Spreading the country love

**your_comforting_company** · 06-23-2010, 10:13 AM

I was blessed with the opportunity, over the weekend, to show some city kids what the good ol' south Georgia country was all about. Their dad is my best bud's cousin and they live near orlando where the people are thicker than gnats and crime is rampant.
These kids don't get to go fishing because of the danger (I couldn't imagine being mugged while in my boat fishing!) and because their dad is on the road a lot for business. These folks are well off and they live in their cozy suburban house (mansion by my standards) and I imagine they have the best of everything.
Well, their dad turned a road trip into a vacation and they stopped in for a weekend. We had not "planned" to go to the creek that day, it just happened. It was hot and muggy so we decided to load up the boat, grab a box of fresh crickets and head out. Steve (the dad) lived here 25 years ago or so, so a lot had changed on the creek.
I had more than enough fishing rigs with me and since creek fishing is my forte, I started passing them out, ready for a cricket or beetlespin. Dad showed one kid and I showed the other how to bait a hook and after a few hours of figuring out how it all worked, both kids were catching fish!
We stayed for quite a few hours, neck deep in crystal clear water wading and fishing and just enjoying the beauty of nature (something these kids are exposed to on rare occasion) and the comforting company of one another.
I was able to not only show them fish, but other wild edibles and resources that could be used to sustain a comfortable life with natural materials. It was great exercise, both physically and mentally.
Once the day was done, Steve had some other family he wanted to visit in a nearby town. I came home and whittled out two pristine arrowheads (no pictures) just for the kids to remember the place.

It's not every day we are presented an opportunity to spread the idea of living more closely with the earth. I was blessed with the opportunity and I took advantage of it. I'm sure the kids will never forget the afternoon they spent with the long haired, tattooed, crazy-caveman guy from south Georgia who wore animal skins (etc, etc) and took them fishing for the first REAL time, and I'm sure they'll never forget my favorite place on earth, Spring Creek.

It makes me realize just how special the place is.
Yesterday I took an old friend fishing. She caught enough fish to feed 8 of us last night (our family and hers!). She outfished me in my stomping grounds! She loves fishing but due to financial difficulties, doesn't have a boat or much gear but she was extremely appreciative. Hell it only cost me a buck-seventy-five for bait. That's ashtray change lol. No sweat! and the fish were delicious!

CARPE DIEM!

**preachtheWORD** · 06-23-2010, 10:43 AM

That is awesome. My Dad indtroduced a lot of "city kids" to the outdoors, and is still friends with them years later. I hope I can do the same.

**Winnie** · 06-23-2010, 12:09 PM

There's nothing like giving a child a moment of joy to keep their whole lives. My now grown-up nephew still talks about how I taught him to milk goats when he was 10! His son has behavioural problems but can sit still with me for hours fishing.

**crashdive123** · 06-23-2010, 01:58 PM

Sounds like a great way to spend the day and that you had as much fun as the kids.

**gryffynklm** · 06-23-2010, 02:02 PM

great story, YCC. You Da Caveman

**hunter63** · 06-23-2010, 02:52 PM

A lot of things are a lot more fun if you can share them.
Lots of kids went rendezvousing with us and the kids, they still talk about it......

Good job......You got "it" together my friend.

**Rick** · 06-23-2010, 03:55 PM

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. - Buddha

Gave ya a bit of rep for that. Nice job.

**Batch** · 06-23-2010, 09:14 PM

Lots of good country between them and Tampa and them and Melbourne. Try Bull Creek and go down to Billy Lake road. That's just bad arse! Also just have them walk the heads and cemetery on Cemetery Road.

Peace River and tons more...