Well, that was what we did two days ago - referring to the title. And now for the details!
In the morning, Rebecca said she was sick. During the previous nights, she had little to no sleep and felt under the weather. Dad and I dropped Mom and Rebecca at the urgent care center, on the outskirts of town, very close to a Walmart. It was a little building on a little hill. With a list in hand, we went to get some things at the store.
We steered clear of Smartstyle, a took a grocery cart and started shopping. I was reading my bio a little, and still feeling sad that my sister was sick... again. (first time in D.C.) Dad and I got new leashes for the dogs (the old ones weather worn and dirty and ripping apart). It took a long time, us looking for 6 in., only seeing 5. It was enough though, and we then went toward the jackets. I wanted a little rain jacket, not big and bulky, little but still able to deflect rain. Not a fleece, but and rain jacket. We saw fleeces and big rain jackets. None of what I was looking for.
We got some other things, like bulbs and bike lights. Then, we left, looking around for somewhere to eat breakfast. Mom texted Dad and she said something like:We're done. Come.
They were awaiting us, we jeered up in the jeep, the tires making a faint smell in the air. They got in and we looked around. Rebecca was given a rapid strep test, and the results... negative. Even though, however, the doctor gave Rebecca an antibiotic for an infection. We kept looking around for breakfast.
A nice restaurant was in our sights, but the name escapes me at the moment. We got a nice booth at the window, and we saw little blue birds chirping around, trying to fly. It was delightful to see.
Our waiter was having a bad day, (by her looks and attitude) but the food was awesome. I had hash browns, eggs and bacon, and a pancake and orange juice. It was very refreshing.
We left, as full as a water tank. Rebecca was still sick. We went back to the R.V., and did a little school and reading and such. Although Rebecca was under the weather, we still wanted to do something productive in the day. A nice couple across the street from us, (in the R.V. Resort) told us that it was cool to see the Tunnel of Trees and to see people catch salmon in the middle of town. The husband said it was a driving thing, so Rebecca wouldn't have to get out much. So, we took the man's advice and went toward the closer target, the salmon thing.
We drove in the jeep, and passed by a little bridge on the street full of people with fishing rods. Some were old, some were very young, but most shared a common trait... being men. There were a few girls, tomboys and daughters of the fishermen. We parked to the right of them, right next to a park with a gazebo, and came over. It was a bright sunny day, the birds singing, the trees swaying, the grass growing.
We went over, and looked down. It was a little river, only about as wide as the R.V., but a lot longer. It went right into the bay. There was a little waterfall, about the height of my father, or a little higher. A man of the age of 16 to 20 yelled "WEHOO!" and pulled back and then went forward, and reeled. A man at the level of the lake that he got to by an ancient stairwell picked up the fish in the water and took the hook out of it's mouth. In the net, the fish squirmed and tried to get away. The man came up to our level and dumped the fish on to the sidewalk. The teenager took the fish by the tail and tied him up above the waterfall by a log. The fish was a yellow ish brown ish creature, very long actually, and well built. The teenager had a purple t- shirt and dark brown hair.
As we watched the people catching the fish, a lady in a blond pony tail let a fish go. She explained that the fish were swimming upstream from the bay because they are going back to their place of birth to spawn, or lay eggs. They try to make the waterfall jump, and if they don't, they die while being pregnant. If they make the jump or someone fishes them out and puts them over it, they lay eggs, and die right after that. The latter is the better outcome, but either way they die (not a pleasant thought).
We were having a great time looking at people fish when the unexpected happened. A man with a buzz cut and brown eyes of 25 or so and tan skin approached Rebecca. "Hey," he said, "want to catch a fish?" Rebecca shrugged in surprise and the man gave her the rod and told her to place both hands on it, one in the middle of the rod and one on the bottom of it. He told her it would be hard, and to NOT let go. Rebecca did as he told her, and he told her to pull up, and then go forward and reel. She looked like it was hard. I saw a fish jumping out of the water, trying to get away. After about 5 or 10 minutes, Rebecca backed up and there was a snap. The fish broke the line.
"It's alright," the man said as he took the line and replaced it. He then went off again. All this time, Mom and Dad were taking pictures, and I was video taping. But as I took a slight glance across the river, I saw someone ELSE taking pictures.
It was a 50 year old man, with long hair and a beard. He had a hat with some slogan, but I couldn't make it out at the length we were away from it. He had a canon camera, and after Rebecca did what she did I lost site of them.
I was a little sad I didn't get a try at it, because I thought it would be fun to do it. It wasn't long after I said that...
"Hey, do you want a try? I got a fish on the line."
"Sure!" I exclaimed.
