The Perfect Day

Winter is coming. It is inevitable. The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and Rhode Islanders are beginning to grumble about moving to a warmer climate. Last winter was relentless, and there are rumors of an even harder one on its way. Some of us whine about shoveling and driving conditions, while others call us wussies for whining, because we are New Englanders after all, and should be used to it. I tend to agree with both arguments.

Fall is exciting, but it signifies the beginning of the slippery slope into winter. The a/c gets shut off, and the heat will soon be turned on. Before we know it, the holidays will be here, and the radio stations will be playing Bing Crosby, John Lennon and The Chipmunks. There is still sunlight at 6pm, but that will change soon. The air is pleasantly crisp, but that is going to change as well. Overnight, it all just seems to collapse into a dreadful winter wonderland. Before I get too worked up on the burdens of the coming season, I’ll focus on the beauty of the present one.

Freshwater fishing slows down, but saltwater picks up. Striped bass migrate south and liven up our shoreline for fishermen. If you want to try to wrestle with a “cow,” or a huge striped bass, you can try casting surf gear at various points on our coast. You can also take a chartered boat out toward Block Island. You should do it soon, though, because the bass are generally gone by November.

The leaves are changing color, which makes for some breathtaking scenery. For this reason, and many others, hiking is amazing this time of year, especially for those who like to take photographs.

If freedom on the open road is your thing, there will be a few more chances to ride a motorcycle. That is, unless you’re crazy and ride all year round. I wear my protective gear throughout the summer, but a leather jacket, helmet and a pair of gloves feel much more fitting in fall.

Football is in full swing, which conflicts with my adventuring. I like to follow The Patriots’ season, but I am out in the woods on most Sundays. I’ll check the ESPN app on my phone thoughout the day to keep up, but I usually only catch the night games and the last half of the season.

I have my annual birthday fishing trip in October every year, which is really just an excuse to get my friends together. We are all so busy that it requires a day with a special name to get the boys back together again. It usually turns out to be a bit of a party.

We are in an incredible part of our yearly cycle, and it doesn’t usually last long. Before we know it, the bitter cold, slush and ice will be here, and most of us will be longing for spring. We still have time, though. There are still a few weeks left of what I would consider to be the best time to be out in Rhode Island’s wilderness.

If I could engineer the perfect fall day in Rhode Island, it would go as follows; I would sleep in until about 10 am. After enjoying breakfast and coffee on the couch with the news in the background, I would make a trip to Home Depot. There, I would buy some PVC pipe and rig about a foot of it vertically to the back of my Harley Sportster. The pipe would hold my saltwater fishing pole as I ride down Route 4 to the West Wall by East Matunuck Beach. I’d give it one last go at a worthy striper. Of course, on a perfect day, I’d catch a keeper and clean it right there on the rocks. I would put the fillets in one of my motorcycle side bags, and ride home during sunset. I would get home just in time for a Patriots’ night game, and watch it with my wife, the kids, and a few friends. We would all taste some fresh striper, drink some beers (well, the adults), and the Patriots would win with a stunning defeat. All of that doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch to me.