At first I thought you were writing about the “Exterminization” of fly fishing, which seemed a bit (ahem) extreme, but once I puzzled out the letters, I have to say I like the article.
I’m not 100% sure that competitive fly fishing is tied to extreme fly fishing as you suggest, but I do believe every new generation finds itself in the grip of a genetic imperative to reinvent itself (and its lifestyle).
Whether that’s good or bad isn’t yet clear. Regardless, your piece is thoughtful.

Hey Tom, thanks for stopping by. Funny you should say that, as I was working on the piece, and rereading it, I even read it once as “extermination.”  That’s what I get for being cutesy. To tell the truth, I was even thinking “extreminizing” .

I’m sure I’ll take some flack for this post. I’m not even 50% sure that the two are tied together. It might not be clear enough in the piece, but I’m more concerned about the attitude on the waters I fish than I am about any tournament. How much is cause and effect? Probably not much. I would imagine more of an entire cultural change is at fault. Although I’m sure Walton even had rude fishermen to deal with.

Fly fishing is a unique interaction between a fisherman and the fish.  Is it a competition?  Perhaps, but the true and dedicated fly fisheman finds a measure of satisfaction in the experience and surroundings, even on those days when no fish has come to his offering.  Did he get “skunked”?  No, he had a wonderful day in a wonderful place.  It was a pleasure to be hand-held by nature….a beat in the tournament of life.

Bob,

Yes indeed – very well said!

Bob: As you pointed out, the fisherman is already in competition with the fish, and while I’m willing to reserve this particular bit of opinion for myself, it seems as if adding a layer of competition on the top of that disrespects the fish a tad.

Tom, Good point. Interesting thing about the word “compete”: it comes most recently from the French “compéter,” where it means to be in rivalry with. But before that it was from a Latin word, “competere,” meaning “strive together.” How often do we think of any type of competitive tournaments as that? I like the Latin.

I enjoy fishing with other people. And when I do, I like to think I’m following in the vein of the Latin, rather than the French: I like to work with the other fishermen so we all do well. Share flies. Share space. Share knowledge of the water. In a way I guess that’s what a lot of our blogs are all about.

If I was Native American, I would like to think that my fishing was in some way also following the Latin definition—that somehow, through my respect for the fish, the two of us were striving together for me to catch it. Unfortunately, my desires are usually nowhere near that noble.

So where does that leave me? I’ve been envolved in the “gentleman’s competition” (especially in my youth), where you kind of keep score when you fish with others, but now, I don’t seem to care as much and I do fish solo more than with someone(s).It’s not that I don’t enjoy company or that I’m selfish (although the selfish part sometimes enters my mind), it’s more a fact of when I go on a trip it is so spontaneous that it’s hard for someone else to be prepared to go at the drop of a hat so I often just go and don’t ask.I will say, and it will seem strange to some, that even when I fish alone, I sometimes get the feeling someone or something unseen is around, or has been in the area past and sometimes present. I know the mind can play tricks, but I get the feeling, sometimes, that I’m walking or following a path that someone in the past has followed. Call it mystical or maybe spiritual. I always wonder how that all fits into the scheme of things. I guess we all fish for different reasons?? Wow! I’m really taking this in a weird direction. Sorry!

Robert, where does it leave you? Well, as we have grown to know you, you are indeed a breed a part.

Don’t apologize! I know what you mean about that feeling. I think it’s more of an animal thing for me, like I feel an animal is near somewhere, although it may be mystical/spiritual and I’m just not in tune enough to figure that out. Anyhow, kind of freaks me out at times.

I enjoy fishing alone too. I don’t know if that’s selfish, sometimes you just need that alone time. But when I fish with someone, I like to watch them succeed. Dan, my main fishing buddy, and I often share a very small creek. He fishes until he gets a fish or misses a couple, then I do the same. There might be some good-natured “score keeping,” but it usually revolves around the species (-3 for a brown, +5 for a cutthroat, that kind of thing, but just to razz the other person).

But if he’s catching them and I’m not, he’ll give me a fly he’s using. Like when he caught a boat-load (I think 9 fish all over 16″) out of this one small hole while we were fishing apart, he wanted me to go back later and try for the same experience he had–he doesn’t keep it secret so he can go back and fish it again on his own. We strive together for the same enjoyment.

But even alone, there is still that competition, as Tom said, with the fish. And I think with yourself. You are trying to best the fish and maybe even your previous results.

