Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
March 2010
While it is past time for me to write another entry for our blog. Its tardiness is partially due to me exhausting myself on Reyna’s teinda, and partially due to my laziness. I was thinking about some that have commented about the past reading telling me of the great comedy and interesting activities of my life.
So with that idea, I will tell you of some of the activities during a variety of my fishing trips. I am certain that some will shrug and say “Another fish story about the big one that got away,” not exactly.
I will tell you while brook trout (the best eating fish) fishing in Upper Michigan getting blocked in by a tree that fell across the logging trails; or running out of gas and having to walk out 13 miles; the fraction of a second away from getting stuck while trying to drive around a flooded area because of a beaver dam; taking more than an hour to free myself from a crotch deep muck hole; and looking until past dark to find a misplaced (men don’t get lost) fishing partner.
I could also tell you about some of the activities while Lake Trout fishing in Canada. My first year was total disaster; because Bill my brother-in-law could not remember where the first portage started; spending 5 hours (of daylight) looking. The next problem was the portage itself. My backpack packed to which I thought a manageable weight; except I forgot that I would be carrying a cooler and needed to overstuff my backpack with 10 pounds of potatoes, 5 pounds of onions, and 2 pounds of coffee. Anyway the first portage with these 150 pounds was the easiest. The second; I carried the 17 foot canoe and electric trolling motor. The third; I carried only one item but it nearly killed me, it was the battery; let’s not say battery but a super heavy duty semi truck battery, heavy being the opium word. By the way this portage is accurately called by all that experience it Big Agony. Now the sun is below tree tops and we have 4 more lakes to go. Other inconveniences include after finishing our final portage Bill said head towards the island; I could barely make out the tree tops against the sky line. At campsite the first flashlight died after a minute the second lasted until I found what I thought was a level spot for my tent. Later manually inflating my blow up air mattress. With total exhaustion; I slept until early morning getting wet from the rain. Breakfast was delayed because we did not collect dry firewood. We assumed that fish don’t care that it’s raining, they are wet already, and apparently they care. Day 2 was dry but windy. White caps in a canoe are not fun. Day 3 more rain, no fish. Day 4 almost out of potatoes; onions; and beans, we got to eat fish. Oh by the way it was not exactly total disaster because I caught a Master Angular sized Rainbow Trout and several Lake Trout. Day 5 while making the portage in the other direction, it is day light and I saw a spectalur view well above the tree tops. I also saw my boot print in bear poop, apparently sometimes it’s better to be in the dark.
We have made some improvements for ourselves, a light weight canoe and 1 ½ HP motor, better tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, aluminum chairs, rain suit, quad pod cooking grill, deep water fishing equipment and a map to learn how to avoid Big Agony.
Let me tell of other interesting moments; spoiling hamburger that we ate anyway; sinking the canoe, it is hard to paddle when you are armpit deep in the lake and a backpack gets really heavy after being submersed for 15 minutes; 6 out of 7 days of rain; the firewood pile catching on fire; wind shear; that you lay in your tent trying to hold it down and have you pocket knife open in case you have to cut your way out after being blown into the lake; attempting to chase a bear out of your campsite; the popping sound you get from pulling a fish hook out of your arm; and the swarm of mesquites approaching just after sunset sound like a semi truck groaning as it climbs a long hill.
Lest you think it all negative; I want to add the general beauty of nature is priceless but then there are additional gems such as seeing a bear with triplets cubs [not the same one in our camp site]; a fawn walk past only 5 feet always; the laying of larva by a wasp; bull, cow and calf moose swimming for recreation; the loon teaching the young to fly; and a turtle so big you though it to be a boulder you could walk out on. And because we do actually fish sometimes the whine of a properly set drag can only be surpassed by the uncontrolled joy as you professionally net the others’ catch.
