the scene was slightly wasted on my fishing companions today though.  It was this contrast that made the day so entertaining however.

You see, today I hosted a "Youth Angling Camp" where kids were instructed on some of the ins and outs of fishing for trout in the Kennebecasis watershed.  There were 19 kids who came out to take part and they ranged in age from 7-16 and their attention spans ranged as broadly.  Some of the kids might have only cast their line into the water 5 times before splashing into the nearest dead water to catch tadpoles or dace.  Others would cast their line over and over.  The bugs wouldn't bother them.  The heat didn't irritate them.  The fact that we didn't catch any trout didn't upset them at all. 

We started the day with some class room style discussion where we talked about safety on the water, how to set up your tackle, where to find fish, and conservation values.  The kids patiently listened to the diatribe even though all they wanted to do was hit the water.  Once we had the discussion out of the way we took them out to find some bait.  It was laugh out loud funny to watch them interact with nature and some of the exchanges between kids.  They were trying to one up one another on gross bug stories, trying to find a bigger worm than their buddy, or, even funnier, coming up with the coolest name for their new found pet slug.  Sorry to any parents who may have found pet worms or slugs in their kid's pockets?

It amazes me how kids tend to see and appreciate the smaller things.  While they didn't appreciate the gentle curves of the river, they sure liked all the stones on the gravel bars.  They even liked the leeches and showed no fear of getting close to them and even picked one up.  It might have been the biggest catch of the day.  It might have been a slow day as far as catching fish goes but I'm certain the kids caught the bug.  Many will likely pester their parents to take them fishing again.  If your kids ask you to go fishing, you should take them.  Even if you don't like fishing, all you will have to do is sit and watch your kid for a few minutes and you too, will be hooked.  The lure and leisure of sitting on the banks of a river are appealing to most people I know and trust me, the kids won't cover more than 200m of stream, so you won't have to walk that far.  Take in life while the kids take in line.

Biking Down a Back Road

Coming up on Saturday I'll be at the Apohaqui Rec Center throughout the day.  I'll be manning an information tent for the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee at the Back Roads Bicycle Festival.  You can register the day of the event and there is lots going on.  Check out the links.

There are a number of activities that I don't get to take part in as often as I like.  Golf is one of those and I wrote about it a couple of weeks ago.  Kayaking or canoeing is another one and I have only been able to do that once this summer.  There is one activity though that I have not yet been able to participate in at all this summer.  Cycling is a sport of speed and daring where one wrong move can lead to injury, just ask Simon Whitfield.

Cycling, whether on a road or on a trail, is a thrill.  As a kid I spent lots of time in the saddle taking risks and pushing my limits.  I usually rode trails in the nearby farm fields where we built jumps and ramps to test our skills on our BMXs.  This likely developed my preference for trail riding versus road riding.  My mother can attest to the numerous scars and bruises I came home with after my many bike wrecks.

Coming up August 25^th is a chance for me to relive some of those glory days.  The "Back Roads Bicycle Fest" will give me a chance to sweat and feel the wind in my hair as I move up and down through the gears.  The event will be held at the Apohaqui Lower Millstream Recreation Center and I hope to get there and take in the activities.  Talking to some of the organizers there will be lots of informative workshops to go along with a number of bike rides.

Based on the success and model created by the Cornhill Bicycle Fest, this festival will showcase the great back road routes in and around Apohaqui.  The organizers hope that the success of last year's event in Cornhill will translate into similar success for this year's event. The rides being organized will have various start times and will be of various lengths.  The event has something for everyone; whether you're a seasoned cyclist who puts in over 100km per week or a newbie who would be lucky to have cycled 10km in their lifetime.  The routes will highlight some of the many great places within our great county. 

Sign in for the event is from 9:00-10:00am on that Saturday morning or you can pick up advance registration forms at Outdoor Elements.  For the kids there will be a bike rodeo, for the history buffs there will be a presentation on the history of Apohaqui, workshops on bike maintenance and proper shifting of gears for the die hard cyclists, and for those who might prefer to paddle over peddle information on the Kennebecasis will be available.

Also coming up on August 15-16^th is the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee's "Beginner's Fly Fishing Workshop."  This free event still, at press time, had space available and if you are interested call their office, 433-4394, today or tomorrow, to inquire further.  Last year's event was very well received with all participants walking away with something.  This year, a lucky beginner will walk away with a fly rod and reel combo from flymart.ca.  If you can't get into this event keep an eye out for next years.