Is it worth it?

 

Is it worth it ?

As I reach through the darkness, I can’t see my phone, but I know where I put it last night and I have no problem retrieving it. 

I click the button on the side to wake it up and I am met with a clock that reads 3:05 am.

As I am looking at my phone, the gas light in the kitchen pops on and a low glow of light starts to break the darkness of our little camp. 

John is lighting the gas stove to get the coffee going.  Yes, the old percolator coffee pot that always leaves a heavy dose of coffee grounds at the bottom of your cup . 

Its not long before the tell-tale burp sound signals the coffee is brewing.

Aaah coffee!  A key element for two old guys who often forget how old they really are.

Today’s destination is a good way away and will require about a 30-minute Jeep ride to get there. 

We quickly eat our breakfast and drink our coffee as the anticipation of the day pulls strongly at us.

The gear was loaded into the jeep the night before so there is no real packing to be done for the day except grabbing a few waters and some snacks.

As the jeep bumps down the dirt road, we are heading deeper into a territory we have never fished before. 

We found the pond the day before during a scouting trip ( code word for we were just riding around) and with a Fly Fishing Only regulation we figured it was worth the effort to check it out .

We arrive at the boulders that signal the end of the jeep ride.

From here on its on foot.

The hike in is about a half mile and not too difficult so we quickly grab all our gear and start our hike.

By now the horizon Is getting light as dawn signals the start of another day.

We get to the pond and immediately start preparing our “ghost Canoe” .

A ghost canoe is a Maine tradition where a canoe is left unchained at a pond for others to use that have made the trek.

It’s a wonderful tradition and so many fishermen utilize the generosity of those who drag a canoe all the way in and then leave it unlocked for others to use.

 

Once the gear is all in the canoe  we tie on our flies by the light of  a flashlight.

 Soon we quietly push off from shore to explore a pond neither of us has ever fished before as daylight breaks.

What will the day bring?

Will we have success?

Will getting up early and riding through the darkness be worth the effort and lost sleep?

Will the effort needed to hike our gear into the pond be worth the walk?

Could it be worth all this effort?

Will we have success?     

We already have !  

Tell me what more  one could  wish for?

A remote trout pond deep in the Maine woods.

Two lifelong friends exploring a new location and sharing the love of fly fishing.

The sun coming up to start a new day.

So I ask you, what more could one wish for ?

Nothing!

 Unless the wish was to be young again and start this life's journey anew!