John Swanson has been thinking about fishing for the last few days, not the pain that comes with being an amputee.
The Sauk Rapids, Minn. native returned Wednesday from a retreat at Miminiska Lodge on the Albany River as part of Project Healing Waters, an initiative that takes injured American and Canadian soldiers on a fly-fishing trip to the Wilderness North resort.
Swanson lost his right leg in Saudi Arabia in the first Gulf War; his leg was crushed and it had to eventually be amputated.
He joined Project Healing Waters in 2009. This year was his second experience with Wilderness North in Canada and it's an opportunity he wouldn't have missed for the world.
"It gives you a chance to get away from the hurries and the worries of the day - a chance to concentrate on something other than your troubles and your pain," Swanson said.
The group of six caught a slew of fish, including walleye and one rather large northern pike.
"That was absolutely a gas to watch, like a freight train through the water," said Swanson.
For him, the trip is therapeutic. Swanson said it's about getting his troubles off his mind.
"Your mind is preoccupied with fish or the beauty or the weather. The pain becomes secondary," he said.
Wilderness North has been part of Project Healing Waters since 2008 when it expanded beyond the U.S. into Canada.
Ron Weiss owns Hook and Hackle, a fly-fishing company in Pittsburgh, Penn. His company supplies equipment for the retreats and this year he came as a mentor and guide.
"We couldn't have imagined a better time coming up here," said Weiss. "We have a ball. It's full of laughter. It's full of healing. It's way full of fish."
For Weiss, it was a no-brainer to help with Project Healing Waters.
"We're so proud of our soldiers that make this continent the best place to live on Earth. We mean that and we're happy to do what we can to celebrate or thank the folks that make this possible," he said.
"Without them, we wouldn't be here. It's that simple."
After arriving back in Thunder Bay from Miminiska Lodge, the group took a sail tour of the harbour.
