Mark enjoying the riverscape in Togura-Kamiyamada
戸倉駅へオーストラリア人は２人を迎えに行き、車の中で「この辺で釣りが出来る所はありますか」と聞かれました。
ん・・・
千曲川の鮎釣りの解禁があと２週間ぐらいだけど、ブラックバス釣りしている方の姿は良く見るから・・・
隣の薬局のお兄さんからロッドを借りて（本人はマイリールとルアーを持っていました）、早速千曲川へ歩いて出かけました。次の朝に４時半からも釣りに出かけた。釣ったかどうか、聞かないで下さい。でも、釣るのが目的じゃない。外国へ行って、その国の環境と自然と触れ合うのが目的。その意味で、釣りが最適だ。
I went to Togura Station to pick up a couple of backpackers from Australia. In the car on the way back, Mark asked if there were any fishing spots nearby.
Hmm... The Chikuma River 'ayu' river fish season doesn't open for another couple of weeks, but I often see guys fishing for black bass on the river that runs down the middle of our onsen town.
Mark borrowed a rod from our neighbor the pharmacist (he had his own reel and lures), and walked over to the river to try his luck. Apparently he enjoyed it because the next morning he went out again at 4:30am. Just don't ask if he caught anything. But I think that's besides the point. When you travel to a foreign country, you want to get in touch with that country's nature and environment, and fishing is a great way to accomplish that!
