Sporting Road

Jack Dennis is a living legend in Western fly fishing circles.  In his numerous books, he tells the story of Curt Gowdy, Ted Williams, Arnold Palmer, and many other stories of his famous friends from a life in fly fishing. He recently offered me a special set of Christmas flies which he personally tied.  He says: This incredible gift is my choice of flies to fish for trout in most waters. I have selected four dozen flies from my fly box fishing collection, including flies tied by Umpqua feather merchants, personal friends of mine, and flies tied by me, which are strictly for fishing. The package will include Jack Dennis's signature flies, such as Amy Ants and Para-Wulff's, adding a variety of new flies that I have found effective. The assortment consists of a fine combination of new hatch-matching dry flies plus a wide variety of new nymphs, including the essentials Copper John's and pheasant tails. Rounding out the assortment includes attractors, hoppers, terrestrials, and streamers.  This incredible fly mixture includes autographed Umpqua's fabulous UPG LT fly box.   A personally tied Amy's ant authenticated to the gift recipient or purchaser.  Only 24 boxes are for sale this Christmas and autographed and numbered 1 to 24. Fishing guide Jack Dennis left the famed Jack Dennis Outdoor Shop (now JD High Country Outfitters) that bears his name in 2009, but started another fly shop and Jack Dennis Fishing Trips when he left. He leveraged 40 years of veteran, reliable guiding experience and a long list of satisfied clients to start the new business.  In 2012, Jack Dennis retired from Jack Dennis Fishing Trips, but sold the service to his most trusted and experienced guides — Scott Smith, Mark Fuller,

Turquoise is the People's Gemstone While popular culture often paints the Wild West in dusty shades of brown and gray, turquoise provided its defining splash of color.  Each person is drawn to a particular piece of turquoise for their own reasons, be it color, story, history, or use and that creates the subjective beauty of it.  Its significance wasn't just aesthetic; it sat at the exact intersection of ancient Indigenous spirituality, a rapidly changing frontier economy, and the birth of American Southwest mythology, long before it was a beloved accessory among free-spirited fashionistas.  It's a rare, natural stone and it's connected to the land, the outdoors, and the wild.   It offers protection, water, life, healing, good fortune and a connection to the creator. The Sacred Root: Indigenous Connection Long before Spanish explorers or American pioneers headed west, turquoise was deeply sacred to the Native nations of the Southwest—particularly the Navajo (Diné), Zuni, Hopi, and Pueblo peoples. For these cultures, turquoise was not a commercial gemstone; it was a living piece of the sky and a symbol of water, creation, health, and protection. The Navajo associated it with the Changing Woman (a principal deity) and believed wearing it offered protection from evil and ensured good health. The Zuni prized it as a ceremonial stone, often carving it into intricate fetishes (small animal carvings) to channel spiritual power and safe passage. The Apache believed that attaching turquoise to a bow or firearm guaranteed dead-eye accuracy. The Frontier Cross-Cultural Boom (Late 1800s) The "Wild West" era saw a dramatic shift in how turquoise was used, driven by cultural exchange—and economic necessity—between Native artisans and Euro-American settlers. Around the 1860s and 1870s, a Mexican blacksmith taught Navajo ironsmiths

Job 39:19-24 “Do you give the horse its strength     or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? 20 Do you make it leap like a locust,     striking terror with its proud snorting? 21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,     and charges into the fray. 22 It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;     it does not shy away from the sword. 23 The quiver rattles against its side,     along with the flashing spear and lance. 24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;     it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. 25 At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’     It catches the scent of battle from afar,     the shout of commanders and the battle cry. The passage you have provided is a powerful and evocative description of a horse, not just any horse, but a warhorse, a magnificent and fearsome creature in the throes of battle frenzy. It is a vivid portrayal of the horse's strength, courage, and excitement for the fight, captured through a series of rhetorical questions and vivid imagery. Here's a breakdown of the passage's key elements: Strength and Majesty: The passage opens by questioning the source of the horse's strength and its flowing mane, attributing them to a higher power. This immediately establishes the horse as a creature of exceptional physical prowess and beauty. Fearlessness and Battle Frenzy: The description of the horse leaping like a locust, snorting with pride, and pawing the ground highlights its fearlessness and eagerness for battle. It laughs at fear and charges into the fray, unfazed by the dangers of the sword and the chaos of war. Sound and Movement: The imagery of the rattling quiver, flashing spear, and the horse eating up the ground in excitement adds to the dynamic and sensory experience of the passage. The