As long as you read this far; I think it‘s time to tell you about the big one that got caught. Fishing Lake Superior with my favorite guide, mentor, father-in-law, I caught a 49” Northern Pike. Wanting to brag as some do; I called the neighbor to come and admire. He assured us his was bigger, as some do, with laughter he agreed and we bet a dollar. His was 50”; I thought impossible but then that is the way fish stories go. While we were exchanging other fish stores another neighbor drove past pulling his boat; we invited him to admire our fish and another chance to brag, as some do. He showed us his 51”. We each handed him a dollar and walked away.
Now I hope you are not disappointed by these fish stories but they are active in my mind. As I relax here in Guatemala; I think how good I have it especially when comparing to some of my now neighbors.
Sometimes also I am not relaxed but hard at work helping to build Reyna’s tienda or carrying and stacking to the ceiling 100 lbs. bags of corn, I work past exhaustion and then push myself more, similar to portaging Big Agony.
I am glad that I have a chance to remember the good and bad; I think it would be a disappointing life if you only had one, whether it is the fun or the disappointing. It is amazing to watch life here that appears to be an overwhelming hard life with repeated disappointment yet they live as though they have a balance of a rainy day and catching a nice fish.
This moment I am veering towards the overwhelming, before finishing Reyna’s tienda; I promised to help Jose’ and family build a house. They are now living in a chain link fence with cardboard for walls and dirt floor (and I thought it was bad when my tent leaked.] So I am learning from my Guatemalan family, whether at the summit or the base look for the gems of life.
PS If you would like to help Jose’ and family improve life; I would be privileged to pass along your financial help.
Today I talked with a man that we have watched cultivate by hand of course approximately 2 acres. After a week he is 1/3 done. His comments were yes it’s hard work, but his family gets to eat the corn and he has the privilege to supply for his family. This may seem small to you but here it’s a 52” fish.
Similar is the joy in Reyna’s eyes as she walked through and sees the progress. Lots of daily activities here near the moment of netting another’s trophy fish.
So I guess a part of this is a fish story [by the way I have more], and a part is our Guatemala story. For us life is not routine, almost the opposite. We are glad to give you a glimpse of what we are doing; maybe you would be interested in some hammock time here while I tell the other story about the big one that got away.
Dennis and Sue Santkuyl
So with that idea, I will tell you of some of the activities during a variety of my fishing trips. I am certain that some will shrug and say “Another fish story about the big one that got away,” not exactly.
I will tell you while brook trout (the best eating fish) fishing in Upper Michigan getting blocked in by a tree that fell across the logging trails; or running out of gas and having to walk out 13 miles; the fraction of a second away from getting stuck while trying to drive around a flooded area because of a beaver dam; taking more than an hour to free myself from a crotch deep muck hole; and looking until past dark to find a misplaced (men don’t get lost) fishing partner.
I could also tell you about some of the activities while Lake Trout fishing in Canada. My first year was total disaster; because Bill my brother-in-law could not remember where the first portage started; spending 5 hours (of daylight) looking. The next problem was the portage itself. My backpack packed to which I thought a manageable weight; except I forgot that I would be carrying a cooler and needed to overstuff my backpack with 10 pounds of potatoes, 5 pounds of onions, and 2 pounds of coffee. Anyway the first portage with these 150 pounds was the easiest. The second; I carried the 17 foot canoe and electric trolling motor. The third; I carried only one item but it nearly killed me, it was the battery; let’s not say battery but a super heavy duty semi truck battery, heavy being the opium word. By the way this portage is accurately called by all that experience it Big Agony. Now the sun is below tree tops and we have 4 more lakes to go. Other inconveniences include after finishing our final portage Bill said head towards the island; I could barely make out the tree tops against the sky line. At campsite the first flashlight died after a minute the second lasted until I found what I thought was a level spot for my tent. Later manually inflating my blow up air mattress. With total exhaustion; I slept until early morning getting wet from the rain. Breakfast was delayed because we did not collect dry firewood. We assumed that fish don’t care that it’s raining, they are wet already, and apparently they care. Day 2 was dry but windy. White caps in a canoe are not fun. Day 3 more rain, no fish. Day 4 almost out of potatoes; onions; and beans, we got to eat fish. Oh by the way it was not exactly total disaster because I caught a Master Angular sized Rainbow Trout and several Lake Trout. Day 5 while making the portage in the other direction, it is day light and I saw a spectalur view well above the tree tops. I also saw my boot print in bear poop, apparently sometimes it’s better to be in the dark.
