Sunday 21 October 2007

Decisions, decisions

This summer has been a depressing affair. Bad weather, poor fishing, too much DIY and too little time. It looked as though this trend would continue into a dismal winter until I decided I needed a project to keep me sane. I had the bright idea of getting the 'punt' out! The punt being a plywood affair I built 20 years previous to fish the local reservoir for pike when we lived in Chesterfield. It soon dawned on me that although it was still seaworthy it was totally unsuitable for the narrow Lincolnshire waterways.
I fish occasionally with a chap called Raif (Fly Fishers’ Republic)
We've fished together on and off for over 30 years. One of the places we love to return to is the upper reaches of a major midlands river. Raif has many times expressed the wish to canoe up this little river and fish back down it.

Then another bright idea struck me! I would build a canoe! It would fulfill both our dreams and Raif and I could paddle up our little river and I could fish the local drains and rivers. Building the thing was down to me. Raif had just taken possession of a little girl, Katie, and I was the only one with the time and space to construct it.
The saga begins!!.................