One Fish...Two Fish...

I've been back from Alaska for a few days and can't quite seem to wrap my head around being home. It has partly to do with accepting the fact that I actually live in Missouri and that school is just around the corner. In my mind I always told myself my Alaska trip was at the end of my summer and that I would push the thoughts of school to the back of my head until "AFTER" my Alaska trip...Guess that means the time is NOW!!! But before I launch into school prep stuff & my deep thoughts about education...let me relive just a few key moments from my trip. (I'll try & keep it brief but consider this your fair warning)

I headed to Alaska with the prospect of trying my hand at salmon fishing. Now keep in mind that this is totally & completely out of my comfort zone. I apprehensively purchased my fishing license and set out with Denise, Erin and Speaker Bob and bear spray(for real) to a bend in Cowie Creek. It was a beautiful scene and something I would expect to see out of the movies perhaps. I felt like I was really in the wilderness. After a quick lesson from Speaker Bob on how to cast and reel I tried my hand at it with a very unsucessful first cast resulting in a loud PLINK as the lure hit rocks 2 feet in front of me...OOPS! I was ready to quit but those along refused to let me give up that easily. I eventually got the hang of it and could see salmon jumping all around me...taunting me...making my competitive blood pump faster and faster. I wanted to catch one of those suckers! I ended up catching 2 fish..The first was a male salmon called a humpie. He was HUGE and I realized quickly that I wasn't very strong.
Coordination never has been my thing so I struggled to pull up on the fishing rod while reeling it in at the same time...I ended up just walking backwards and dragging him to shore! It was a rather humorous sight!!!! We threw him back in the water after a few pictures b/c I was told the meat wasn't very good for eating. Just a few minutes later I hooked another one and this one was THE REAL DEAL! It was a beauty. I was fine with everything until I had to hold it with my bare hands....talk about slimy and disgusting!
I squeeled and hollered and made so much noise I don't think there were any bears within a mile of us! I have decided that I could go fishing again and even enjoy it as long as I don't have to take the fish off the hook or clean it!