USA 2010

USA 2010

Thursday 19 August

Canberra to Sydney on the 6.20am flight. Met Brian in Sydney, at 7.40am. Up grade to Premium Economy! Landed in LAX at 6.40am, next flight was to Seattle and then on to Bozeman. Arrived Bozeman at 5pm. Picked up the hire car ($620 from the 19^th to the 1^st). Next stop was Walmart to get a mobile phone (or a cell as they call them). We arrived at Mollys at 7pm.

We had a feed in LAX, Brian didn’t know what to choose as you can sort of tell from this photo!

Dan McCrimmon and Denise Maxwell were here, so it was good to see them and catch up. In bed by 11pm. Long day

Molly's place is simply superb!

Friday 20 August

Got up at 7am, went to Bozeman. Got there about 8.40am. Went to the Rivers Edge Fly shop – dropped $US360 on fly stuff. Then we went around to Simms and picked up our stuff that we had pre ordered.

Then into Bozeman, had lunch, went to the cobbler and got them to sew on some additions to my back pack to make it work well. Back at Mollys at 5pm. We then went to the Rib and Chop House for dinner (all of us and Ang). Had a 32 oz t bone!! Magnificent!

Saturday 21 August

Floated the Yellowstone with Molly and Brian, from 89 to Pig Farm. Started about 12pm, as I had slept in till 10am (cause I was awake from 2am to 5am) Brian caught 3 on the hopper – I didn’t manage to land any (being at the back of the boat made it a little hard but no excuses) in fact I didn’t even have a fish look at my fly! We then stopped at one of Molly’s secret spots on the way home for a fish. Brian managed to land one and lost another one. He was doing well (2 white fish, a brown, a cutthroat, and a rainbow were all on the fly at some stage). Brian did well though and was casting well – despite his sore neck. Good on him! A quiet day for me.

Molly looks straight out of a movie here!

I then went into Livingston and helped Ang do some stuff at the FFF. Dinner was a beautiful piece of salmon cooked on the BBQ.

Sunday 22 August

Up at 9am, slept in as i was awake again from 3-5am. We then went to check out the Yellowstone Angler, then on to Sweetwater Fly Shop to check things out. Pat, who had booked our trip to Copper River Lodge was unfortunately not around to say hi.

Brian and I then headed off for a drive to check out Indian Creek and the Shields River. We didn’t fish either for various reasons. We then came back to Livingston for lunch, at Taco Johns, which was pretty average. But anyway. Then we headed down to the Yellowstone and fished at Molly’s secret spot that she had showed me last year. Brian and I both saw some action but not as much as we would have liked. We did see a really nice fish when we were rigging up.. about 20” as the Yanks would say... or one time around my mid thigh region. So quite a decent fish then. I have taken to measuring fish in thigh dimensions... 1 Thigh equals 27”. So a 1 Thigh fish would be a good fish for sure! J

Dinner was pork chops for Rich, Brian and I, as Molly had already left for West Yellowstone.

Monday 23 August

Brian had his chiropractic appointment at 8am. Doc did a great job. His neck was feeling better. We then went to Sweetwater and said hello to Pat who had booked our Alaska trip. Next stop the Simms factory for a tour, kindly given to us by Pete Vandergrift. Took about 2 hours which was great!

Simms in Bozeman

Peter Vandergrift and yours truly

Cutting out waders- steady hands needed!

Stock

Booties for waders drying

Lunch in town then we drove to West Yellowstone.

Had a look at the Gallatin on the way.

When we got there our accommodation wasn’t the best so we went and found a place in town which wasn’t cheap, but it was nice. Had dinner with Ang and Brian. In bed by 12.30am.

Tuesday 24 August

Just spent the day wandering around West Yellowstone. Finished that had lunch, had a bit of a cast on the casting pond. Then went for dinner with Angie, Allison, Floyd, Janet, Brian. It was great fun. In bed by 11pm.

Wednesday 25 August

Did two masters tests starting at 8.30, finished at 4pm. Both candidates failed. Then went to the Presidents dinner

Candidates being tested

Thursday 26 August

2 CCI test today – only one pass, but he was a good one. Well done Ted. Then dinner was at the house Dave and John were renting. A really great feed of t bones! In bed by 11.30.

Friday 27 August

Helped Molly with her women’s class at the Bar N Ranch, which is about 7 miles out of West Yellowstone on highway 20. It was fun. Back in town by midday and then had lunch with Floyd, Janet and Brian. Then looked at the exhibition hall. Went to the auction tonight which was fun.

Saturday 28 August

Gave Ang a lesson today. She did really well. Mucked around for the afternoon then went to the BBQ dinner at the FFF. In bed at 11.30pm - too many late nights!

Sunday 29 August

Drove around West Yellowstone National Park with Floyd Dean and Janet, and Ang. We did a complete circle around the lake. We checked out Old Faithful and the Old Faithful Inn. We got home about 7.30pm, it started to snow on the way out.

Happy looking tourists :-)

Our expensive tour guide. But you get what you pay for!

Now thats how you should pose for a photo.

Janet, Ang, Floyd and Brian

Me showing the yanks what a real geyser is

Trying to get this photo was more fun than watching the little fountain run over :-)

Old Faithful Inn - beautiful inside, made all of wood

Ang doubling as a stand in for one of Charlie's Angels!

Smoko

hmmmmm...

Monday 30 August

Drove to the Madison Rv between Lake Hebgen and Quake Lake. Brian and I fished for about 3 hours. Saw some action on a size 4 articulated streamer and also on a dry fly despite the poor weather. Brian landed a couple as did I. No size to speak of though. The weather was cold and wet and we even got hit with hail. But we had all the gear so it wasn’t a problem. Tried out the new Loop rod and reel we had acquired in our trip and they both worked really well. Loop makes a very nice rod, casts well, is light and well finished. You can’t really ask for more.

Brian rigging up

Michelin Man - weather wasn't the best, but we were both warm and dry

We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Bozeman for only $102 (plus tax) a night. Made a change from the $190 (plus tax) per night. It was pretty nice.

Tuesday 31 August

Looked at the shops today until about 2pm, when Angie came over from Livingston. We went swimming at the Bozeman hot springs which was really nice fun. Then we had a lovely dinner at the Bozeman Bistro on Main Street. I was sad saying goodbye to my friend Angie, she is a great girl.

Next we fly to Anchorage. Click here for our Alaska adventure!