“It was just a mile back, I saw it come off,” said another young fellow who stopped. I’d had to wait till a safe place to pull over and put on the flashers. Before heading up Harrison East I attached a tie down cord. It was better than nothing. I was pulling the trailer and ATV. Nice people, Reassuring young people stopping and offering help.
The Cogburn Camp owner said they officially closed the week before but could take me as it was clear I wasn’t there to party.
“We brought in a damage deposit and that stopped the loud partying set coming here. My wife and I like the folk who like it here for the quiet and beauty.” He was a pleasant fellow. A bit like Hawkeye from MASH. Tall, lean, blue jeans, clear eyes.
“I thought I’d like to go for swim if it’s not too cold,” I said.
“There’s a dock with a chair on it and the beach stretches forever around the way,” He suggested a spot close to the beach.
I took the spot right away. There were only a few RV’s and I loved the isolation,
I set up the camper and unloaded the ATV. It was 6 pm when I headed back up to the logging road. I didn’t see any deer but I saw 4 separate grouse. The first two flew up way ahead of me. I shot at the next two and was sure I hit one but it flew away into the forest. Madigan was excited by all this action. I concluded I was using 7 1/2 shot. Good for grouse when you can walk up closer but I switched out my pocket for number 5. If I’d had #5 or #6 I’m sure I would have brought that one down. The ATV scares them when I’m further away. It was already dusk after the last one got away. I headed back down.. I’d made it here and set up and actually got in a bit of the evening hunt,
I unloaded the guns and stripped off the hunting clothes. My jeans with a belt load of knives and ammo weigh a ton. Good to lighten up. Next in my bathing suit wearing teva’s I walked along to the beach then waded way out in the cold water. The sky was beautiful. The Big Dipper and Cassopeaa. Mountain all around. The lake beautiful. I’d accommodated to the cold when I finally dove in and swam a bit, enjoying floating on my back looking up at the endless sky of galaxies
I’d left Madigan in the camper and he was really glad when I returned. I boiled up some smokies. I had cole slaw and potato salad from the deli, fresh white buns. A delicious meal. Madigan liked half a Smokey. He prefers steak.
I couldn’t put down Tanis Laidlaw’s, Tuesday Child, a mystery thriller, only able to fall asleep when I finished it after midnight. Worried about the power and batteries I didn’t put on the heater but didn’t need it. It was warm. I got up once to look outside. I just love the air and the lake and the mountains all around, the stars and nearly full moon. Awe inspiring,
I didn’t get a before drawn start. I made expresso and filled a thermos. I had left the Honda 420 Rancher pretty well loaded. It was 730 when I headed out It was a blue sky day, I loved the early morning calm, the ATV chugging up the mountain trail. No grouse but great slash. I parked the quad, taking only my Ruger 30:06 stalking up the trail off the logging road. I could imagine bucks and bear but despite slowly walking uphill for an hour stopping and scoping nothing appeared.
Madigan who loves the ATV loved this mountain hike. A couple of hours of exercise and I turned around , glad to get back to the Honda and coffee. Madigan had water. We shared a granola bar . Madigan jumped up on his seat ready for more road hunting.
On the way out I met a fellow in a 4x4 SUV. I was surprised he’d crossed the two cuts in the road, in his vehicle. They were veritable ravines. I’d wondered about doing it with the ATV, standing as I code up the steep sides. We talked. He was young and exploring. I’d just seen a grouse but it had skedaddled away. AFter he left I saw another grouse. This one stayed down when I hit it despite it being a long shot and he was about to run.
Madigan is two point tied behind me. He’s doing a veritable CARRIE swivelling round and round. Like a kid in the back seat he’s keeps going side to side. It’s then a challenge to untangle his leashes. I actually did this time before the bird died. When I ran up to the bird still flapping he ran right by it then came back. That was an ‘aha’ moment. He pounced on the live squeaky toy and killed it. That was it, He was now just too excited, I rescued my dinner and gutted the bird putting it in a green bag. Meanwhile Madigan did circles and jumped on and off the ATV.
Excitement, Bird dog heaven. He’s learning,
Back at the camp I went for another swim taking soap and conditioner, I’d spent the afternoon reading a western Rovky Mountain Saint, young mountain man Tate and his pet wolf,,, Lobo, I’ve had the generator going charging everything up. Even my satellite phone had died for lack of power mid call to Laura letting her know where i am.
It’s really beautiful here, Like summer I love the beach and lake. Time to get ready for the evening hunt. I thawed out some steaks for later. The lantern is charged and I’ve potatos to boil.
Madigan has been sitting at the picnic table while I’ve been here reading and writing. He’s be so exited when I start loading the ATV.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment