Chapter 17

Smell the roses dummy, you’re getting old. Summing up the sum up…that’s river talk.

It had been a good experience. I had learned a hell of a lot. I had a little more confidence in my boat, my gear and myself. I had learned I needed to cut the amount of gear down. I found some of my gear wasn’t needed at all. I knew the river had scared the hockey out of me. I also learned I had to give nature more respect especially in the planning stages. I would do that but I was not nearly as intimidated as I had been driving up.

I would be back. The river has called me every day since I returned to Dallas. I would come back with a better sense of who I was and what the river expected of me. I would come back more attuned to nature. I knew I would be more a part of nature than observer the next time. I had been there as a kid and I lost the connection somewhere around the time I thought I grew up. No more. I would be back, more attuned and happier than ever. Although I would probably wait until the river was back down to normal stages and I swore I would spend more time fishing and enjoying the roses.