Stupid or just getting old? (Peter Williams)

Stupid or just getting old?

It takes me 50 weeks to plan for my fortnight in scourie.

Let’s face it Rob and I had to decide on our departure a few weeks ago whether we stayed for the week before the GFR or the week after. We chose the week after and maybe Achiltiebhuie the week before.

Then there is the question of accommodation, the expedition tent, the big tent, a cottage?? In the end we throw the lot in the back of the car. Trouble was this year was that every day after breakfast during the camping week it took 45 minutes to sort out the boot of my car.

Let us go further back into the preparation, how many rods? I took five this year. plus a dapping rod. plus a telescopic fly rod. plus a spinning rod (sea-fishing). I used them all, bar the spinning rod, though it might have come in useful on the trout lochs on a couple of very dour days- sorry I will just wash my mouth out.

Reels are easy, one sinker and one floater, in two different weights plus a reel for fly fishing in the sea, spinning reel, and a dapping reel. That’s only seven.

Float-tubing was a revelation this year. But then you need lightweight waders for walking, warm ones plus the different boots for each type. A bicycle pump for the tube. Where does it all end?

water-proofs, evening shirts, chick pulling gear (you never know someone might get lucky), cameras, first aid kit, fishing shirts, socks for walking, socks for casual wear, fleeces ,foot wear and important items like cool dark glasses for the eagles eyrie for the those post fishing post-mortems.

Or you could be like brother robin and go with the attitude' if I have not packed it someone will have one'. Mike had to travel light coming across the Atlantic. I had two cars full of stuff, so crammed into one, I could not even offer a lift to a single Swedish nympho-maniac had there been one looking for a lift between Rotterdam and Scourie.

Finally there are the treasured fly collections that have taken years to build. A few bought here and there, a few sent away for, and those lifted from my fly boxes when my attention was diverted. (40+ boxes at the last count and he's taking them all in 2013)

Can you imagine the depressive state my brother Graham was in when he told me that his total fly collection had been stolen from his garage, save a few select ones that he had lent to a mate who was going fishing in some stocked pond. Fly boxes that had been donated at Xmas time by loved ones (and relatives). Flies were closer to him than some relatives, each with their own story to tell. Many that came in that batch of 50 for stg10.00 that had not felt the water caress Their soft hackles. Years of touching and admiring; gone from the garage. What a stupid place to keep a sacred possession!! I could not help thinking why just steal the flies? Why not some other articles from your collection of valuables at the bottom of your garden?

The rest is now history, Graham had a dismal GFR week but an excellent first week under the guidance of his older brother, taking him to such legendary lochs as the Gillaroo loch at Inchnadamph, loch Urigill and some mouth-watering lochs of Achiltiebhuie. Just for the record he caught three trout over a pound during the first week.

Preparing to go Tubing x 4 on Loch Vatican Achiltibue

In post Scourie mode of mild depression and “i have to sort out my study at home” mood there, in a box folder, were/was the 'stolen ' fly boxes / collection. Cannot believe it was sabotage by Lynda as she had already replaced at great expense a new box and flies. So what was it?

Why these days so much memory loss and repeating yourself or taking an age to get going on the morning of a fishing trip? it is the effects of old age with a bit of something else thrown in for good measure. talking of good measures................... scholl for ever

Peter Williams (The Dognobbler)