GOLF OUTTING WITH THE BOYS

 Talk at Jacks 93rd birthday party turned to GOLF.

For years Beau and I have golfed each summer with our friend John and who ever else was up for the challenge.




With Dan back from the Marshall Islands for a few weeks and a round under his belt from RRs bachelor party.  He was up for another outing.








John has always had a love for the game.  But with farming and tending bar he doesn't always get the time to get out as often as he would like.



Thankfully he keeps us in mind when he wants to get a round in. 













Mart, like my self, is always up for some fun and willing to give just about anything a try.



For our crew everyone is pretty evenly matched and no one  takes it too serious.




A good drive or fareway  shot, a long putt or chipping up to the pin is all it takes to make our game or provide a start to a future story.

We all had our moments.  Beau had the shot of the day,  on a par five a long drive, perfect approach shot left Beau just off the edge of the green in two shots.  Dropping his chip shot in for an EAGLE.
Now Beau can use Gerald Fords line:

I would like to deny all allegations by Bob Hope that during my last game of golf, I hit an eagle, a birdie, an elk and a moose!

I grew up playing golf and even coached about 25  years ago when I taught at POP.  For not getting out to play for the last four years
 I was pleased with my round. 

Beau an I each shot 41s ....Not that we're competitive or anything :)





As always fashion is the key.

Go Fish!

 Great Saturday!  Beau and I made it up to the Backbone for our yearly fishing trip.

We hiked down the Devils Backbone to the upper end of the Maquoketa river.

Beau mentioned the fact that it was much more humid and a lot buggier that any Colorado hiking.

 The water temperature was a little cool and the sky's were overcast as we waded on the sandy bottoms along the base of limestone bluffs that were formed as the glaciers passed through this area more than 22,000 years ago.



Beau got right after it, pitching his rooster tail. 

Because points matter.  First fish, most fish, most species, largest fish and trout are double points.

Not that we're competitive or anything.

First fish a nice,little bass.



Several larger bass followed.

It wasn't long before Beau had another fish on the line.

A Rainbow trout that had worked its way down stream from Richmond Springs which feeds the Maquoketa.




Beau had a clean sweep with the points for fishing but it's great having him back in Iowa for a while and I really don't mind. 

Back in Bellevue the Fishtival celebration was underway.

The MATRIARCHS were all smiles as they preformed in the street as the train rolled by.

River and his buddies put on a great show dancing and having fun.

Night time brought the Fattened Frogs out of the twin cities for the late set.


Great end to a great day.

THREE DAYS AND COUNTING.

 Took a spin on the SUP out at Mart and Joan's

 The prairie is in full bloom.

 The tree farm is looking great.

 I felt bad about not catching any fish yesterday.

 and there was plenty of action today.

FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING.

 I started the day off by clearing a truck load of elm from the fence line. 

 They say it warms you twice.  Lets see.  Cutting, loading, unloading, cutting, stacking and hauling it into the house.

After I unloaded the truck I mowed the upper yard.

 Stopped by the mouth of mill creek just below Potters Mill to pitch for bass.











With no luck.

Then I jumped in with Steve and two of his grandsons Tate and Gavin.

The boys are learning from one of the best fishermen out there.

Both boys gave me pointers on what I needed to do to catch a fish.


But I still ended up getting out fished by all three of them.  Oh well,  you've heard it before... That's why it's called fishing and not catching.

FIVE DAYS AND COUNTING.

 I swung by little mill on my way back from Maquoketa this morning.

 I fished a small stretch of stream with some big pools with structure and some fast water with some hides.

 Three strikes on the mepps and only the one fish.

 Even though this guy looks pretty mellow, lying in the shade.  I still glad that him and the other bulls were on the other side of the stream.

Look like this little guy is going to take care of the sparrows for me.

Milk snakes feed on a wide variety of animals including mice, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, reptile eggs, birds and birds eggs.

SIX DAYS AND COUNTING

 A few hours on the stream this morning.

 No strikes on the fly and one fish on a mepps spinner.

 A tour through Mart and Joanie's tree farm.

 Home to finish up some work on the trim for Beau's room.


















Walk the hounds.

Enjoy  the evening and call it a day.

ONE WEEK AND COUNTING.

 I met brother Steve up in DBQ this morning to get in a day of fishing before I head back to school next week.

Steve bought a new little Mincota trolling motor for his canoe.  It kicked us along at a pretty good clip.
We stopped by Baily's Ford and hit the trout stream for an hour before we headed up to the park.  The DNR had stocked the stream on Saturday so there were plenty of trout in the stream.

Steve dropped me off at the upper end of the stream and it wasn't long before I hooked one below a small ripple



Then three more in the next two pools down stream below an over hanging bluff.

 Up on the Maquoketa, at Backbone.  We put the canoe in across the lake from the beach.

 It's a shame how much the lake has silted in over the last 40 year, sense our family had owned the cabin that bordered the state park.

We fished the shoreline along the lower end of the lake and it wasn't long till  Steve caught a descent crappie.

Long story,  short.  I never caught another fish all day.  While Steve caught several other little pan fish to go with the trout that he caught at Baily's






I ended up catching 4 nice trout.  While My big brother caught 4 different species and about a dozen fish total.








 A few more outings before I have to return to school. 

 

Here Comes August, Time to get things done.

 Nice early morning Brown Trout.

 Warm afternoon splash for the hounds

 Brush Creek with Mart.

 Jimmy Wongs latest project.

 Blue berry tomato.

 Caster bean bloom.

 Leaf

 Mosaic seating around the Moon Hawk Sculpture.

 Lake Michigan stones.

Moony Hollow!