Last week I had the special opportunity to go fishing with my son, Jeremy. Life is busy, but given the chance to have a day with him, made me happy to take it! We love to fly fish, and rarely take the time to enjoy such a fun hobby, so off we headed to one of our favorite spots, just three hours away, on the Deschutes River. The river is legendary for good fishing, and is a beautiful place in central Oregon, with easy access to the river at the town of Maupin. For us the area is special because it is also home of the railroad I model, ‘The Oregon Trunk’. So, to combine rail-fanning, while fly fishing with my best friend, was a ‘no brainer’.

This part of the rails now belong to BNSF, but there was a time when the Spokane Portland & Seattle rumbled down the canyon. Today, though, both UP and BNSF share the rails, with as many as six trains-a-day traveling in daylight. Our time was well spent in the bright sun of springtime. Although the fish were few, and the trains were fewer (with only a lone hi-rail hugging the canyon walls) there was no disappointment here, because it was another great time with my friend!

For those that might ask, my layout is in storage now but I’m hoping to set it up, again, in the near future. This place inspires me.