Rhett had to leave to get back to classes, which I’m sure he mostly missed. Jay had work to do and headed back to Colorado. Our buddies from points west also had to depart. The second week became ‘me time,’ something I have always enjoyed. I did a bit of work on the books, outlined these journals, and enjoyed fabulous fishing for a few hours virtually every day. I completed some projects around the cabins that didn’t tax the back too badly, and in general enjoyed the solitude and my own company, which I have never much minded.

I took the time also to head the five miles up the road to our adjoining ranch, Indian Creek, home to truly amazing rock formations, craggy narrow canyons, with a four or five hundred acres ‘front yard’ composed of rolling treeless hills and dotted with productive springs.

Earlier that summer we had developed a number of these springs, installed tanks and pipelines across this four or five miles of previously mostly mountain front. Several of the springs we had diverted into two large ponds we had constructed. Reflections of the incredible rock towers and the last of the golden aspens in the glassy sunface of the pond surface were riveting. Of course I took my fly rod along also and the rainbows in the pond and the big browns in the other didn’t disappoint me in the least.

Photo by Reid L Rosenthal Copyright 2008