Overview

"These recollections span eight decades and two continents, complete with photos, excerpts from letters written more than 30 years ago, and contributions from other people. Some of the stories originally appeared online in the California Flyway Forum or in the California Waterfowl Association's quarterly magazine.Peter Arnold was born in San Francisco in 1924, served in the Navy during WW II, and earned a Master's Degree in Forestry from Yale. His first job, in Southern Brazil, started him on an international career, mostly in Latin America, but in Australasia as well. He lived four years in Ecuador as a Forestry Advisor to its government. Also, on his ranch in the Sierra Foothills of California, he established one of the region's first post-prohibition vineyards.Now retired and no longer able to engage in outdoor activities, he remains vitally interested in several hunting and fishing groups. His lifelong passion for those sports has yielded a lifetime's worth of valuable advocacy and treasured friendships. He and his wife, Sarah, live near Grass Valley, California.""The richness of Peter's experiences are not simply measured by the rewards and failures ... but rather by the memory that these things actually happened and were not just dreams of things that only might have happened. Even the heartbreaks are entertaining.""-Frank Hall, author of They Came to Shoot: a History of California Duck Clubs and Wetlands Conservation""To anyone that has hunted, fished or just enjoyed the outdoors, this book is written for you. Each story made me want to read another.""-Rick Schussel, elite member of the California Flyway Forum and also very active with many other waterfowl organizations""Peter has developed a gift for storytelling that takes the waterfowl hunter and fisherman in all of us along for the ride. Make sure you give yourself enough time to read Ripples on the Water in one sitting. For once you start, you won't easily put the book down."" -Will Baer, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at USC"

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9780578682853

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Reviews

While much of this book explores first experiences we have almost all had - First Greenhead comes to mind - it also includes some really exotic experiences like fishing for trout in the Andes. Peter's descriptions of each provide a rush. The richness of Peter's experiences are not simply measured by the rewards and failures - the long-sailed greenhead finally found, the huge trout that finally broke off, or was magically landed even without a net, but rather by the memory that these things actually happened and were not just dreams of things that only might have happened. What a book. Filled with buckets of nostalgia, unstinting praise for his hosts and companions, and not a shred of chest-thumping selfishness; what a joy of a man to have been in the field with. Pity I had so few of those days with him but now I have this wonderful book. Even the heartbreaks are entertaining; two-pound test and too much drag for a lake with zippy trout, no landing net for big fish repeats more than once, a multi-day trip into the Andes with a knee in gigantic pain and not even an aspirin along, lost hearing aids from wearing a face mask - does he ever learn? -Frank Hall, author of They Came to Shoot: a History of California Duck Clubs and Wetlands Conservation Your stories brought back a flood of memories of my mentor, my dad, and of hunts with my own brothers. My own life outdoors flashed through my mind. Honestly, I shed a tear or two as I finished the book. And, your description of The Last Hunt was so meaningful... Peter's book touched my heart. When the last word was read, I simply sat still. Quietly. Grateful. To anyone that has hunted, fished or just enjoyed the outdoors, this book is written for you. Each story made me want to read another. Your expressive style of writing draws the reader into each adventure, triggering cherished memories. Thank you for sharing how the outdoors - and all those you share it with, enriches one's life. -Rick Schussel, elite member of the California Flyway Forum and also very active with many other waterfowl organizations Peter's masterful writing style rekindled long ago outdoor adventures and brought back memories of days spent in the field with my brother, my two boys, my closest hunting companions and favorite hunting dogs. Peter humbly credits his professional writing brother, Tony, who wrote Spent Shells, among other books, as the better writer. What is truly apparent is that Peter has developed a gift for storytelling that takes the waterfowl hunter and fisherman in all of us along for the ride. Make sure you give yourself enough time to read Ripples on the Water in one sitting. For once you start, you won't easily put the book down. -Will Baer, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at USC

Author Information

Peter Arnold was born in San Francisco in 1924, served in the Navy during WW II, and earned a Master's Degree in Forestry from Yale. His first job, in Southern Brazil, started him on an international career, mostly in Latin America, but in Australasia as well. He lived four years in Ecuador as a Forestry Advisor to its government. Also, on his ranch in the Sierra Foothills of California, he established one of the region's first post-prohibition vineyards. Now retired and no longer able to engage in outdoor activities, he remains vitally interested in several hunting and fishing groups. His lifelong passion for those sports has yielded a lifetime's worth of valuable advocacy and treasured friendships. He and his wife, Sarah, live near Grass Valley, California. Tom lives on a small farm near Timaru in South Canterbury and is an elected member of the Waimate District Council. He is a semi-retired journalist and political commentator with an interest in New Zealand Military History.

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