My travel adventures have just taken a whole new dimension, with the addition of my newest travel companion, Oliver. Oliver is a 10 week old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who will be traveling with me on my adventures around the globe. A few days ago I started a trip which will take Oliver and I to 7 states in the West.

Oliver, just 5 weeks old

We started with 2 days in Portland Oregon, traveling from there to Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho for a night before continuing on to a main destination, Missoula, Montana. Oliver was very interested in historic and spectacular sights, like the Manolla Falls along the Columbia Gorge Highway.

The Falls

After leaving the state of Washington we arrived in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho and spent the evening there. In the morning, with excitement on the tip of our imagination, we proceeded on to Montana. Our destination there was just outside of Missoula on a world famous trout fly fishing stream, Rock Creek. We had rented a private log home overlooking the river. This would be a great place to catch up on some of my writing, as well as my fly fishing.

Arriving at our destination I was ecstatic at the beauty of the area. As I drove along the river to the cabin located 12 miles off the highway along the river, I found distractions galore. At thirty miles an hour, it was quite easy to look at possible fishing spots, while being told to keep my eyes on the road by my wife.

Our Log Home on the Rock Creek, MT

After a quick examine of the log home in all our excitement, we finally got the car unpacked and proceeded to the upper deck for a glass of one of our favorite wines, a St. Francis Sauvignon Blanc that I had in the cooler. How fitting a way to start this 2 week adventure, but with a cool summertime wine, in 70 degree sunshine, on a beautiful river.

St Francis Sauvignon Blanc

As the afternoon progressed, Rock Creek beckoned me and alas, I gave into it’s enticement and grabbed my custom R.L. Winston fly rod and an assortment of trout flies, and headed into it’s arms.

Gary Fly Fishing on Rock Creek, Montana

Although I didn’t catch (or release) and trout my first afternoon, the next day was a whole different story. Stay tuned for my next blog, a day on the Bitterroot River with probably the best guide in Montana.

Fish On!

Gary