It's hard to believe but the summer is half over for most of us, and more so, I guess, for those who have kids in school.
That start date seems to have gravitated to an earlier and earlier time as the years have gone by and now some kids must start in early August.
It was not too long ago that school did not start until after Labor Day but with the advent of air conditioning in the classroom, they now start in what normally would still be called summer.
Miss Trixie says that only Ol’ Dutch’s schools ever started after Labor Day. And maybe she is right. Ol’ Dutch was a handful way back then and a late start to school gave the teachers more of a break from his nonsense.
But in modern days, with this early start, the tourists will start packing up their campers, cars and trucks and heading back to wherever they came from after a sojourn in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
For the folks past the years of herding kids around, they now start to look south for warmer climes, and it seems like they are leaving Colorado earlier and earlier every year in a mad rush to secure a favorite spot in Arizona or South Texas.
Even though the summer seems fleeting already and soon to pass into the proverbial books, there still is plenty to look forward to in the next two months. First and foremost is the huge Ladies Aide garage sale in Creede this week.
It's a grand time of fun and laughter amongst friends and culminates with a mad rush as people are allowed to fill bags with “treasures” the last hour or so of the sale. (On Thursday, July 18 this year. So, if you are reading this on Thursday morning, get yourself to the Virginia Christensen Center in Creede before 3 p.m.)
It's not free but for a nominal fee you can buy a bag and fill it to the brim with anything that is left over and if you buy enough bags, you too can have a garage sale with the purchased stuff. But regretfully it also means Miss Trixie brings home more junk.
I had told her some time ago that whatever amount she brings in, the same amount has to go out and now all of Ol’ Dutch’s things are outside. That didn't work out quite the way I planned and should teach me to legislate ill-advised rules.
We are currently still rafting on the Rio Grande with Narrow Ridge Outdoors/Mountain Man Rafting. 8200 Outdoor Sports is still offering great fishing trips for the neophyte and experienced anglers alike. So, there are a lot of opportunities for those wanting to still have fun.
And this weekend, Logger Days will arrive here in South Fork and a lot of folks will see the skills of modern-day Paul and Paulette Bunyans as they cut and dismember big logs brought to the Community Center from the area forests.
The Wood Carvers are happening this weekend in Creede, and soon the Gem and Mineral show will be there, too. Ol’ Dutch will most likely get dragged along to see one or both of these gatherings.
Soon after that the long doldrums of August will start to drag on and by then the slow and low River will call my name and I will head out to wade the cool waters and catch some Rocky Mountain trout.
For Miss Trixie and me, the fall days of September herald in the start of Elk Season for Ol’ Dutch and sometimes a bear or antelope or deer even finds its way into our ample larder.
And thankfully that is the case as if not for a bear season some 12 years ago, which was our first real date, Miss Trixie and I would never have begun our blessed journey on this Earth.
So, you and she can blame the Colorado Department of Wildlife and Parks for our cohabitation I guess and the rest, as they say, is history.
Miss Trixie has plenty of time to reflect on that as she lies naked on the bearskin rug I had made from that first hunt.
Well, maybe not lying on the rug but she does reflect a lot on that fateful day, and it causes a furrow to appear on her brow.
Happy 2024 summer folks, there is still lots of fun out there. Go grab yourself some.
Kevin Kirkpatrick and his Yorkie, Cooper, fish, hunt, ATV, or hike daily. His email is Kevin@TroutRepublic.com. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.
