#ThrowbackThursday

Too much fun not share again…this trip was in 2018.

Tucked away deep in the hills of North Carolina, I found a gem called “Sapphire.”

In and out of down pours, half the day, I traveled the treacherous curvy roads in search of the Brook Trout Inn. Nestled in the side of a mountain, the quaint little inn was friendly and welcoming.

Just like home away from home, they provided all the necessary ingredients and appliances to make yourself some breakfast in a cozy sitting room off from the main lobby.

I chose this location because it was nearby the fly-fishing excursion I had planned for the next day. A guided wade trip on private waters led by Headwater Outfitters.

My helpful guide, Chris, supplied all the necessary equipment including the awesome waders and boots. All I had to do was show up. The weather was a bit threatening with storms the night before. But, the morning of my trip, the sun was breaking through the trees hitting the water with a brilliant glow, as I maneuvered the slippery rocks, with one hand on my guide’s arm, like an usher leading me to my seat at the theatre.

The play was magnificent as the rainbow trout put on a show just for me. What a thrill to set the hook on a 20-inch trout and have it leap out of the water making a big splash as I reeled him in. Once the hook is set, the trick is knowing when to reel and when to let it run with the line while keeping the rod high and bent until Chris swooped him up in the net.

He agreed to one photo before leaping back in the murky waters to warn his friends of my arrival. Looks as though I caused quite a stir, so we moved up stream to find another hiding place.

The trout wasn’t the only hidden treasure I found that day. I saw a blue heron gracefully soaring above the tree line. A dragonfly floated by to say hello just as a mayfly landed on Chris’ arm. As we hiked around the trail to dip back in another area of the river, a swallowtail caught my attention.  

I would have loved to taken photos of the swiftly flowing water crashing over the rocks under the canopy of trees, but I was sort of preoccupied with fishing and not falling, so I didn’t chance taking the camera with me.

What a blessing to be out in nature and experience God’s beauty and creation as I mark another one off the bucket list.

The day before my trip I woke with this in my thoughts: “Search for Me throughout your day like hidden treasure.”