Latest Update: July 4, 2001 by Ben Marcus

9:52 MT WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2001 THE NEWSLINK CAF°, KETCHUM, IDAHO

MONEY:
Organic oatmeal and Internet time:
Two-day license and more grasshoppers.
Car wash:
Laundry:

I'm eating organic oatmeal with dried cherries in the Newslink CafÚ. The sky is clouding up which should keep the heat down, but might mess up some fireworks displays.

A few thoughts on omens: When I bumped into Yvon Chouinard in the middle of nowhere, and saw that show on Siberian Tigers at the end of the day, I took that as an omen that I was going to Kamchatka.

Well, I'm definitely not going to Kamchatka, so I guess I read the omen wrong.

The other day I was driving through Boise I passed Benjamin Street and then Steelhead Street, in succession. I took that as a sign, too.

And then yesterday there was a news report on a Russian passenger jet crashing somewhere in Siberia en route to the Pacific Coast of Russia, to Vladivostok.

Russian airliner found burning in Siberia

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 Breaking News Sections

(07-03) 11:41 PDT MOSCOW (AP) --

A Russian airliner carrying 143 people was found burning outside the Siberian city of Irkutsk, the news agency ITAR-Tass reported, citing the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Tu-154 plane belonging to the Vladivostokavia airline disappeared from radar screens about 9:10 p.m. Moscow time, Russian news reports said. Irkutsk is 2,600 miles east of Moscow.

There was no immediate word on the fate of the 133 passengers and 10 crew members on the plane, which had been en route from Yekaterinburg to Vladivostok, the major port on Russia's Pacific Coast.

The wreckage was discovered near the village of Budyonnovka, about 20 miles from Irkutsk.

The Tu-154 is the workhorse of Russia's domestic airlines and widely used throughout the former Soviet Union. So, that was a definite omen. Kamchatka is off, and now I'm working on Alaska.

I was thinking about gong the other way around on AeroSketch, but I'll take that as an omen that I made the right choice. Alaska is the goal now, but I have things to do.

Today I'm gonna clean the van and clean my clothes and get organized and maybe try to fish Silver Creek although I think it's too late already. I'll watch the fireworks in Hailey tonight and then head north tomorrow, through Challis and up to Salmon and then into Montana.

I need to find out about taking cats into Canada, and I also need to figure out if I can indeed take a car ferry to Yakutat. Hopefully the Alaska trip will happen. Just got an e-mail from Keith Malloy in J-Bay who was interested in Russia, but I told him about Alaska.

BEN

LET ME KNOW WHAT'S UP, I WOULD LOVE TO GO. J-BAY 5FT YESTERDAY, WE SURFED ALL DAY. KEITH

Keith

Now it's Alaska, if you're interested. A boat trip out of Seward to Hinchinbrook and Montagu Islands'

Peter Mel and them went last year but got skunked. We'd be going late August, early September, if I can set it up. Salmon fishing, hunting even, if you're interested.

Also a chance to surf a tidal bore in Turnagain Arm, near Anchorage.

I'll keep you updated.

Ben

Also need to find Brock again.

Here is a call and response with Jeff Galbraith who summed up his six days with me with some concerns.

Ben,

Thanks for the ride, dude, I hope the City of Trees wasn't too depressing. Loved the Sacklunch dispatches.

CITY OF TREES INDEED.

I hope I wasn't too impatient, I've been under a ton of stress and that trip was intened to de-compress me. I really had a great time, and think you're a great person with a good heart and a strong pen. Also, I like Ike.

YOU WERE FINE. I'D BE IMPATIENT WITH ME IF I WASN'T ME.

IKE LIKES YOU TOO, ALTHOUGH HE HISSED AT ANDY GILBERT'S CAT WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP YOUR HAT YESTERDAY. ANDY AND JANESSA WERENT THERE.

Let your fly drift naturally; the main thing is the fish can tell how you feel about how your fly looks on the surface. You must talk to the trout and exude your confidence. You have the "bug" and are going to be a great fisherman, just keep at it and remember that it is all in the presentation.

OKAY

Likewise, wear clean clothes, tie your shoes and quit scratching yourself bloody. You are a brilliant writer and an adventurer, not a purposeless drifter. You'll be surprised at how many more girls will want to strike conversation with you. It's all in the presentation. Obviously the chica at the Sawtooth Club saw this and was drawn to it.

GIRLS ARE TROUBLE. I PREFER CATS.

Certainly a lot of the surf industry thinks you're a freak, just like the shredboard industry thinks of me.

