A walk to remember

I caught the first fish, a diminutive yet ambitious largemouth bass, but I wish I hadn’t.

It seemed like poor-form to catch before my charges did. To be fair, I gave them a couple of minutes head start.

My son and his friend were fishing across the pond from me. I figured they’d have better luck there than where I perched. Typical advice.

They may have been just fishing, but I was marking a transition. The end of summer begets fall. For some, high school graduation leads to starting college. They were just starting their journey into adulthood while mine was well worn.

I shepherded the boys, err men, to the new pond at Wanatee County Park. It was designed by then employee Dana Kellogg to be a high quality fishing pond that would have high water quality.

All music to my ears.

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The best part of the pond for me was the walk. From the parking, the trail wound a mile. Long enough to be possible but far enough to tamp down competition and abuse. The stroll in was a good time to enjoy the forest and daydream about a hot bite.

They talked about moving into the dorm at Drake. I thought about the intro to the Andy Griffith Show.

The pond was stingy but I could have hardly blamed it. I don’t think it was possible to have picked a hotter day. We fished over the noon hour to boot.

“Fish on!” Ryal reeled in a bluegill. I got tasked with hook removal. Sometimes they’re men, other times still boys. A problem I hadn’t enjoyed for many years.

Cicadas whined in the heat as if they were trying to match the pitch of the nearby highway. We moved along the north shore and cast. Swarms of dinks followed our lures but nothing of consequence attacked or even gave chase.

Our efforts in the heat were truncated by an impromptu appointment via cellphone for one the boys. Relief was shared silently by all. We walked out at a slower pace than earlier. The shade afforded moments of cooling through our sweat soaked clothes.

The truth is, you can park off the highway and take a very short walk to the pond. But life’s more than destinations. I felt (and still feel ) the walk in and out was a vital part of the experience.

It’d be a shame if it was always easy to get to our destinations.

College is underway. The worst of the heat is over. Arjun and Ryal will tread a tree shrouded campus with attention to their studies rather than fish. I’ll continue my choice to walk the long way to wherever I’m headed.

Looking up, looking ahead, and keeping my pencil sharp.

John Lawrence Hanson, Ed.D. teaches at Linn-Mar High School. He sits on the Marion Tree Board, and is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America