Summertime Bliss

Escape!  This is about the time of year that we love to flee to the cool temperatures and green trees of Oregon.  Relief from the Arizona heat comes as soon as that first little toe steps out of the airport into the cool breeze and beauty of the Northwest.

Our welcoming committee.

We, of course, spent as much time outside as we possibly could.  I'm all for soaking up that Vitamin D without baking to death.  And thus...our first full day in Oregon was spent on the Mighty McKenzie River, fishing to our little hearts' content.

One of my favorite places on this planet.

Turns out my sweet mother has become quite the fisher lady since the last time we visited.  She was in it to win it and in fact ended up with my favorite catch of the day...

Matt helped her pull it off the hook but she reeled that baby in all by herself!

The water was higher and faster than normal which, we think, is why we didn't have as much luck as we have in the past.  Old Reliable didn't completely disappoint however and Matt ended up with some great looking trout to take home. 

First catch of the day!

It doesn't get much better than this!

After fishing for a few hours we came to the conclusion that sustenance was going to be needed soon if we expected to continue our mastering of the fish.  Thus, we gave Matt a choice.  Leave to go get some lunch at our favorite pizza spot on the river, Ike's Pizza, or...call ahead and bring it back to the fishing spot.  Matt's eyes got wide and he said, "Fishing and pizza at the same time?!  I might be in Heaven!"

So we took a pizza break right there on the river and then we were back in the game.  And, the sustenance must have helped because it wasn't long before Matt started reeling them in again.

 All in all it was a successful day.  We left with breakfast for the next morning and a tiny bit of a sunburn.  And, enough leftover pizza for the rest of the week!

Mmmm....breakfast of champions!