Placing my hands on the rod, left in the middle, and right on the bottom. As I took hold of the rod, I felt the weight of the fish pulling on me. I waited for his command. "Lean the pull forward and reel. " I did so, and it was so heavy as he said, "Reel, reel, reel!" I tried to reel fast, but fell short. So much was going through my mind, and I didn't even think of the fact at how cool this felt. I just did as he said. When I pulled back and stepped back, pushing into other fisherman, I felt the real weight of the beast. The rod was pushing against my stomach,and so I repositioned the rod to a different part of my body. It felt like tugging the rope of a moving steamer. As I pulled and reeled, I noticed Mom taking pictures, Dad video taping, and that man again also taking pictures. Also, the other fisherman were yelling in encouragement. With all of my strength placed upon one command, I reeled and pulled as hard as I could. The adrenaline was pumping beneath me, and I heaved one final time. I saw the fish pulling and tugging, it's grayish features glistening in the sun. Then the man with the net got the fish in, and took the hook out of his mouth. I blinked, and then as the man came up with the fish in it's net, I finally understood that I had CAUGHT a salmon. I couldn't believe it. It was a feeling of pride, surprisement, and disbelief all melted into one. My hands were sore, and I was tired, but I had done it. The man then dumped the flopping fish on to the concrete.
"You want to hold it," the man who helped me asked.
"Sure!" I exclaimed again.
He told me to grab one hand by the tail, and one hand on the belly of the yellow grey fish. I did, and had to squeeze tight to not drop the thing. It was more slippery than soap and as slimy as a snake. It was very greasy, and had a lot of trash and dirt and wetness on it. It was also heavy, and as I turned and smiled to take a picture, I saw that man with the camera again. He bid me turn his way and smile, and as I did, he took the picture. Then, the man and I gently laid the fish over the waterfall and in the water. It swam away.
Mom came up to me. "YOU CAUGHT A FISH!!!!!" She exclaimed with giddiness. Dad said similar things, and then I said thank you do the guy. "What's your name sir?"
"Simon," he answered.
"Hi," said the man with the camera, getting out a pad and pencil. "My name is Kevin Speer from Michigan's Hooks and Bullets, a hunting and fishing magazine. I was just around the neighborhood, and I wonder, our these your children?" He was asking Simon. "No, no," he said. "Not mine. "
"So then why were you...?"
"When I get off from work I just come here and let the kids here fish for kids."
"But you don't keep them?"
"No, I don't like fish. I just like fishing."
"Good for you! That's really nice! What's your name?"
"Simon hard last name. (I don't remember his name, it was hard.)"
Then Speer turned to me. "What's your name?"
"Andrew Bourne. That's B O U R N E."
"How old our you, Andrew?"
"12 sir."
"Is that you're first salmon."
"Yes, and it's truly exhilarating. "
"Yeah, it is."
"Are these your parents?" he asked, pointing to Mom and Dad. "Yes, they are. "
"Am I allowed to use Andrew in the magazine. "
"Yeah totally," Mom answered.
We went on to tell him about our trip, and he wrote it all down with nodding enjoyment. He gave us a copy of the magazine, and told me I would be in the Nov. or Dec. edition. We also gave him the blog, and I hope you like the writing, Mr. Speer.
(If anyone wants to know, Mr. Speer's magazine is also on www.hooksandbullets.com. Just in case any of you hunters or fishermen wanted to know.)
It was so cool to catch that fish,and the feeling will never leave me. (By the way, Rebecca eventually got to catch a fish.)
We left, giving Simon our thanks once more. Then we went to see the tunnel of trees, and saw all different colors of red, yellow, orange, and lime green. It was very nice.
We also saw a lot of deer in a field, eating the grass. Three even came into the road. We got A LOT of pictures.
We also went on the shore, and met a couple who collected glass that was in the sea, made soft. They were very nice.
When we were looking around for food, we saw an Indian place called the Legs Inn, with animal heads and totem pools everywhere. It was actually started by a polish guy, but the builders and designers were Native American. To be honest, the food wasn't all that great.
On the road again, Dad stopped the car in the middle of the rural country side and turned off all possible light in the car. We were in total darkness. I was waiting for some creature to pull me in to nothingness, where none could hear my screams. "Get out," Dad said. I got out, but Rebecca, due to her sickness again, did not. I looked around, still in total darkness. Dad told me to lay down on the road, and as I looked up I saw a broad expanse of sky opening up before me. All of the stars were twinkling and shining, illuminating the sky. It was truly an awing experience. Just sky. Nothing else. So beautiful.
Well, we went to bed pretty late that night, and I had my bed out and slept like a baby. The following day would provide the reader to a range of falling off sand dunes, sleeping bears, and weird men at the top of 300 ft inclines. TO BE CONTINUED...
Goodbye for now.
Any body want an autograph? (you know, 'cause I'm in a magazine),
Andrew.
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