The culture that created the X-Games is slowly rearing its ugly head in the fly fishing world.  The AEG videos are the perfect example – no longer is it good enough to simply enjoy fly fishing as an avocation; rather, it is required that you are extreme in your passion and pursuit of all things fishy.  The good news is, people like myself can still adeptly avoid the crowds and eschew the label whoring and one-upsmanship of these cliques.  A day on the water, in solitude and quiet symbiosis with the world of the trout is enough for anyone who wishes simply to enjoy the trout and his environs and cares not for the materialistic, competetive, ‘next hot fly’, ESPN Outdoor Games, I’m more extreme than you, world of fly fishing. And Tom, maybe I’m out of touch with my generation (in fact, I’m sure of it) but as I learned fly fishing I never felt the impulse to re-define myself and improve on my father’s brand of fly fishing.  In fact, I wanted nothing more than to immerse myself in a hobby that was a throwback to another time and would take me away from the mainstream of society.  It’s becoming harder and harder to do, but with a deft touch, it can still be accomplished. 

I’ve heard the competitions are a little over the top, with anglers doing crazy stuff like crawling around on their bellies stalking fish, wearing camo, and doing a lot of yelling at the referees.  It doesn’t sound like much fun, and that’s what it is supposed to be.

Serene, high-mountain creek or tailwater chock full of trophies, I prefer fishing with others.  The conversation on the way there frames the day, and I’ve come to enjoy watching others hook up (particularly newbies) as much as catching myself.  That is promotion – taking fresh folks out on the water and helping them learn new techniques.  It’s nearly as satisfying as hooking a pig – I’ll take that “profit” any day, and I’m not in the business.

Some don’t get that opportunity (without paying through the nose) often, and that’s where AEG and others come in – providing visuals that show there is more to fly fishing than standing in the same run for four hours dredging two fly rigs.  Yes, there are some that will show poor form and tag the top of that hole out of impatience, but that’s simply a matter of etiquette education.

Disdain for tournaments aside, there is some measure of “evolution” overtaking the sport – I don’t see it as a bad thing.  Should fly fishing hold on to tradition, or embrace some change?  I say the latter.  We can and will all learn to get along.

This is a pretty thoughtful thread. Most of the time, I fish alone. The interesting thing is, I never feel alone when I’m doing it.

The X-games thing is no doubt due in part to fly fishing equipment manufacturers’ marketing ploys, which, given their razor-thin profit margins, are probably necessary. At least I’m told their profit margins are razor-thin. I don’t really know.

But I think the equipment is better than it was when I was a boy. I own a bamboo rod (currently having a tip set corrected) and several graphite rods. I think my favorite really is one of the graphites, although my default rod for my home water is the bamboo.

I try not to get into snits with other, less considerate fishermen while I’m on the stream. It’s a long river; I can move. And I can’t really say that I’m in competition with the fish, even though I like Tom’s thought. For me it’s much more like a conversation-the river and everything around it are talking to me, telling me something. It’s up to me to figure out what it’s all saying. In that process, a fish may come to my fly, or maybe not. The fish is for me confirmation that I’m getting something right about the conversation with the river. All that said, I still prefer large fish to small ones, unless, of course, we’re talking Bluegill on a farm pond or small lake back in Kentucky.

g_rob, Michael & Kentucky Jim – I appreciate you taking the time to join the conversation!

g_rob – I like that word, “avocation” – something one does in addition to one’s vocation. We’re not making money off our avocation. Maybe this is part of what irks me, that someone is getting “paid” (whether that is with a trophy, recognition, money, etc.) to do that which I think of as a past-time. Should it bother me, probably not. Why should guides or author’s make money off their love of the sport and others not? But still, there’s something there noodling at me I can’t shake. As you say, it does, often, take that deft touch to avoid the hubbub around us, whatever our avocation.

Michael – Uh…um…well…I’ve been guilty of crawling on my belly to position myself for just the right cast. But I haven’t worn camo or yelled at any referees (unless it involves baseballs, basketballs, footballs or pucks – and, thankfully, there have never been any of those things present when I’ve fished – yet).

Yeah, it is supposed to be fun. I like that. Many guides I have talked with, or fish and game people, have told me how some of the excitement and passion can go out of their fishing now that it has become their vocation. I wonder if the competitors and “actors” lose some of their desire when they sell their souls choose to compete or “star” in a glam-film?