We have made some improvements for ourselves, a light weight canoe and 1 ½ HP motor, better tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, aluminum chairs, rain suit, quad pod cooking grill, deep water fishing equipment and a map to learn how to avoid Big Agony.
Let me tell of other interesting moments; spoiling hamburger that we ate anyway; sinking the canoe, it is hard to paddle when you are armpit deep in the lake and a backpack gets really heavy after being submersed for 15 minutes; 6 out of 7 days of rain; the firewood pile catching on fire; wind shear; that you lay in your tent trying to hold it down and have you pocket knife open in case you have to cut your way out after being blown into the lake; attempting to chase a bear out of your campsite; the popping sound you get from pulling a fish hook out of your arm; and the swarm of mesquites approaching just after sunset sound like a semi truck groaning as it climbs a long hill.
Lest you think it all negative; I want to add the general beauty of nature is priceless but then there are additional gems such as seeing a bear with triplets cubs [not the same one in our camp site]; a fawn walk past only 5 feet always; the laying of larva by a wasp; bull, cow and calf moose swimming for recreation; the loon teaching the young to fly; and a turtle so big you though it to be a boulder you could walk out on. And because we do actually fish sometimes the whine of a properly set drag can only be surpassed by the uncontrolled joy as you professionally net the others’ catch.
As long as you read this far; I think it‘s time to tell you about the big one that got caught. Fishing Lake Superior with my favorite guide, mentor, father-in-law, I caught a 49” Northern Pike. Wanting to brag as some do; I called the neighbor to come and admire. He assured us his was bigger, as some do, with laughter he agreed and we bet a dollar. His was 50”; I thought impossible but then that is the way fish stories go. While we were exchanging other fish stores another neighbor drove past pulling his boat; we invited him to admire our fish and another chance to brag, as some do. He showed us his 51”. We each handed him a dollar and walked away.
Now I hope you are not disappointed by these fish stories but they are active in my mind. As I relax here in Guatemala; I think how good I have it especially when comparing to some of my now neighbors.
Sometimes also I am not relaxed but hard at work helping to build Reyna’s tienda or carrying and stacking to the ceiling 100 lbs. bags of corn, I work past exhaustion and then push myself more, similar to portaging Big Agony.
I am glad that I have a chance to remember the good and bad; I think it would be a disappointing life if you only had one, whether it is the fun or the disappointing. It is amazing to watch life here that appears to be an overwhelming hard life with repeated disappointment yet they live as though they have a balance of a rainy day and catching a nice fish.
This moment I am veering towards the overwhelming, before finishing Reyna’s tienda; I promised to help Jose’ and family build a house. They are now living in a chain link fence with cardboard for walls and dirt floor (and I thought it was bad when my tent leaked.] So I am learning from my Guatemalan family, whether at the summit or the base look for the gems of life.
PS If you would like to help Jose’ and family improve life; I would be privileged to pass along your financial help.
Today I talked with a man that we have watched cultivate by hand of course approximately 2 acres. After a week he is 1/3 done. His comments were yes it’s hard work, but his family gets to eat the corn and he has the privilege to supply for his family. This may seem small to you but here it’s a 52” fish.
Similar is the joy in Reyna’s eyes as she walked through and sees the progress. Lots of daily activities here near the moment of netting another’s trophy fish.
So I guess a part of this is a fish story [by the way I have more], and a part is our Guatemala story. For us life is not routine, almost the opposite. We are glad to give you a glimpse of what we are doing; maybe you would be interested in some hammock time here while I tell the other story about the big one that got away.
Dennis and Sue Santkuyl
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