Memorial Day, the Rogue's notes.

"Feel the peace of God's love, and hold close
 to your memories."
Arlington National Cemetery, 5/27/2019.

   My father served in the Korean War, and in the reserves during the Vietnam War. Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Uncle, Grandfather, Friend. Thank you Kathleen. Miss you and love you Dad!

Lookin' For A Keeper, the Rogue's notes.

Fishin' partner Dave's near keeper. The thoroughfare, 5/26/2019.

   The weekends approaching Memorial Day. Weather warming. Ocean and bay temps both on the rise. Isle of Wight, Assawoman, and the St. Martin have all been approaching the 70 degree mark.Think the river is already there. Regardless, the winds have really needed to die down. As in surfing, out on the water the wind kills. The tell-tale white caps say "no go today." Recent calming waters were a welcome sight, and the wife and I couldn't wait to put out in the new Jet, cruise the back areas of the bay, and cast some lines to try to hook us few spring flounder. So though we felt a few nibbles, our neighbor boated our ship's first near-keeper (16"...legal is 16.5"), and we got chewed by and caught us a whole foray of crabs including a couple "busy" horseshoes.

Hooked horseshoe crabs.

Still looking for a keeper. Our much needed launching, docking, trailering, and general boating practice ...all the while feeling completely stoked over this whole extended marine experience... keep us going back out for more.

That's right...the Wife's!

Lookin' for that fishing hole.

  Seems the water jacks up the entire beer drinking experience. So ABVs become critical when cruising the Assawoman, or any other waters for that matter. An ideal smooth, low-impact brew was Sweetwater Brewing's Peach, Love, & Happiness Berliner Weisse. Low lying at 4.7ABV. Near zero hop bite, with a refreshing tart taste. Poured a light hazed orange-gold. Scents of grain and peach. Tasted even more peaches with a berry tartness to the finish. The last sip had a silky, lightness that said, "go ahead, drink another!" Rated a B+.

If only the fish went for the
"Gulp!" like I go for the beer. 

Growin' fast and lookin' to take charge.

Strained, the Rogue's notes.

  First time in the water. The feeling of looking forward to that first glide. The briny smell of the ocean spray. Listening to the waves break around me as I pitched silently in the lineup... like a bobber that would never signal the catch. Sloppy day. Mid-50s water temps. Air in the 60s. Small, knee-high surf without any power; as disorganized as a drunken dive bar brawl. 

Strain/verb 1. to force (a part of one's body or oneself)

 to make a strenuous or unusually great effort.

No amount of push could stop the skid. Holiday's, 5/2/2019.

Usually I can squeeze a ride out of just about all conditions. Six months out of water shape, full suit, and trash waves, and for this sesh it was not to be. Sliding into a couple of mini-breakers didn't supply enough lift to finish. I felt like I put too much energy into a losing evening and with that in mind, after about 75 minutes I exited the surf feeling frustrated and annoyed. As they say..."there's always another wave." Guess it'll have to wait for another day.
   Back home. Grabbed a beer. Sat back... and imagined the next ticket to ride. RaR Brewing out of Cambridge, MD put forth a smooth Pale that put me in that mode. Country Ride poured a slightly cloudy honey-gold with an approximate finger plus white head. Aromas of pineapple, pine, and malt. Tasted the juicy citrus of the hops and caramel from the malt. Nice bite in the finish without being overly bitter. Refreshing carbonation and a fair amount of lacing around the glass as it went down. At 5.8%, very drinkable. Rated an A-. Now I need that next wave.

"There are better things in life than alcohol, but

alcohol makes up for not having them."

 -Terry Pratchett