Change. Yeah, it’s pretty inevitable. Bad? Not always. Does it still bother me when someone doesn’t have “proper” etiquette on the river around me? Yep. Can they hold still long enough to be taught when they’re worried about “competing” or ripping through to the next hole? I hope so.

Kentucky – The local gas stations are forever telling me their profit margins are thin too. I’d like to see their books.

You bring up an interesting point about equipment. I wonder with the sponsors some of the “actors” and competitors have, if they use feedback to help improve equipment. Kind of like car/motorcycle racing where they are pushing the limits of the equipment so the manufacturers improve the equipment. There may be some benefit there (I won’t hold my breath though).

I love your “conversation” analogy (much better than my feeble attempt with the French and Latin etymology segue): “…confirmation that I’m getting something right about the conversation.” Yeah, I really like that. Thank you!

[...] Stalker blog explore the “Extreminization of Fly Fishing”: http://scarles.org/blog/?p=384 [...]

I’m a little late weighing in on this topic (and not nearly as eloquently), but I have to lean more towards Michael’s take and also with Kentucky Jim.  I find myself alone on the river most of the time and I find that I don’t mind at all.  If I do encounter someone else, they are usually spin fishing.  Fly fishing is somewhat of a minority around here, but I do find that other fishermen tend to wander over my way eventually just to see what I am doing.   That usually leads to questions and sometime a request to “give it try”.I sometimes find it hard to verbalize my love (addiction) to fly fishing in terms that someone who has never ventured out west to your part of the country and experienced the scenery, the water, and trout.  That is where so many of the web sites like yours and the video postings come into place.  I can’t tell you how many times I have recommended sites like yours, TC’s and many others as a great place to learn about fly fishing and the people who love it. 

Will our sport change as a new generation experiences it?  Inevitable.

I think that a first time visitor to a this site and this posting in particular, would be amzed at the deep thought and philosophical outlooks posted by the contributors.  That’s why I recommend them.

Even later than Harry… this is a great thread. Ted Leeson wrote an article in Drake Magazine a few issues ago about this same topic. http://www.drakemag.com

So I am of that generation of X Gamers, but don’t partake in competitions. I do work at Taylor Creek Fly Shop http://www.taylorcreek.com in Basalt, CO. One of our guides, Gifford Maytham has won the masters a few times. We like to call him “Hollywood” around here. There is a carp tournament in Denver, CO a few of our guides go to as well (imagine having a beat that goes through downtown, walking past vagrants, catching drifts behind shopping carts). There is no doubt that fly fishing is evolving right now to almost every species of fish, in almost every type of water. But it isn’t solely the younger generation.

The guys in Denver who started fishing for carp there are pretty young. Found a niche. And love it. The tournament aspect is interesting. From inside the industry, a lot of it is business generation. The tournaments are sponsored by different fly fishing companies. The advertising sells well to the younger generations of fly fishers.

I’m also reminded of Randy Kadish’s book “The Fly Caster Who Tried To Make Peace With the World,” a pretty good treatise on just that, one of the aspects of which is competition (granted he was casting and not fishing).

Also, recently I was watching Soulfish, a DVD from a different company than AEG. With in that DVD is a segment on Lance Egan, a member of Team USA. It, along with knowing competitors in various competitions, makes me pretty convinced the competition fits certain personalities more than others.

More than any other time (except perhaps after A River Runs Through It came out in theaters) fly fishing is growing. As a reflection of the society in which we live, its growth is focused on an extreme capitalism at the moment. The sprouting up of various competitions intimately woven into the fabric. BUT!

The best part is, fly fishing is whatever you make it. Whether you are carp fishing in Denver or on a small stream tucked way back in the mountains. This topic has been on my mind a lot over the past couple of years. If it is a good trend or bad trend or just is…. We’ll see what happens if/when David James Duncan’s “River Why” ends up in theaters.

Anybody want to come out to Colorado for some Fall/Late Fall fly fishing? Cheers & thanks for the opportunity to suss out some thoughts.

Harry,

The road through our local canyon is a designated Scenic Byway. The river runs right next to this road. I occasionally have “tourists” stop and watch and a few take pictures. But I’m usually too far away to actually converse with them. So I think that’s pretty cool that you have the opportunity to do a little educating riverside. I would imagine 60% of my fishing is solo. But even if I’m with my fishing buddy, I would imagine that 90% of our fishing is just the two of us because we like to fish lots of small streams for native fish, which usually have little pressure. I’m a little worried that you might point some people this direction for “deep thought” – luckily there are a few other posters who contribute and provide a little more than my verbal flatulence.

