“Wow! It feels like I never left, yet it’s been two years.” As I drove through the front gate and up to the ranch, that’s exactly what went through my mind. It’s a little hard to believe almost two years have gone by since last I was here. When I first got here in August of 2020, I remember the awe I felt when I was here. This time was no different. The feeling was still there.
My morning started fairly early, which is fine since I enjoy waking up early and watching the sunrise. We gathered around the truck and offloaded the necessary equipment and soon after received a safety brief from the adults. Hehe! That’s what we call the higher-ups who are responsible for the day’s doings. Even while being briefed, my mind was drifting into the surrounding areas. “There’s the creek where I found all of them brookies last time. I wonder if I’ll be able to sneak away and get the line in the water.” I didn’t get to fish the creek last time, but I feel the temptation will be overwhelming this time, considering I’ll be seeing this place for several months.
As soon as the brief was over and we had a clear course of direction for the day, I made my way down to where that ole’ tree that provided shade to that section of creek I saw the brookies in last time. I didn’t see them today but doesn’t mean they’re not there. Fish have an innate ability to blend into their surroundings.
As I turned around, the sun was just starting to come up over the hill and cast beautiful light on the horses grazing in the field. “Man, it really is difficult to get a bad shot out here.”
There’s not much for my department to do today, but nonetheless we’re at the ready. That’s all fine with me because it gives me a chance to break away every now and again and explore. Oddly, or perhaps not, even when there’s nothing to do, or I choose not to explore, simply being immersed in the environment is food for the soul.
You know the other thing I’ve noticed? For whatever reason, I chain smoke backwoods cigars. Sure, I smoke them back home, but out here it’s on a whole different level. I don’t know. I guess when in the backwoods smoke backwoods.
It will be nice being here at the ranch all week. I never get tired of it.
