Fellow Extravaganzers:
With Kathy’s passing now almost a month in the rear view mirror, I thought I would reach out to each of you to thank you for your prayers, thoughts, and Kandles For Kathy all of which have immensely helped during this most difficult of times for me. I was asked the other day what the whole experience had been like and my reply was “it was a magnitude 10 earthquake on a scale of 10.” Indeed that was the case as everything has been shaken—way of life, value structures, priorities—but in the aftermath I am pleased to report that I am on recovery’s road and will be stronger in the end for having gone through the horror and drama of now nearly the first two months of 2015…this too, shall pass, but, wowie, it has been a tough and rugged ride.
One wonderful element of the recovery process was my spending last week fly fishing in Patagonia, Chile. I will write more about this special experience, but suffice it to say that I became so fondly attached to the beauty of that area (much like my early feelings towards Montana a dozen years ago) that, during my stay, I put fishing aside for two days and, in working with our land hosts, was pleased to locate and now will purchase with them (and others who might be interested) 20 acres upon which together we will build a second fishing lodge for his family, making them the largest outfitter in Patagonia, Chile, as well as the perfect excuse for my having to return there annually or more frequently. Nope, never a dull moment!!
All of the above notwithstanding, our plans for Extravaganza 2015 are roaring ahead like the Chilean gusty wind (it blew 30+ mph my entire stay there!). E-15 is now sold out and we sure have a(nother) wild ride in store for you all. All goods have been ordered, all boats are lined up, and I am garnering a wonderful batch of speakers for our evenings there together. In fact, my newest Chilean good friend Eduardo Barrueto will be in attendance for one of our groups to do a presentation on the waters of Patagonia and has donated a one week trip to his marvelous Magic Waters lodge (www.magicwaterspatagonia.com) as an auction item for this year’s November 7th Montana Matters Napa Concert (mark your calendars!). [Also, I will be hosting our first Extravagonia trip to his lodge the week of January 9th, 2016, to celebrate my 69th birthday—9 slots are open for this trip for those who might be interested…more on this later as well!]
Thank you again all for your kind thoughts and warm feelings which have been clearly and thankfully received on this end. The hardest part of life for me is death, and Kathy’s passing was my first experience in losing a loved one in that manner. If you are smart, what hurts you makes you stronger and, with that being the case, I sure am going to be an even greater force to be reckoned with in the very near future!!
If you have not done so already, be sure to make your E-15 air travel reservations to/fro Missoula and get a copy of your itinerary to our Extravaganza Coordinator Extraordinaire, Christian Heath; also, take confidence in knowing that snowfall and upper climes snow pack in western Montana is right at 100% of twenty year averages, so fishing opportunities for E-15 are looking splendid, thank you very much!!
Best to all in the recovery stage of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
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