Cameron,

I really appreciate you stopping by and posting. It’s nice getting the perspective from someone a little closer to the Gen X and competition action than I am. I’ve not yet read Randy’s book (it’s about 20th on my list right now-got him “friended” over at Goodreads).

I’m trying to encourage as many people as I can to take up carp fishing (I figure that will free up a few of my favorite trout holes). Seriously though, I think I know what you mean about some personalities fitting with competition more than others. I definitely don’t have any kind of competition running through my veins (maybe for a round of Scrabble, or occasionally a game of chess-but it really depends who I’m playing). Traditional sports, not so much. If you want to beat somebody at a sport, play me.

Question for you (in case you swing back through this way again). From those you know who are in the competitive aspect of the sport, does it tend to spill over to the river for their regular fishing? I would imagine that it all depends on who the person is. I guess jerks are always jerks no matter what they do. But just because someone is into competitive casting/fishing, it doesn’t automatically make them a jerk on the river.

You know, I hadn’t really thought about The River Why’s potential impact on fly fishing. It seems we have finally tailed off with the A River Runs Through It crowd, now we’ll get a whole new crop.

I think we all want to come for a little late fall fishing in Colorado. What’s the closest Greenback Cutthroat, Colorado River Cutthroat and Rio Grande Cutthroat fishing to you?

Great thread. One of the things I love about fishing is that we can do it at any level. When I first fished the Beaverkill I met a guy who told me he fishes only Adams, that to him the best thing about fishing is being there. He wasn’t interested in spending so much time changing flies. I too was like him. Now that I have more time, however, I’ve become much more interested in becoming a better angler, so I’ve read a lot of how-to books and experimented with many techniques. I love competing against myself, not against other anglers. I feel I now have an added reason to fish, though often I go back to fishing with one fly and to just enjoying the moment and the beauty all around me.I do love, however, the competitive sport of fly casting. I wish only that it had a larger following. But even when it comes to fly casting I again love competing against myself.I guess in the end there are so many aspects to fishing that we can all enjoy it on different levels.Randy Kadish

Randy,

Thanks for stopping by and adding your thoughts. The possibilities in fly fishing are infinitely varied. It seems most would agree that fly fishing is just about as much everything else as it is about catching fish. I would actually like to see a fly casting competition in person, it might give me a better perspective about the personalities of those involved.

Okay HLT, TB is going to concede that carp fishing tournaments are a good idea.  I am all for it.That might be the only way I would go fishing for them.  Unless of course, trout were “Exterminated”or “Extreminized” for that matter.  BTW should we go “competering” for some native cutts on the West Fort of the Bear River Saturday.  FYI We could also  ”competerize” a bag of duos while we are at.

I am from “gen-x” and snowboard, and think b.a.s.e. jumping looks like a great time. I was not introduced to fishing by my dad but by a good friend in my late 20′s, I am now 30. Yet, I like fly-fishing in the wild surronded by as FEW people as possible. I think the biggest death to fly-fising is not commercialization or contest but the lack of etiquite on the water, much like in golf there is a simple etiquite to be followed, I wish someone could teach people this, people of all ages!

Dan, Give me a call about 12:00ish Saturday. I have to help move a sister-in-law’s stuff in Smithfield in the AM. Otherwise, West Fork sounds good.

Andy (Haley? – You’ve got me confused, man!),

I appreciate the comments from a “Gen-Xer” around here. Just thinking about BASE jumping scares the crap out of me. I guess that lends credence right there to Cameron’s comment about certain personalities coming into play (I’m pretty much a wuss). It’s also good to hear that your “extreme” sporting doesn’t spill over to the rivers. That’s my main concern.

Etiquette. How do we teach it? I was on the South Fork of the Snake two weeks ago wade fishing and had several encounters: a drift boat saw us fishing a bank working our way toward a nice hole, and the drift boat goes right through the hole then gets within about 30 feet of me before paddling into the main current; the second guy was in an aluminum boat ripping downriver with the outboard at full throttle, which he cut a dozen yards upriver of me in a large flat, creating huge waves, dropped anchor 40 feet behind me and starts fishing). Sheeeeeesh! (Funny thing, this is exactly what I wrote about in my original post and this experience I just related happened a week after I wrote: it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.)

