The phrase "Ides of March", I am informed, is derived from the Latin verb "iduare", which means "to divide"--and that is just what this day does for us, both bisecting the current month as well as the current year's Extravaganza waiting time. Hence, since the first of the year, we are neither closer to leaving than we are closer to arriving and I simply can't think of a better time to date you down on developments affecting Extravaganza 2018!
First, as seen from the pics above taken today by Peanut, our Extravaganza on-site caregiver [both to us and her hubby "Late Larry"], winter still abounds in Montana as the shots above show our driveway and front, casting lawn nicely coated with a two foot blanket of very wet, high water content snow. In fact, current SNOTEL readings as of this morning indicate that in western Montana's higher climes (5,000-7500 ft in elevation), the season-to-date precipitation as well as the accumulated snow's water equivalent each continue to track right at 125% of 20 year norms, which, as I reported last month, continues to bode well for there being ample and ambient fishing waters come this June.
But, we are just midway to our June fishing days and a keen eye needs to be kept on outside temperatures during the coming months. For the past three years now we were tracking at these same 125% levels but in each of those years (once in April and twice in May) a virtual heat wave ascended upon the greater Missoula area and more than half of the accumulated snowfall in each of those years melted/"ranoff" early, such that come June in every one of those years we were facing a low water situation with water levels less than 50% of average. Yep, Mother Nature can and will be fickle to us so no E-18 chickens are currently there to be counted!
Secondly, as you wily Extravaganza veterans well know, there is seldom a dull moment surrounding any of our Extravaganzas. To that continued end, last month I received a second call from MT Governor Steve Bullock's scheduler that he DEFINITELY wants to return to this year's Extravaganza as he did two years when pressured by his then re-election campaign, and, this year, wants to fish a day with us. So, in matching his calendar to our Month at a Glance (copy attached), "Da Gov" is now set to join Group One and will be fishing and spending the early evening with us on Monday, June 11th. Now, is that special or what?!? Two years ago he was with the Tattoos and this year with Dem Ones, deciding (on my sage political advice inasmuch as Steve soon is to announce his presidential candidacy) to avoid the antics of The Southern Cross of Group Three where, again this year, indeed, "the South will Rise Ag'in"!!
Lastly to this note, keep your eyes peeled for updated from your airline carriers as, historically, March is the month when the airlines tinker with (read "mess up") (y)our otherwise well-procured Extravaganza airline reservations. We have already noted changes in the SFO-MSO UAL non-stop flight that so many of you are on but the changes there are benign, getting you into town an hour earlier than originally scheduled--a good thing! But other airlines are at it again, in one case rescheduling an East Coast travel itinerary such that the return flights were changed to have the first return leg arrive at the transfer airport two hours AFTER the new first leg arrival time...not a good thing. Thanks, also, for letting our Extravaganza Coordinator Extraordinaire Sue de los Reyes know of any such changes, as she is now updating our travel bible on an almost daily basis.
I know that receiving so much good news at one time from a lawyer may be a bit disconcerting but, like they say, "we tell it like it is" and I will take a gaggle of good news over bad any day.
May the Ides be with y'all!!
Best to all mid-way toward it all,
Rock Creek Ron
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