Thursday, June 21, 2007

Tuesday night fishing and strange sightings in the sky


It was after 8 when I got to Long Lake and unloaded the canoe from the truck. The sun was dropping in the western sky and a steady breeze was blowing of the southwest. The rains that morning had cooled the air and the temperature was in the mid-70s. I took a fly rod, in the hopes that after sunset the winds would die down. I also took a lightweight spinning rod to use until such time and stowed everything in the boat, including the dog. Trisket settled in the bottom, under the thwarts as I paddled away from the boat launch area. When I got to where the bottom dropped off deep, I lowered my anchor. I use the head from an old 8 pound splitting maul. I broke the handle a couple years ago and wasn’t able to find a new handle that fit, so I had to buy a new splitting maul and decided that the 8 pounds of steel makes a good anchor. Other fishermen have asked if I’m trying to guillotine the fish when I drop anchor, but that’s okay, it didn’t cost me anything. I caught a few fish on a small Panther Martin spinner—a couple of small bass and a few pumpkin seeds (a highbred blue gill). The sun disappeared and, as expected, the wind died. I changed to the fly rod and began casting out a little spider to the edge of the lily pads. I quickly picked up a half dozen bluegills. Once darkness descended, I put away the rods and paddled on the glassy lake. The fading light was enchanting. Everyone else had gone in; there was no longer the drone of motors. It was peacefully until some fool at a cottage on the other side of the lake shot off firecrackers. Trisket, who is deathly afraid of thunder, jumped. With visions of swimming in the middle of the lake at night, I dropped to my knees and grabbed his collar and calmed him down. Luckily, the fool soon ran out of firecrackers and we were again able to enjoy the serenity of the evening. A few stars popped out. A slither of the moon, just a day or so after its renewal, hung low in the western sky. It was time to head in.

I pulled into the driveway at 10:30. As I was taking the canoe off the truck, I caught a glimpse of two lights in the sky overhead. They were brighter than a satellite, even brighter than Jupiter, and one light seemed to follow the other. I watched them until they disappeared behind the trees to the southeast and later learned that they were the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Atlantis. I wish I had had my binoculars at hand.

15 comments:

  1. What a great story! And thanks for the reminder that I'll have to deal with kids with firecrackers for the next month or so . . . living in an old wooden house, fireworks make me nervous

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  2. Very cool being able to watch the shuttle coming home :)

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  3. I guess I should try going outside after dark sometime.

    I really like the picture.

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  4. I am so glad you told us what pumpkin seeds meant...I would have been really confused.

    I had heard a report on the radio that morning from NASA about watching the sky, got all excited about it and then completely forgot! I am glad to hear from someone who saw it.

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  5. Diane, when I lived out west, I could never understand why everyone felt that had to shoot off firecrackers with everything tinder dry. Do your dogs get upset wtih the popping sounds?

    Mistress, it was neat. I'd heard about it coming over, but wasn't looking for it, glad I looked up when I did.

    Murf, that real bright light outside your door isn't the space shuttle, nor is it a UFO, it's a street light :)

    Deana, I actually went out and looked last night (Wednesday) and saw it again--but it wasn't nearly as bright and the shuttle and ISS were further apart. You can go online and get the times and approximate elevation to look to see it for different locations

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  6. I never rememeber to watch the sky when cool things are happening. Glad someone got to see a glimpse at least!

    My cats are terrified of fireworks too... even from inside the house!

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  7. Very cool! My dogs are huge babies when it comes to thunder and fireworks. With drought conditions around here you would think people would use better sense, but I don't think they will.

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  8. Good one! 1 point for Sage. I think the score is now like 4,982 to 3. You got some catching up to do.

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  9. Jaded, my dog is the same way... and if the popping or thunder is too close, I have to drag the carpet cleaner out

    Kontan, Hope you all get some rain soon--it was real dry 2 weeks ago in the NC mountains

    Murf, I'm not sure I agree with your scorekeeping here

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  10. Wish I could've seen it. You make me want to take of fishing again.

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  11. sage - the "pop" startles them a bit, but I wouldn't say either dog is really afraid of the fireworks, which is nice. Still, I stick around home on July 4th

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  12. I'm wishing I lived a little bit closer to a lake or body of water. Of course if the rain that is falling right now keeps coming, I may get my wish.

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  13. The things you see when you don't have binoculars handy.

    I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing.

    Here via Michele today.

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  14. You gotta admit, Sage, it is a bit lopsided, don't ya think?

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  15. That is a very cool ISS/shuttle sighting...very rare to come across the two vehicles just after separation.

    Magical, isn't it?

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