Wingless flies travel far

Delusions of grandeur flood my mind of what could have been but was not. Half a century has been longing to mark me and has finally arrived. I will celebrate such a milestone by fulfilling a lifetime dream to chase four species of fish in the aquamarine waters of the Mexican Caribbean; the hard core anglers call it a "Grand Slam"-Permit, Bonefish, Tarpon and Snook all caught in one day-I call it a blessing. I have been so lucky to have been asked to accompany a flyfishing legend and renowned outdoor photographer; Brian O'Keefe (www.catchmagazine.net) as he shoots his next big job chasing Permit in Asencion Bay.  I will learn from Brian and will feel privileged to hold a strobe light or a fish underwater as he magically captures the kaleidoscope of  life through the eyes of a fisherman. I anxiously prepare and have visions of a remote peninsula in the Mayan jungle, deep in the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve; my thoughts wander.  The thought of forgetting a piece of equipment, or carefully chosen flies makes my heart race in a panic, since I know whatever I do not bring, I must go without. A flight to Cancun, three hours South on a two lane highway, then a pothole dirt road, then a boat ride to somewhere near the Belize border.....far from civilization but so close to the Mayan gods..... Raghead crabs, Puglisi crabs, Crazy Charlies, Chili Peppers...... names of flies that invoke deceiving elusive fish with long angelical casts. As I begin to organize these flies, anticipation builds........