Anyway, thanks for raising your voice in behalf of the considerate gen-xers everywhere.

btw – your latest solo trip pics look great. Yoda must be something else!

 Great post and conversation!

The past few weeks I have thought about your post while on the water. I have typed and typed and typed, only to erase and start over.

My Point of View…..

I am from the X-Game era (the beginning) and it doesn’t mean I love fish and water any less or more than the next guy… nor am selling out (whatever that means) by capturing my adventures on film, testing for companies or wearing products that support my vision. I have fished for a living (commercial), as a hobbyist (20-30 days a year), and as full-blown addict. For the past 15 years it’s been my life and my job (not guiding, actual fishing). Fishing for me is different than it was for my father or my father’s father, or my father’s father father, basically I drive a different car. They all fished and like everyone else, it was a hobby. Fishing has enabled me to see myself better. It holds a top spot on the best moments in life, the worst moments in life, the scarcest moments in life and a few of the I didn’t think I was going to make it several times moments in life.

I think that the majority of the younger generation falls into the same category. Perhaps one way to look at it is my generation grew up fishing, as we get older the local stomping grounds have been beaten for 15 years by the time we are 20, its old news. There is a large group of people that started later in life, “the river runs through it crowd”. Not that it’s a bad thing; it’s just the way it is. I hear the line “I have been fishing for 30 years” quite a bit. My question to them is how often do you go? The gap between generations is staggering to say the least but the younger crowd is gaining momentum and I feel they are not really concerned with fame as much as the older generation actually was. The older guys got paid by writing sermons on “how the only way to’s” and a lot of “my way is the best way to do things” articles, books, demonstration, shows and VHS tapes. The new generation can get paid to document the travels doing what they already do every day, what fool would say no? It’s these same guys or “actors” that are beating the crap out of the best gear in the worst conditions on a daily basis, not because they get paid to but because they already do. This is a win for any consumer. The old ways of doing things of getting a magazine to do a write up after little use (day or two) and thank the company by saying all good things is almost over… and what good comes from that, especially for the consumer? Another difference I see is the younger generations of extreme dudes is spreading more awareness about important issues than ever before, and quickly. This is huge. With the Internet and digital age they are taking advantage of every tool necessary to reach the world.

This leads me to believe that fishers, not companies, are dictating the direction … and… that there are two very distinct parties enjoying the water – the hobbyist and the lifestyle fisher. The only real difference I see is the commitment and dedication and that’s OK. Being a bum is not for everyone and sometimes it’s not a good thing, but working everyday just to live to pay bills isn’t either. But the world I know is full of many things that don’t matter, if you can find something that makes sense in pursuit of something that makes you enjoy life, then I’d say that’s one step closer to true freedom. None is greater than the other as the glory should go to the fish…. and from many world travels its hard for me to tell if one loves it more than the other… … but clearly to me commitment separates the two.

Anyway, that’s just my half a cent said with a friendly smile.
 
-Bryan

Bryan,

I’m really glad you stopped by. I was actually hoping to hear more voices like yours and Andy’s, so I’m glad you guys got around to dropping a few comments. I’d say your comment was a lot closer to about 3 1/2 cents. And I do appreciate the smile. I hope you took the original post that started all of this with a smile too.

Your typing and retyping paid off, this was very well said. I just hope I didn’t dampen any of your fishing while you were on the water. I’ve done a lot of thinking since I first posted it as well. I hope you, or anyone else, doesn’t take this as a vendetta against gen-xers, tournament fishers, extra. I just wanted to get people to think, including myself. It was just a way to get started thinking about etiquette on the river.

I’d be at the front of the line to “sell out” (like you said, whatever that means) to any company offering me gear to promote (as long as I agreed with the philosophy behind the company). Or become a glam-boy for a fishing film (that would never happen, so I don’t have to worry about that–maybe if they need crusty old farts I’d have a chance ).

Commercial, hobbyist, addict. I like that. Then later you throw in the “lifestyle” fisher. I like that too, because that is something that I really hadn’t thought a lot about. I know from your blog that you are definitely in the addict/lifestyle corner. You can certainly bring a different perspective to the sport than a lot of others could.

Here’s the deal. It’s probably a case of preaching to the choir. I would imagine most people reading this blog would not be the one’s I would like to really reach. The issue I wanted to address is not about gen-x or tournaments or advertising or anything else like that.

