Driving has been the thing that aggravates my neck the most so finally feeling better and coming off double secret probation there's only one thing to do....road trip . On Friday we hustled on up the Montana State Fair in Great Falls . MP and me had one of our very first dates to the same Fair in 1975 and we have fond memories of walking the midway and eating corn on the cob while checking out the latest huge farm equipment and what they help produce. Well, nothing stays the same does it ? Today's version of the State Fair is just one thing....$$$$$$...that's right , it's one big fund raiser for the gypo Food trucks and the people reselling Mexican trinkets , and in most cases the people on the selling circuit aren't even from Montana . So we wandered, I appreciate the military recruiters and the political volunteers, thanks for making some of the fair normal to those two groups. We had deep fried Cheese curds, ten dollar milk shake with sprinkles and Mp got a huge smoked turkey leg for our picnic. It was really hot at 1:00 so I was needing a nice cold Pacifico and we couldn't find the beer tent.....mmmm....so, we went to the information booth and find out they don't sell beer until 4:00 . Are you kidding me ? You've all heard me write of my astonishment at the beer culture in my new sate so this twist was kinda unexpected. I tell the gal at the info booth that we live in a State where beer brewing and consumption is in the High School curriculum and it's hard to believe ya gotta wait 3 more hours for a beer....she said " I know ".
So we take the cooler which has Pacifico's and the Turkey Leg onto the Interstate 90 frontage road in search for the perfect picnic spot....and we found it . I took this pic after we started the car in Great Falls.
We picnicked in ' Thunder and Lightfoot ' country . Simply gorgeous .
The next day found us at the Broadwater County Fair in Townsend that has one of our favorite golf courses and thrift store...they were having a bag sale, yahtzee . This County Fair is what they should be about, the people that live there, the way of life, what it takes. There was no entrance fee, the livestock and the produce were incredible. Unlike Helena or Great Falls these 4-H kids aren't the Dentist's kid who's mom feeds the pig . They're all part of the industry that they they and they only create.
The VFW had ice cream with Carmel sauce and m+m sprinkles for 3 bucks. No carnival but the volunteers set up a home made playground for the youngest kids . They didn't have any guns to raffle off but they did have home made Corn Hole boards that said ' Farm Life on them. As we cruised the few building we walked right into the Pie eating contest and I hope this video turns out cuz we had a pretty good belly laugh going....I don't think I've seen, thought of or heard of a pie eating contest since I was a kid. That's pretty good stuff eh ?....A young 4- H'r told us the way about pigs. He told me about the art of showing them and how you try to keep your pig in front of the judge as much as possible . I asked him why he didn't just get a McDonald's cheeseburger and put it in your back pocket as I guessed that pig would follow you anywhere. He said that wasn't a bad idea but ol porky there might very well bite a whole in you pants.
Now MP didn't think it was to funny , she didn't like the pig excrement on her feet...should'nt have worn sandals baby . She wiped it all of . No harm no foul.
Me and Tom went fishing this morning. Lots of trout like this one here in Mooootana. Guess I should do another fish posing primer as a way of public service for any of you up and coming fishermen that would like to be famous....and ya, I know they're slimey and hard to hold before the release but it goes like this. Hold the fish in front of you as far as possible without pulling a muscle. If you keep your arms tucked in tight to your body the viewers might miss that you're ' long arming ' the photo . There's no shame in this, everybody does it . Have him cradled in one hand if possible. In a boat hold him over the net in case he slips out of your grip . Smile confidently, and an 0 face gets extra points . So it was fun today Tom, I'd give you a B on the pose and of course....and A on the fish.
And the scenery , the chase, the fellowship and of course breakfast at Smiths in East Helena get an A+.
Mile 14 on the Kenai River, well, its a special place on earth. I tell people the Kenai river is like my first girlfriend, always changing, fickle, unpredictable but absolutely gorgeous. This place is the major league of salmon fishing, and you'll see why. No politics here, well maybe a little fish politics, just plain simple fun and adventure.
I have been a fulltime guide on the Kenai River here in Alaska since 1981. I'm a fishing machine between my summer job and surf fishing in Mazatlan Mexico. I've been married to the best person I know for 32 years. I'm a musician , health nut and I like to have fun. Mile 14 is where I live on the Kenai River. So this Blog will be my views, experiences, huge catches and adventures right here from Mile 14...and most of them will be true.
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