That's My Story

OK, just so you don’t read further if you don’t want t this isn’t about Baja. Nor is it about passports; luggage; or how to rig your line to catch more dorado or trailer your boat across the border.

Sorry.

But maybe it’s about something more important.

Back in February, I wrote a column entitled “The Last Bait” about two older gents that had approached me at one of the fishing shows year after year always promising to come down to fish with us. It was always “next year for sure!”

When I ran into them this year, one had terminal cancer. The other had lost his wife. These two former fox-hole buddies from the army had waited a bit too long. The point of my column focused on being careful not to let too much of life pass you by until the boat was headed back to shore and you had just one more bait in the tank.

The two old veterans promised for sure that this would be the year to come fishing.

Well, I have never gotten such an outpouring of e-mails and phone calls. Somewhere in the collective hearts of you readers, that column touched many of you.

Let me share…

“I wanted to thank you on behalf of all old guys like me who have been in love with Baja for decades. When you wrote that our adventurous side tends to wither as we age, it really struck a chord with me. I used to fish Baja at least three times a year, but that gradually diminished to a single annual trip for 4 or 5 days.. .

Early on, I had the great good fortune of driving to the tip three times in my VW camper, staying on remote beaches and following the advice of Kelly & Kira to find the “glory holes.” My fishing buddy and closest friend of 37 years died of cancer in 2000, at the tender age of 51. Since then, my enthusiasm for the Peninsula has not been as keen, but I was unaware that it had diminished so far until reading your column. I will be retiring at 62 years of age on my next birthday, and I’m taking my wife on a 30 day overland trip to Cabo, thanks to you. There ARE only so many empty spaces left at the rail, and I intend to squeeze in there at least one last time.” R. Williams, Arizona

“. . .I had my wife read your “One Bait ” article. I told her I was going to send that to a bunch of my friends and family. We need to learn that life doesn’ t always go as planned; that it doesn’t always have a happy ending; that the trip you are putting off ‘til you have more money may never happen if you don’t make it happen NOW.

“I’ve been on 2 party boats that had a son and a father along, both with the dad dying of cancer. They had always talked of going on a boat together, and were excited they had finally done so. Neither dad was capable of fishing, but was excited to be there with their son. How much more meaning would that have had had they been able to actually fish together, and down a beer or two over bragging rights.” R. Newman, Las Vegas NV

“. . .this last one about the two old guys. All my friends get on me as I’m always preaching these same things. I’ve recently became a father of twins and they are going to see and do everything. I think especially in the U.S. we get so caught up in the pursuit of the material status, that we don’t stop to smell those fish tacos cooking on the side of some dirt road.” P. Mostert, Long Beach CA

“. . .you got me again that was a great article about the lifelong friends (sadly one has cancer). Got me enough . . .to call my friends and bug them about a trip Baja. (two of whom have cancer).” B. Dyer, S.Francisco CA

“You really hit me this time. Your story about the two Korean War buddies hit right at home. I’m a Korean vet, and I have spent the last several years burying some of my buds and their wives………trust me, the road behind is a lot longer than the one ahead.
That’s why I spend as much time on my boat and in Baja as I can ! I know exactly how
those guys feel………Man, where did all the days go?” B. Owens, Oakland CA (USMC ret.) Semper Fi

Many of you were curios about the two amigos that were the genesis of the original colum. I have yet to hear from the two veterans. Wherever they are, I wish them well. Even if they don’t or are unable to do a trip with me or anyone else, somehow their story got under my own skin. It got me to write my column. It got a lot of you…all of us…to take stock.

The week’s column is dedicated to my competitor at the Pirate Fleet, Leonard Philips, who just lost his own dad this past week.

Flat seas and calm winds…

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.