It’s been a frantic week, with visiting pint-sized nephews to take up chairlifts, clients to take for kayaking trips, family dinners to attend practically nightly, a visitor from Canada to show about, all the renos on our cabin to finish, that deadline to meet and that translation to do, sunburns to nurse, a few hundred emails to reply to….and most importantly, my brand new fly rod to test out.

Patagonia is one of the world’s finest fly-fishing destinations. There are hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams here that are truly world-class and draw enthusiasts like pilgrims. I’ve met many of these folks lately, as well as dozens of people who work in and around the fly fishing industry as I’m indulging my yearning now that I’m properly equipped. I will go on about this later — and I may go on and on and on about this subject — but to keep it short, Santa heard my calls and thought I was a good enough gal to deserve what I’ve wanted for a long, long time. A three-piece 6″ and 9-long graphite rod! Wow! It’s soooo beautiful.

Not only is my rod itself a stunner, but it took me to some pretty gosh-darned gorgeous spots today as we made our way in the rain down the Siete Lagos. We casted at Lago Falkner in the drizzle, testing the leaders and working the reels. The water was slightly chilly, the lake misty, the mountains popping in and out of the clouds. Silence everywhere but for the whip-whip of my line in the air above me. A perfect day. The trout popped up but didn’t bite. That’s okay, I don’t think I’m ready for a catch yet!

Later, Sue and I oogled at the real pros at the Correntoso. They know there stuff and wow-ed us with the grace of their casts. Maybe one day…..Later, I was asked if I actually fished at the Correntoso. I said that’d be like touching a futbol for the first time and having to go play at La Bombonera with Boca Juniors the very next day.

One step - or perhaps one cast - at a time. Lovely.