By Skip Clement
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne of my favorite books is Travels With Charlie (John Steinbeck). It’s a one-man, one-dog account of the expedition in which Steinbeck recaptures his familiarity with America. The America he’d written about so often, but not visited. At 58 he realizes his mortality and buys a 3/4 ton truck and has an RV-like cabin built on the truck bed. He sets off with Charley, a poodle, on a 10,000-mile journey through America. With some misgiving, he set out not sure his health would stand up to the trip he envisioned. However, as he traveled, the years sloughed off him. His story and the trip is one that everyone should make. One that Charles Kuralt gave us every Sunday – years ago on CBS Sunday Morning. However, most of us would make it a fly fishing journey – landing each day at fishing hole in America and staying in a lodge, country Inn or B & B each night.
The book just read, John Ross’ – Trout Unlimited’s Guide to America’s 100 Best Trout Streams, Updated and Revised, is a road map of unmistakable veritas. My check list of places fished, and well known to me in Pennsylvania, Idaho and Alaska were all there and spot on. If you’ve a hankering for a lifetime adventure and got the gonads and bucks to do it; you can start with Ross’ well thought out and well presented guide. It’s a take-with-you reference book; don’t leave home without it.
Personally, a used RV would work-out just fine. I’m on my way.
— SC
