The Confluence

A Collection of Essays, Art, and Tall Tales
by David Van Wie, Phil Odence, Norm Richter, Bob Chamberlin, Ed Baldrige, David Klinges, and Bill Conway

Readers’ Comments

“A Bright and Wonderful Read!”

—Sydney Lea, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Vermont

“This book . . . is about the very meaning of friendship…”

—Mel Allen, Yankee Magazine

“Steadily engaging, often surprising, the prose here is polished but blessedly unpretentious. . .”

—Seth Norman, Fly Rod & Reel

“ . . a delightful flowing together of stories . . .”

—Dan Nelson, director, Dartmouth Outdoor Programs

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In this unique collection of intertwined essays written by seven lifelong friends, the authors reflect on twenty-plus years of annual retreats to a remote cabin at the confluence of the Dead Diamond and Swift Diamond Rivers in northern New Hampshire. Fishing is only a part of the story. The entertaining narrative reveals how their friendships have grown deeper as their lives flow into middle age, with laughs, tears, and insight into the intersection between humanity and the natural world. The reader comes along to experience New England wilderness wonders, stinky outhouses, original watercolors, floods, a wine tasting, a dramatic search and rescue . . . and fly-fishing for native brook trout. You will wish you could tag along next year.