Mo's Brookies

So, I will be posting a more complete report on our family outing in the ADKs on Farm, Fur, Fin, Feather soon. We canoe camped in the Paul Smith's Brook Trout Management area, just north of the St. Regis Canoe Wilderness . We focused our fishing on Black and Long Ponds. According to Fishing Eastern New York by Spider Rybaak, both were reclaimed with chemicals in 1997 and now support Windfall-strain brook trout indigenous to New York. The 73-acre Black Pond is completely surrounded by forest and has an esker running along its west bank. Its average depth is 20 feet and the maximum is 45 feet deep. Spread over 14 acres, Long Pond is completely surrounded by forest, shrubs, and wetland. Averaging 9.5 feet deep and dropping to a maximum depth of 20 feet, it feeds Black Pond. Two dams—one at the canoe launch on the pond’s outlet, the other on the channel halfway to Black Pond—prevent fish movement between the two.

As Many of you know, Mo was injured 10 months ago. This trip was important for her in that it was her opportunity to push herself and simultaneously assure herself that she is no longer "broken." She seems like a new person after the trip. As Rich has said, God Bless the 'Dacks.

The film clip was shot June 24th, 2010--- ten months to the day from her accident. Solo canoe fishing, paddling in the Adirondacks, sleeping on the ground. I'd say she's back. Mark July 24th, 2010 on your calendars--- we are throwing a BIG party.

Moira Update

Mo has been recovering well from her spine injury, despite some scary set backs, one of which required an additional surgical procedure. She soldiers on, as does the rest of the Tidball gang. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of friendship and love that have been such an important part of this last week. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all of the support and prayers. Moira is an inspiration, a strong, tough-minded combination of grace and grit. Here is a picture of her, full-out in her passion, a sporting pursuit as well. I won't speak for all Grousers, but we are sure lucky to have the spouses we have. Let us not take these things for granted.

























Now, somebody please post some of the good stuff. I am armed with a stout bottle of Scotch (from good Sir Peter), and am in need of a good story to go with it.

Horse for Sale...

...or target practice.

For those of you that don't know, Moira was thrown from this horse Wednesday night and suffered a severe spine injury. She is in surgery today, and I am suspended in the wash of all that was, is, and will be. There have been some touch and go moments, but if the surgery goes well, she'll be walking again before we know it. Appeals to whatever gods or deities you make offerings to are appreciated.