Back to the states

It was hard to say goodbye to this place. It is unique among the places I've been fishing. On the last afternoon of a trip like this, I'll normally stand out on the beach, grab a handful of sand, and let it run through my fingers as I take a really good look around, just to make sure the image is burned into my mind. It's definitely something I recommend every salty fly to try at least once in his/her lifetime.

[Ken] I agree. Christmas Island was difficult to say goodbye to. I had such an amazing time. I will return. If you have had Christmas Island in the back of your mind for some time now do yourself a favor, move that idea to the front and book now. You will not be disappointed.





The gentleman you see in the blue jacket is a former officer in the UK military. He was on our flight with a film crew from the BBC recording a documentary on the UK nuclear weapons testing on the island in the late 50's. More specifically, he was there to help uncover the lies that the UK was telling about the exposure of their military and the native Gilbertese to radiation during their involvement. I sat next to him on the way back and I have to say this guy is very intelligent, but he also appears to have a personal vendetta going on with the UK government here. As we were taking off, and immediately to the left of the runway about a half mile out, he pointed out what was ground zero for operation Grapple X - an Atomic bomb hoisted with a series of weather balloons in 1959. When we were sitting on the runway waiting to take off, he was telling me about the construction of the runway and how it was built to accommodate the large bombers that were to later transport the nuclear weapons. He pointed out areas around the runway where significant events occurred and he would stop occasionally and stare motionless - almost about to cry.

And of course, that's good old Bud and Bogie in there too - what a bunch of crazy hoots they were.



And we're off to Honolulu, where we catch a short Aloha Airlines flight to Maui for some water sports - Five-O Dude!!