(WOOPS Last week I punched the wrong button on my computer and CvilleBuzz went up on the web site, but it didn’t go out in the mailing. Here it is again, with a couple additions.)
Nancy and I went to see a camper van last Sunday. We need one of these like a hole in the head, but we’ve always had fun looking at campers and campgrounds, dating back some 40 years. The camper was near Bridgewater, in the Valley, and having nothing else planned on a sunny, Sunday afternoon, we headed west.
Also near Bridgewater was Bluestone Winery. Nancy sold the owners beautiful lights for their new events building and we figured we could make it a two-fer Road Trip.
It turns out we had to drive right past Bluestone on our way to see the camper. On several occasions as we moved through the Augusta County countryside, we crossed or passed by beautiful spring creeks. I admired them and wondered if there was a trout or two in those waters.
We crossed over such a creek leading up to the driveway to see the camper and I wondered again.
It turns out the van was a little tight, even for the two of us, and we passed on what I think was a great deal. Only $6,000 with just 7,000 miles on the new motor. As we were leaving, I asked the owner if there were any trout in his creek. He said it was Spring Creek and to take a look for myself.
I walked to the bridge and peered over and there was a 22-inch rainbow, finning away. Then I saw a bigger one. This trout was in the 28-inch category, easily 6 or 8 pounds. The little creek was chocked full of trout, and no wonder. Directly above the bridge was a small, private hatchery, which we also explored. Above the hatchery was a waterfall below a beaver pond right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. We put-zed around for a while, spooking a trout with every step and then headed back to Bluestone where we sat beneath a tall oak tree and sipped a delightful white wine called “Beau”, named after the vintners’ Golden Retriever.
What a splendid afternoon.
Nest time you feel like a road trip on a Sunday afternoon, head for Bridgewater, stop by Bluestone, drink some wine and if you have time, patrol the banks of Spring Creek and Beaver Creek and take a peak at some huge trout.