Our next destination is Dead Horse Point State Park where the morning fog lifts just as we arrive to reveal a crystal clear view of what I believe to be one of the top five panoramic views in the United States.

Reversing roles from yesterday, Mark is the student today and I pass on advice as we capture all the beauty that surrounds us. While all the photographers jockey for position and prepare for the sunrise shooting frenzy (optimal light exists for a fleeting five minutes), Mark enjoys what has to be one of the most clear and bright night skies either of us has ever seen. After returning to the parking area we have the bad luck to shake out the tent at the exact moment a park ranger is passing by. Despite my efforts to wiggle out of the $50 citation for camping outside of an approved area the fully frosted windshield of the car is a dead give away. Fortunately my National Park Annual Pass and the temporary paper license plate on our new from the factory rental car all check out and the understanding ranger sends us on our way. I chaulk up the fine to an expensive tent site fee and small price to pay for the images we got. Mark chaulked it up to my general stupidity and failure to follow posted rules and his good advice to heed them.

Today, we wake up an hour before sunrise, take down the tent, and make the short hike to Mesa Arch, where we join several other photographers to enjoy the dramatic lighting on the underside of the arch from the sun’s first light.

The net result on the day was two happy brothers. We got off the river at about 6:30 pm and drove to Canyon Lands National Park in Utah, arriving just around 11 pm. The campground there was full, and I opted to pitch our tent in the Mesa Arch trailhead parking area.

I believe the highlight of the day for Mark was dry casting from the anchored boat and catching a nice Brown after a very patient effort to coax him onto the hook. This style of fishing takes far more finesse than the nymph fishing that we employed for most of the day.

I spent about half my time fishing and the other half behind the camera. In the afternoon, I asked Lincoln to put me ashore so I could shoot from that perspective and ran ahead of the boat along a narrow path that paralleled the river.

I believe the last time I went fishing was also with Mark some 35 years ago. He and Lincoln did a fine job of teaching me the art of fly casting, healing the line, setting the hook, and landing the fish. I used this knowledge to catch this small but very pretty Brown Trout. Had I paid closer attention to the lesson on landing the fish, I would have kept my pole in an upright position keeping the right pressure on the line when I hooked a very big fish. When I lowered my pole and tried to pull him to the boat he got away but it was still a big thrill to fight with him while he was on the line.

It does not take long before Mark starts landing fish left and right. Our guide, Lincoln, handles the boat, sets up our fishing rigs, and carefully releases our catches. By my count Mark lands just over a dozen fish including many beautiful Rainbows and Browns as well as one hefty Whitey.

I made arrangements with a local outfitter to provide us with a drift boat and knowledgeable river guide. Mark will fish from the forward position, our guide will handle the ours from the middle seat and I will take up the rear position from which I will fish and photograph. We meet up with our guide at 9am and are on the water by 10am. The morning starts cold but the temperature quickly rises and the weather could not be more glorious.

I am up before sunrise and head out to see what the morning light has to offer. I find this nice view of the Colorado River along whose path much of our coming adventures will revolve. If this scene looks cold, I will have accurately conveyed the setting. When I return to the hotel, Mark is awake and we grab a hot breakfast before heading out for a day of fly fishing on the Roaring Fork River which will end at its confluence with the Colorado.

My brother Mark will turn 50 at the end of this month. To celebrate that milestone we will spend the next four days sharing our avocations with each other. Photography for me and fly fishing for Mark. With exactly one day of planning we rendezvous in Denver where we rent a car and make the three hour drive to Glenwood Springs. Here we stay at the Hotel Colorado and enjoy a fine steak dinner at Juicy Lucy’s. This will be our last civilized meal and accommodations before switching to gorp and a small two man tent.

Every St. Patrick’s Day the Concord Recreation Department organizes a father-daughter dance called the Shamrock Ball. There is no event on my social calendar that I look forward to more. Maya has grown taller making us more compatible dance partners and her skills have improved from last year. The result is that we looked ready to audition for So You Think You Can Dance. We started the evening with a dinner date with Lydia and her father at our local Japanese restaurant.

Tomorrow morning I have an early flight to Denver where I will join up with my brother for a five day camping adventure in Colorado and Utah. I will update the blog with another batch of photos as soon as I return.

I returned from Florida today specifically so I could attend the end-of-season wrestling banquet with Nicolai and Jeanine. Nicolai looked dapper in a suit and tie and enjoyed the celebration, which included a 10-minute slide show I put together for the team.

I finished the day with a visit to the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. By the time I arrived the sun had nearly set but it was well worth the drive and a great place to enjoy my last night in Florida.