This blog has been quiet for the past week because I've been in Bismarck, N.D. for a conference.
When I told people I was going to Bismarck for a conference the first thing they wanted to know was, "Who in their right mind holds a conference in North Dakota?" The Outdoor Writers Association of America, is who. The OWAA traditionally tries to hold conferences in areas where the outdoors are important, and that certainly holds true with Bismarck.
Contrary to the belief of my wife and a number of others, it wasn't a vacation. I spent five days in meetings, seminars and panels, and most nights with planned events. As some of you might have seen in the DGIF's Outdoor Report, I was recently elected to the OWAA's board of directors (thanks to all who have sent congratulations) so that added to my responsibilities, too.
I guess I could have found some time for blog entries on some of the happenings up there -- and I plan to touch on some of the topics. But while the stuff was of interest to me, most of it might not be for others as it was a lot of nuts and bolts-type stuff.
I'd be lying if I didn't admit to having some fun socializing in the evening with friends I get to see but once a year. One night I even broke from my non-gambling form and played some blackjack at the motel bar. They can run the games because all profits go to the local convention and visitor's bureau.
It's a small stakes game, with $1 minimum bets and $25 max bets. I started with $20 in chips and figured to play $1 and $2 bets until I ran out. Amazingly, I didn't run out. When I cashed out after two hours of playing I had $55 in chips, and I'd actually tipped the dealers some, too.
That game provided a couple surreal moments. One, two guys took a bathroom break and found the men's room closed for cleaning. So they knocked on the door and went into the women's bathroom. Well, the woman cleaning the men's room saw this and went ballistic. Next thing we know she's in there with two security guards yelling, "There they are! That's them!" Fortunately the guards, who were straight out of an episode of "Reno 911," agreed to let the perpetrators off with a warning.
Later in the game the guy sitting next to me took a drink of red wine, swallowed down the wrong pipe, coughed and blew his wine all over the dealer and our cards. Amazingly, she let him keep playing after he tipped her generously and helped wipe off the cards.
I did manage to slip in one outdoors adventure, staying an extra day to go prairie dog shooting. It was pretty interesting and I hope to do a story for the paper and post a video here when the story runs.
Comments
[June 27, 2008 7:26 PM]
Alfie HGlad to see you back. We missed your articles and your blogs. Alfie H
[June 27, 2008 9:52 PM]
Mark TaylorThanks, Alfie.
The rolling plains were beautiful but it's good to be back in the land of mountains.
mt
[June 27, 2008 11:22 PM]
MoeAmen to the Mountains !!! Glad to hear your back and had a safe trip. Only 99 days left !!!!!
[June 28, 2008 8:52 AM]
wayne wornerWe're Blacksburg residents (37 years--most with VT). I grew up in Wahpeton ND and served as school supt. in Grand Forks before moving to Tech in '71. Now spend our retirement summers in MN where fishing is excellent. Enjoyed reading something from a person who visited my home state and reporting positively on the experience.
wayne worner
[June 29, 2008 10:08 AM]
Mark TaylorThanks for the comments Moe and Wayne.
Moe, I'm not sure if your countdown is good or bad. Ninety-nine days (98 now, I guess) sure seems like a long time.
Wayne, good to hear you get to split your time between here and the upper Midwest. We were fortunate that the weather was amazing up there and mosquitos weren't as bad as they can be.
I should have pointed out that on the way out and back from the prairie dog ranch I saw mule deer, pronghorn antelope, pheasants, lots of raptors, a fox and a small gang of turkeys. The gang included two big strutting gobblers, which I thought was pretty interesting this late in the season.
mt
[June 29, 2008 10:44 AM]
BacklashBravo Zulu and Congratulations on your award and safe returned to Roanoke...
Saturday 6-28-08 I told a fisherman of Pandapas Pond I would post a comment of it's current conditions from 2 months ago.
Let me get you started on one of the recreational area issues, Pandapas Pond is over grown with choke, weeds, and some form of Hydrilla. There is an aggressive beaver damming up the pond to the point the water have taken on a tobacco stain color hue. Because of this beaver natural instincts to dam the water is becoming stagnant with no natural filtration.
You can only surmise this is going to cost tax payers to correct this problem by replenishing the dying fish and controlling the weeds at this otherwise picturesque pond which looks like an overflowing septic tank.
Trust me the Geese are not helping matters with the dog size fecal matter nearly every inch of walk way space, I will sufficient to say eeewwe.
On a scale of 0-10 visiting this pond for the 4 of July Holiday as an outing, Negative 0.
[July 1, 2008 3:39 PM]
Mark TaylorThanks for the report on Pandapas, Backlash. I haven't been out there yet this season but it doesn't surprise me to hear it's got weed issues. And it sounds like the place needs to host a special resident goose hunt next September!
mt