My much anticipated day of discovery had arrived and it didn’t disappoint.

 

The first spot took some getting to but I was soon rewarded with a couple of fish. I was further rewarded when 10 metres upstream, I found the well worn path that suggested this might not be the closely guarded secret I’d first thought. Still, I was catching so I was happy.

 

After 20 mins of heavenly fishing, the heavens opened and there was an unscheduled and very heavy downpour. This was of slight concern as I had crossed the river and was now perched like a ninja on a small rock close to the opposite bank.

 

After a further 20 mins of torrential rain I was considering postponing my expedition as I was both drenched and cold having opted for only shirt sleeves in the earlier summer sun.

 

Then suddenly, the rain stopped and the sun returned with such ferocity that steam was rising from my entire body. Within minutes I was dry again! It was almost as if the weather was apologising for its earlier transgression.

 

I accepted the apology and continued on fishing up the river. This little stretch was everything I thought it would be. Lively little Brown Trout were found in every nook and cranny of this feature rich river. Deep joy!

 

I fished for hours but the tough wading was starting to take its toll so I decided to head back whilst I still had some fuel in the tank.

 

My options were another hundred metres of tough wading to get to the public bit or to scramble through the brush and bracken and see where I emerge. I foolishly went for option b and after a deceptively easy stroll through the woods I was faced with a substantial near vertical ascent of around 30 metres.

 

It was going well until, in my excitement on reaching the summit, I took a step too far. Although my front foot was firmly planted, the rear foot was slowly sliding inexorably back down towards the river. It would get worse before it got better and I was already contemplating life as a soprano when there was an audible pop!

 

I was still a good mile from my car and was starting to think that I might need that Zimmer frame after all but fortunately, damage was only sustained to the crotch of my waders and not their contents.

An exciting and expensive end to a fabulous and eventful day.