FRIENDS.

 

There are friends, good friends and very good friends.     I had/have still  one of the later and we spent many years touring the reservoirs of England and Wales but mostly the big reservoirs of Rutland, Grafham and Draycote and had many great days together.

We were at one of the early Game Fairs when if I recall correctly it was Peter Cockwill who was instrumental into importing the first Loomis rods into the country.  We bought a blank each and i made them up into super reservoir rods.  Loomis remain one of the best still in my opinion.

My friend lived near Worcester and I met him at his home early one morning and we set off for Grafham.  We had a good day,s boat fishing and as usual fished until last light.  He then drove us home which was a good two hours or more away, 100 miles plus at least.

Back at his house I unpacked by gear from his boot only to discover my Loomis rod was not there.  I must have left at on the grassy bank at the rear of the car in Grafham car park.  I was not best pleased as you might image and said I would ring the lodge the following day to see if it had been handed in..  However my friend was having none of this and said we should drive back and get it. 11.30pm or so, 200 mile plus round trip at night seemed somewhat daft to me but he insisted we go back for the rod.   So we did.  The rod was not there so our journey proved futile.

However there was a happy ending and faith in human nature was restored for the rod was handed in to the lodge by some honest angler and I collected it on our next visit.

Not sure how many would have done such a trip to try and find a missing rod for his friend.