WHO CARES WHAT THE SURF INDUSTRY THINKS? GOOD LORD. A BUNCH OF OVERGROWN IMPRESSIONABLE TEENAGERS SELLING OVERPRICED CLOTHES TO IMPRESSIONABLE TEENAGERS.

IF THE SURF INDUSTRY IS SO SMART, WHY IS IT IN ORANGE COUNTY??? EH?

I think they're just stuck in cubicles trying to justify their lives of bro-brah desperation.

MAYBE SO.

Keep your line tight and tip up.

OKAY

Peace and Casts,

JG >>

P.S. CHECK THE PHOTO OF THE PIRELLI SCORPIONS THREE MORE JUST LIKE IT, BABY.

I CAME BACK AT 80 MPH WITH NO WORRIES.

For all my ragging on Aggroville, there was a funny thread in there this morning. A character named Spenny, who I believe is based on Jeff Spencer, came up with some zingers. Check it out. And if you see my name on there, please call Officer Avilla of the Pacifica Police Department.

I also got an e-mail from a Sacklunch reader inviting me to fish in Whistler on my way up. I might just do that.

And now I'm having an Internet Message session with Buzzy Kerbox, who feels he has been left out of tow-surfing history. He may be right.

TheBenM: Godo morning. Ever been ot Sun Valley, Idaho?

KERBOX: Yes

TheBenM: I like it. Interesting place in the middle of nowhere.

KERBOX: this winter

KERBOX: great spot

KERBOX: the Surfer party was fun

TheBenM: Really? THis winter. It's hotter than poo here right now, but good fishing. I could live here.

TheBenM: When was the SURFER party?

KERBOX: last Wed night at Dukes

KERBOX: 250 people

KERBOX: in conjuction w surfrider foundation

TheBenM: Sorry I wasnt there. But no one at SURFER likes me. Oh well.

TheBenM: What was the occasion?

KERBOX: 40 years of surfer

KERBOX: they did a book

TheBenM: Oh. Was Steve Hawk there? Or Evan? They just got bought by the company that owns Surfing. Weird.

TheBenM: I hd a few things in there. Sam credited the Jay Moriarity wipeout interview to Matt Warshaw though.

KERBOX: no steve or evan

KERBOX: sam and chris were there

KERBOX: divine and servay

TheBenM: Oh. Them.

TheBenM: Oh well. I'm just doomed to not be appreciated in my own lifetime. Pezman?

KERBOX: sam got up to talk and wouldnt stop

KERBOX: no Pezman

TheBenM: WHAT!!!!!???? NO PEZMAN!!!??? INFAMY. STUPID. WARSHAW?

KERBOX: I know the feeling

TheBenM: Did Sam George let anyone else talk.

TheBenM: I was kind of quoting you on that one.

KERBOX: shaun and i spoke

TheBenM: Laird?

KERBOX: people even wanted my autograph

KERBOX: no Laird

TheBenM: Atta boy. Chicks? Hook up? Tempted? Eh?

TheBenM: Maybe they thought you were Laird. Kidding. Byegones.

KERBOX: plenty chicks but no hook up

TheBenM: I know. You're hitched to a lovely gal.

KERBOX: your funny

TheBenM: Lotta girls in Sun Valley. What a strange place. Nothing else like it in Idaho, that's for sure.

TheBenM: Some people dont think I'm so funny.

KERBOX: only been ther in winter

TheBenM: Russia is off. The airline that used to fly there from Anchoarge no longer flys there. And Russian airlines fall from the sky.

KERBOX: stay home

TheBenM: mAYBE SO.

TheBenM: I'm gonna go up to Yakutat and fishfor steelhead.

KERBOX: Happy 4th of July

TheBenM: You, too.

TheBenM: Glad you had fun.

KERBOX: later

TheBenM: Nice to be appreciated, or so they tell me.

KERBOX: wish you were there

TheBenM: Me too, but too much hate n the room. I;'ve insulted everyoen on the staff.

TheBenM: I woulda got in a fight with Servais, for sure.

KERBOX: that would have been fun to watch

TheBenM: Not for him.

Just got a response from the Sacklunch/Whistler person on bringing cats into Canada.

ANY IDEA ABOUT THE LEGALITIES OF BRINGING A CAT INTO CANADA?

here is a relevant link: http://www.cdnconsulat la.com/eng/trade/travgood.htm

essentially it says that your pet must have had a valid rabies shot in the in the 36 months prior to crossing the border. if your ike is less than three months, he need only "appear in good health"

dano

So it's the needle and the damage done for Ike, but it will pay off in mountains of salmon.

Gotta go, I've been here almost an hour and I gots places to go, fish to throw.