99.9% of Species are Extinct It is estimated that about 99.9% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct. Scientists face challenges in confirming the exact number of species that have existed or are currently living due to the sheer abundance and variety of life forms. Despite our understanding of fossil formation and current extinction rates, it remains impossible to determine precisely how many species have gone extinct. However, paleontologists and evolutionary historians estimate that 99.9% of all species are extinct. This figure encompasses all species that have ever lived on Earth, not just those currently existing. Life has endured through five mass extinctions, and scientists have hypothesized the number of species that may have existed based on these events and the periods preceding them. According to these estimates, around 10 million species have lived on Earth, with humans discovering evidence of approximately 1 million. This supports the claim that 99.9% of species are extinct. Nonetheless, some skeptics argue that the total number of species might be closer to 6 million, suggesting a lower extinction percentage overall. Are 99.9% of All Species Extinct? Many researchers and scientists believe that less than a tenth of a percent of all species that have ever lived on Earth are still alive today. While some view this as a natural aspect of species evolution, others attribute the rising number of extinctions to human activity. Does this mean that over 99.9% of all species are extinct? Some experts, such as Daniel Simberloff from the University of Tennessee, assert that Earth is currently experiencing its sixth mass extinction. This ongoing event could lead to more than 99.9% of all species becoming extinct. The truth lies in the numbers,

You start dying slowly if you do not travel, if you do not read, If you do not listen to the sounds of life, If you do not appreciate yourself. You start dying slowly When you kill your self-esteem; When you do not let others help you. You start dying slowly If you become a slave of your habits, Walking everyday on the same paths… If you do not change your routine, If you do not wear different colours Or you do not speak to those you don’t know. You start dying slowly If you avoid to feel passion And their turbulent emotions; Those which make your eyes glisten And your heart beat fast. You start dying slowly If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love, If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain, If you do not go after a dream, If you do not allow yourself, At least once in your lifetime, To run away from sensible advice… ~Pablo Neruda

After tubing in Jamaica, my daughter is hooked on tubing rivers.  Chukka Tours writes, "Drift into a side of Jamaica that feels slower and more connected at Lethe Village, where river tubing becomes more than a ride — it becomes a cultural journey through the countryside. Glide along the peaceful Great River with rum punch in hand as the lush scenery invites you to relax, take it all in, and experience a different side of the island. Beyond the river, the experience continues through Lethe’s garden pathways, surrounded by local flora and fauna, where your guide introduces the banana plant — a fascinating look at one of the island’s most versatile natural elements. From root to leaf, the story unfolds into the tradition of making duckunoo, also known as blue draws, before you enjoy a pre-made tasting of this island treat. Blending relaxation, flavour, and local heritage, this is an authentic journey through Jamaica’s countryside and culture."   We loved it. I grew up with this on the Apple River, so I'm down too.  Apple River Tubing takes lazy river fun to the next level with over THREE miles of river adventure for the entire family! We provide the tubes and transportation. All you need is a good time. Join us for a tubing or tanking trip at the Tubing Capital of the World! For tubing in Colorado, check this out... https://www.5280.com/5-places-to-tube-in-colorado-this-summer/?utm_campaign=The%20Local&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--fpPgmxnNquF7AM9VkbJsQYvs8Y6vod9SiUt1lXHHlsshfmnwlzwwAn5J-weyHghjTWueqNjikWlAjWCQmcKkBjlTSig&_hsmi=311394301&utm_content=311394301&utm_source=hs_email