Middle River Dispatches

A gumbo of fly-fishing, conservation, politics and days afield, for what it is worth....

Vote Public Lands and Waters

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With any luck this will be my last political post of this election. I hope that you will vote and take advantage of the opportunity we have in this country to make our preference for elected leaders known.

As has been my practice, I’ve written a letter to the editor of my local paper.

The land, water and wild things that inhabit it don’t get to vote, but you do. There is a clear choice with Joe Biden. If you enjoy the great outdoors, especially hunting and fishing on public lands, vote on their behalf and show an understanding and appreciation for the bounty of our public lands.

Read the full letter: https://www.newsleader.com/story/opinion/readers/2020/10/30/our-public-lands-deserve-our-vote/5980029002/

Politics has been a vocation and advocation of mine for more than 40 years. Never has an election in that span of time been more important for the future our country. I’ve made my choice.

To those I angered or annoyed, with my opinions or preferences, I apologize, I hope politics doesn’t define our friendship.

And know this, I will always support the chance for you to make yours.

The Abbey Doctrine

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In the last few years, trips to my doctor have had a way of shining a glaring spotlight on my mortality. This most recent visit was no exception. The blood pressure numbers were nothing to right home about.

I’m medicine adverse so, after a bit of back and forth with my doc, we decided to see if a life style change might work. I’ve got 90 days to see.

So it is back to meditation and very concerted effort to remove unnecessary stress.
Abbey’s words resonate in my mind

One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”

I intend to do what I can to outlive the bastards.

The Reckoning

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If you’ve read the papers or watched the news you see the litany of failure from this administration. The world looks on in horror or delight depending on their geo-political stance toward America.

For four years or more, words of warning went unheeded, signs of malfeasance ignored and the voices of dissent ridiculed.

No more.

These voices are trusted leaders. Their standing or patriotism can’t be, shouldn’t be, questioned.

The chorus continues to expand, growing stronger and louder.

There will be a reckoning for those who aid and abet the malfeasance and criminality of this administration.