Delaware River Experience
I have been sifting through memories of times we spent together perhaps looking for a funny one share. Ofcourse, I was involved in the toad business and felt as though I had made few power moves that rated at the top { hiding in a 5lb tub of Scallops.} I also think the Jello was my idea, but these clever moments don't really compare to the practical jokes you played on other people. So longer story short, my mind wandered more into the territory of how connected to nature, the woods and sporting you were. I first remembered a nice wingshot you made, grouse hunting, in the woods behind The Emerson's at the end of Varney Road. A great moment to share with a friend,as wingshots without a dog invoved, are very challenging indeed. So that was a great memory but not the one I was really searching for. Last week a great memory surfaced. One that still fills me with respect and awe. On a warm summer day in Barryville looking for relief from the heat we { Ed, Ginny, Nick and myself} rented a raft or tubes I don't remember exactly and headed down the Delaware. The awesome part comes now! Ed didn"t get in the raft. He wanted to swim along so he could explore the bottom of the river looking for treasure lost by canoeists when they capsized. That he did!!! I swear Ed could hold his breath 3 times longer than any other human being. We went for miles with Ed disappearing below the surface for what seemed like way to long, only to surface thrusting some treasure high as he could in the air so we could see it. A lawn chair at one point. Ed was one with that river with it's Eel, Helgrammites, giant Carp, etc. I had never witnessed anything like that and never would expect to again. That was stunning Ed ! Thank you for that display of natural connectedness. I won't ever forget that afternoon. Peace and Love, Randy Lane