In fact, from what I really know about those who fit into the gen-x “lifestyle” fishermen, I’d have to say they are more “loners” (meant in a good way) and into combining their love of the outdoors and getting away from people in some wild and scenic places than in getting stuck with a high population of people on a crowded river.

I’m not sure if you read through all of the comments posted, but clear up at #2 was a reply I made to Tom. “How much is cause and effect? Probably not much. I would imagine more of an entire cultural change is at fault. Although I’m sure Walton even had rude fishermen to deal with.”

And I’ll stick with that, because I doubt that a specific group, whether it’s gen-x or tournament fishers or any other “group” who is “at fault” for rude behavior on the river. I’m with Andy, it is a matter of etiquette. My post is about niceness on the river. I just happened to see the AEG saying about “not your father’s fishing” and the post kind of came together because of that.

I would imagine that a bigger real reason for any problems on the river fit into the following categories: time, space and personality. The less time you have on the river, the less space available on the river and the more aggressive your personality, the greater the chances for rude behavior.

Again, I’m really glad you stopped by and contributed.

btw – I am jealous of that monster slab you reeled in!

Ha! Funny..I guess it was more like 3 1/2 cents, a little ranty eh… yeah, maybe, oops ; ) I did take the original post with a smile for sure. I love your site, I really enjoy the unbiased real thought and the fact (like you mentioned) it makes you think. You have a real knack of writing and I enjoy the wit and the laughs. No, no, it didn’t dampen the fishing ; ) I actually thought a lot about what you and your readers said. It was a fantastic few weeks of thinking. In fact I really enjoyed this piece.

Getting back on to the subject ; ) …. I think your formula is spot on… time, space and personality. I used to think the better-known destinations had the most problems. They draw in folks from all over the world in return there is a lot of different personalities clashing at the same time. The majority of these folks I met at these particular areas are of high-dollar (it cost a lot to fly in for a week, stay at the lodge and fish with a guide). Where they come from and how they act on a daily basis is not the same for guys like us. They think they are “somebody” (whatever that means) in their daily job/life. Out here they’re somebody too, just not the “somebody” they might think they are… as out there everyone is somebody, as equals, as fishers. Not to label any one group but the rich differ from the poor. This brings me back to my thoughts on the hobbyist fisher.

To be honest, I’ve had a few confrontations on the water. Some have been in small remote stream and others have been on famous waters. Some were misunderstandings, one with a specific big-shot rep for the sport. This one in particular teaches a class here in Utah on etiquette and being a steward of the “sport”. Ironic to think that he blatantly disregarded all common courtesy to catch a 6″ fish. I confronted him and he proceeded to yell “we usually fish the big waters”… what is that supposed to mean? I laughed hysterically, then, he actually wanted to fight me in front of his children!! I was laughing so hard by that time it really pissed the guy off; he was getting really angry when the rest of my crew showed up. He intelligently backed down, apologized, gave me business card (with his home address on it, not smart), phone number, email, etc…. I also thought it was funny that he charges people money every year so he can preach the “word” but won’t practice what he is always preaching. People are interesting.

On the opposite side of things…. I have meet more great folks in the middle of nowhere that I can count. For every bad example there has been double the amount of the great ones. The last trip to Montana we met a stranger that went out of his way to lend a brotherly hand for the simple reason that he wanted to. There was no glory or recognition to compensate his kind act and world will never know he helped out, but things like that don’t matter. It’s these types of people who really restore my faith in humanity. To show my gratitude I return the favor to others I meet and the hopefully the cycle continues.

I was taught to give a fly, tie a knot, share a run and above all, if there is an old Jedi hobbling to the water with his cane, you give way with a sincere smile. It’s these guys that have given there all for fish and the water… they deserve the respect of the youth. So I do it… and believe me karma works in mysterious ways.

As always love the site, great thoughts here.

Just my 1/1/2 cents.. Guess that makes it an even 5; )

-Bryan

Bryan,

Actually, I was being serious about the 3 1/2 cents because I meant the quality of your comment was much greater than the 1/2 cent you gave it (but, now that you mention it, yeah, that was pretty long–but I’m sure it’s not even close to payback for how much space I’ve taken up on your blog ).

You know, I’ve had the same experience with some of those middle-of nowhere-people too. Whether I’ve been lost, stuck out in the rain in the middle of the night, whatever, there are some incredible people out there.

Your “big shot” story cracks me up. It is unfortunate when you run across people like that, but that’s a great story.

Keep that karma flowing!