Beyond the backyard - fishing!

Grandma & Grandpa's backyard is pretty darn fun, but we do occasionally leave it.  We have one adventure that is becoming a tradition (this was year 3) - fishing on the Gallatin River with Mr. Collins!

Getting to the river is always an adventure in and of itself.  We walk through fields, pushing aside branches, listening to the kids complain about getting poked and/or sand in their shoes.  And then we get to the rocky part!

We also end up wading through the freezing cold water to find the places where those trout are swimming, and this year we had quite the portage through some fast-moving water.  Everyone made it safely to the other side - whew!


Mr. Collins, a retired high school teacher, may be the most patient man on the planet - I guess a requirement for a good fisherman!  He brings all the gear, is great about making sure each of the kids gets a chance, and wades out into all sorts of water to find the best spots.

And his magic works - this year, once again, all the bigger kids got to catch at least one fish.  Maryn caught a huge one, and one of the ones Bryn caught had swallowed the hook, so for the first time we took home a catch and put it on the grill.  Most of the kids were even willing to try it!

Last year Charlie and I stayed home while the others cast their rods - he was just too small to navigate around on those rocks.   We probably could have done the same this year: Charlie could not have been less interested in the fishing.

What did he love?  Throwing rocks into the water.  So he and I hung back and relocated several hundred rocks from the side of the river into the water.  He was so intent on his work, I sat back and enjoyed myself - it's a very beautiful and peaceful place to just sit and ponder.

And afterward he looked like this:

Perhaps next year he'll be more excited about the fish!