After reading the posts here on them and after decades of not having any bamboo fly rods I decided to remedy the situation. I first commissioned Dave Fuller to build me a 5-wt "Parker" rod. It will be oil finished and I am quite excited to get it some months down the road. In the interim I picked up a mint condition 7' Orvis Madison 3-wt complete with an Orvis CFO reel off Ebay for a what seems a good price. I was hesitant to buy something like that off Ebay but the seller convinced me I would like it once I felt it.... and they were right. I am in love! It is incredible. Very soft action, softer in fact than my 1-wt Orvis graphite fly rod, more like my 00-wt rod actually in power. I will likely try my 00-wt reel/line on it. It is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, it was snowing and windy prior to leaving the mine for home so I didn't get to try it out on the grayling in the Tulaksak River at Nyac. I am glad to be back in the bamboo game after all this time away.
Along another line, I was very anxious to get home to have a last visit with a very close friend who has bravely fought growing brain tumors for 8 years. I spent most of yesterday sitting by him with a hand on his shoulder and softly talking to him, telling him that things would be ok. 3.5 hrs after I left he opened his eyes momentarily and smiled at his wonderful wife then closed his eyes and slowly stopped breathing. She is convinced that he was waiting for me before leaving. What an honor it it's true. Losing such a close friend is painful but I can't help but feel very very happy for him right now. He fought the good fight and beat the odds for at least 6yrs past what anyone expected and died very well, at home surrounded by his friends and on is own terms. We should all be so lucky.
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