First Fish of the Season

I'm sad to admit that last night I caught my first fish of the season.

Last year, I bought my fishing license on January 1 and started fly-fishing in waist-deep snow. I'd landed plenty of trout from rivers and creeks from Washington to Montana by this time last year.

Last night was a momentous occasion.

Not only did I pull in my first fish of the season, but it was the first time I had been out fishing on Spirit Lake. I fished from the docks and shore a couple of times last year, but I had never actually been out on the waters of my new home lake.

I found out last night that I've been missing out.

Beauty. I love it.

We spied heron and moose and wood ducks and pulled in fish after fish after fish. By nightfall, we had a bucket full of crappie and perch. (Fish in bucket are larger than they appear -- of course!)

Big Back-In 2009

Spirit Lake is Dad Heaven every Father's Day when souped-up lawnmowers take over Maine Street for some intense drag racing fun.

OK, so maybe it's not that intense. The stock mowers putt along at a whopping 6 mph, but when the modified mowers take off, look out. Some go nearly 40 mph -- faster than most jalopies cruising the streets of Spirit Lake. Never mind that the town's speed limit is only 15 mph.

Just when you think life couldn't get any more exciting, The Big Back-In offers a bevy of sights to behold. Like a jacked-up ice chest that could easily traverse the crappiest of city streets.

And thank goodness the Ambrewlance is nearby in case you run out of beer. There's even an IV set up on board in case an oral booze fix wouldn't cure what ales ya.

And these push mowers might not do well in tight spaces, but I could use one in my uneven yardscape.
It's always good to see the town come out and support community events like The Back-In. This is Mayor Roxy Martin and don't worry folks. Those beer mugs were empty when she got them.