Bush Gets to Work on Ranch ‘Vacation’

President Bush swung into vacation mode Monday, fishing for bass in his pond, strolling the canyons on his 1,600-acre ranch and taking an early morning run.

The White House is portraying Bush’s month on the ranch as a “working vacation.” Officials released a photo of a businesslike Bush, flanked by aides, scrutinizing unspecified documents. In another, he was outside addressing advisors holding briefing books.

But Bush is indulging in his hobbies that are difficult or impossible to pursue while he’s cooped up at the White House.

He was jogging well before 8 a.m., and returned with a fine layer of Texas dust on his sweats as evidence of the four-mile run. He changed into what might be termed a “Crawford casual” ensemble--jeans with a big belt buckle, a short-sleeve, button-down shirt and cowboy boots--for a staff meeting.

With sunlight pouring in through a floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, Bush met with Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin, national security aide Steve Biegun and Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan for about 45 minutes. They took a call from National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, discussing peace efforts in Macedonia.

Then it was time to get down to the business of his vacation. Bush donned a white cowboy hat and drove off to the canyons, where he is building what McClellan said would be a nature walk.

Undaunted by triple-digit temperatures, Bush envisions a month of flipping burgers on the grill, jogging through the wide-open spaces, playing host to friends and family and some reading.

Aides have dubbed his vacation here, and the road trips he plans this month, the “Home to the Heartland Tour.” Bush plans to visit Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.