Too busy for originality

You know I'm all about as much original content as possible.  However, the past few weeks have been insane!!  I've been climbing huge mountains for work and driving a state owned minivan on roads unsuitable for a decked out jeep.  On my days off I've been sharing the world of fly fishing and boating with everyone possible.  I can't feel my freaking legs and I'm fighting falling in my soup bowl here as I write this. Such is summertime in Montana where the "work hard, play hard" lifestyle is still running strong.

For now, check out A Classic Journey's best video yet!  I'll have a full western Montana fishing report posted by tomorrow.

My name is Mark, and I have a fishing problem.

Do they have meetings for this kind of thing?

Planes and trains in the Clark Fork River

Old Clark Fork train wreck

Yet another train has derailed and dumped its load into the lower Clark Fork.  This train had denatured alcohol and airplane fuselages.  Most of the trains that pass through here carry crude oil and open coal cars.  It is only a matter of time before one of these toxic trains derails into the Clark Fork!!  After everything the Clark Fork has been through and the money and resources spent to clean up historic disasters, here we are again, risking it all.

This picture shows an old derailment downstream from Superior.  A couple of years ago there was another which spilled tons and tons of lumber (again lucky!!).  Last year one derailed upstream of Superior at the first big swirly hole down from Forest Grove.  And now this.

Here is the Missoulian article about the derailment.

Carolina Chocolate Drops in Montana!

Photo by Mark Austin

One of the best musical acts in America is coming for a small, intimate show at the Top Hat Lounge in Missoula!

The show is Monday, July 7th at 8pm at the Top Hat Lounge in downtown Missoula.

 

Spider From Mars - The Royal PMX

The Royal Parachute Madam X

Hook: Size 14-6 (12 is shown)
Thread: 8/0 brown or black
Tail: Deer hair
Butt tag: Peacock
Body: Red floss
Wing: Deer hair
Thorax: Peacock
Legs: Rubber legs
Parachute post: Poly thread
Hackle: Tan, brown, grizzly all work.  Mixing them is best but not shown here.

This is the only fly you'll need for small streams in the summer time.

Building Christine

This is not really a how-to but it does provide some insight into the process.  I built my infamous red boat 5 years ago.  It took over two months with some daily work and was one of my greatest life accomplishments so far.  Enjoy.

My boat was built upside-down on this frame

A scarf joint makes lumber long enough for boats

Best and most beautiful dog that ever lived on planet earth!!

Putting the skin on

Lots of fiberglass and epoxy

Front compartment

Building the rear compartment/platform

Rear compartment

Finished shell

Outer paint, chines, and gunwhales

The inside with the old blue seat

My ex-rower

I cannot describe what it has been like to have built this boat and then have so many great times with it.  Her name is Christine.  She is named after my Grandmother.  The boat was designed by Ken Hankinson and I bought the plans from Glen-L Marine.  This boat is the 14' drifter model.  They have a few drift boat plans and a seemingly endless supply of boat plans in general.

http://www.glen-l.com/

If anyone has any boat building question, email me or write it in the comments