Yellowstone Playlist

I flew to Salt Lake City, rented a red Nissan Versa and headed up to West Yellowstone for the Tenkara Summit (which was mentioned in a previous post). It was the first time in my life that I'd seen that much sustained and rolling beauty in one drive. Never in my life had I ever see this much of the "West," despite the fact that I come from a place so far west that if you travel any further in that direction you end up in sea water; Long Beach is not the kind of place that conjures up the Old West.

Then it began. The music in my head. Most of it was twangy and a little country. It just seemed to fit as I drove by bales of alfalfa hay and beat up pick-up trucks. At the next stop I cobbled together a playlist of songs to compliment the trip.

Some of the songs I cut out because, in the end, they just didn't fit the ultimate mood. Some of them are rearranged to tell a better story, unlike the completely alphabetical order I originally had them in when I scroll through my iPod. But mostly, no one wants or appreciates a sprawling playlist shot at oneself like buckshot on the side of barn.

(An astute ear might be able to hear that none of these songs are particularly new and that's because I haven't updated my iPod in about a year.)

Enjoy. 

1. Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines
2. Drive-By Truckers - Righteous Path
3. Kathleen Edwards - In State
4. Bright Eyes - Four Winds
5. Wilco - Jesus, Etc.
6. Dan Auerbach - Mean Monsoon
7. Billy Bragg & Wilco - Hot Rod Hotel
8. Kathleen Edwards - Goodnight, California

I also compiled a YouTube playlist for those of you that don't want to hunt for yourself.

Tenkara Summit

Perhaps I'll find the energy to write up more than a few thoughts on the first Tenkara Summit but for now the photos will have to suffice. I will say this: it was amazing beyond all my expectations. I went in thinking I'd be shown new techniques and fancy equipment. To be sure, I did see those things but it pales in comparison to the personal interactions I had.

For instance, as I pulled into my parking spot I noticed two men that looked like Craig Mathews (of Blue Ribbon Flies) and Yvon Chouinard (of Patagonia). I got out and tried to play it cool by saying, "Good morning, gentlemen." They both said hi in return and I told Craig that I looked forward to his lecture later on in the morning about fly-fishing in Yellowstone. Then I turned to Yvon and asked, "You're the guy that makes clothes, right?" Like I'm questioning it for some real reason. The man's reputation precedes himself...and it goes far beyond clothes. His passion for the environment is probably why a lot of people buy Patagonia-emblazoned stuff--the techniques and sourcing are some of the most progressive in the industry. Then again they're just made with such quality that you can't help but wear his stuff with pride.

Both founded 1% for the Planet, a collection of business that pledge to give 1% of sales (not 1% of profits) to environmental groups across the globe. It's the idea that business, in and of itself, is a destructive force, and if it exists then it must somehow close the loop.

But that's not tenkara related. I said all of that to say that these are huge people in the industry--both in fishing and in environmental conservation--yet they didn't look at me cock-eyed for a second when I engaged them in conversation. This would set the tone for the Summit. Everyone, from Daniel Galhardo to Dr. Ishigaki seemed honed in on creating the best experience for the attendees.

I hope that some of these images (I hope to add more later) convey the atmosphere of the inaugural Tenkara Summit and, most importantly, I hope you enjoy.