Sometimes You've Gotta Sneak Away

A few months a go I got on a plane returning from a Nashville Tribute show somewhere and sat next to a very nice older couple. I was tired and planned on sleeping on the flight but couldn't help start a conversation with Kay and David Nicholas. We ended up talking about everything under the sun for every second of the flight. They knew my parents in college at the University of Oklahoma in the late 50s and early 60s. They lived for most of their lives in the town I was born in (Enid, OK), we know MANY of the same people, and of course, we discussed the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was beautiful. They spend most of their time these days in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado...they have a beautiful, quaint little cottage with a guest house right on the river. David also mentioned that he is an expert fly fisherman with 72 years of experience. I say, "Ah-hem, hey I happen to be coming to Colorado at the end of April to do a couple of shows in Castle Rock and Colorado Springs." They say, "Hey come stay with us and we'll do some fishing." I say, "You shouldn't have asked! :o)". So I fly out a day early before the shows with a friend of mine from Nashville named Austin Rich, and we stay in their wonderful little guest house and wake up the next morning and fish all day long in about a half dozen of the most beautifully remote fishing spots imaginable below Pikes Peak. David Nicholas is an expert fly fisherman and I learned a ton. He also knows some of the most beautiful country in the world like the back of his hand. We had elk herds and big horn sheep herds walk right up on us. Open your mouths on those flights! You never know what you'll find in a good conversation! - Jason Deere