Autumn air

I enjoyed the autumn air this morning.  It’s officially fall and the temperature has been lowering each day. This morning I walked the dog in shorts and a sweater.  I remembered London and Winnipeg.  A thousand falls before. The crisp air. The change. Bird behaviour mostly.  Preparing for winter.  I have little fat sparrows eating more than normal it seems. 

I was out hunting. I shot some grouse. Madigan actually fetched them.

I attended the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Dr. Colonel Hadfield revelling in the music and proximity to the man who sang David Bowie’s Space Oddity. Major Tom from the International Space Station.  His pictures played on the screens along the walls.  Laura was beautiful.  A reason to be alive.  A truly uplifting gift.  Star Wars theme by full orchestra.

Then a series of evening meals and great movies, Tom Cruise in Top Gun Maverick, and then Where the Crawdads sing and finally the documentary of Shania Twain.  It was a thoroughly peaceful relaxing loving weekend with Laura and Madigan.  We even had an outdoor lunch at the Havana on Commercial.  I bought us shirts and jackets because the fall wind despite the hot sun was chilly. 

Then. I so enjoyed learning in group again at the virtual Psychopharamacology workshop.  I drove with Madigan to the West End and Mexican lunch with Laura.  

I continue to go to Burnaby Mens.  I attended Western Canada Docs , our monthly meeting yesterday.  I’ve contributed to Cyberdocs. I’ve the long weekend planned for a hunting trip. Laura is coming to Princeton where I have 4 nights books in the Ace Motel.  I’ve stayed there so many times before. There’s always that sense of revisiting places known.  Learning more about them each time. Forgetting and remembering. 

I’m preparing for my month south, the workcation.  I loved going to MEC and buying another little portable single burner stove. I had the same for the Sturges trip but could not find it in the storage locker.  I bought another cot too so can try tenting.  I’ve a few days of travel.  It’s an  au femme vacation.

My back still hurts but is much improved thanks to the chiropracter Dr. Ready at Klein Clinic.

I pray each day. I meditate each day. I want to know God more. I have Madigan and his life ahead of me and continue to work.  I like my little home. I have all I need .  

In the bavk ground is threat of war with Communist China, war continues with Ukraine and Russia.  The globalists plot and Trudeau is a traitor. I told a major liberal supporter, that he always looked stoned to me, « He probably is, the in the know guy replied.  He hoped he ‘d step down and Christia Freeland would take over. She’s even more a WEF Schwab girl.  Biden appears to dement and the blow job queeen, his vice Kamala Harris may step in. Why do I knock her for using sex to progress in power.  I turned down just that opportunity and thought it was morals.  The funeral of Queen Elizabeth took place and we watched it on the television.

I’ve often though the Greek Gods were the template of politicians. All above my pay grade. I did enjoy going out to meet Pierre Poililerve at breakfast and his later winning the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Life is good. God is good.  

Thank you for all the blessings.  Grace is shining on me or I’m paying more attention.   I’m not glum and the fear is less.  

Thank you Jesus. 

Gratitude

Thank you for this day Lord.  Thank you for my wakening. Thank you for my companion Madigan.  Thank you for the shelter, clean covers, the indoor plumbing, clean running water, heat, clothing.  Thank you for the safe neighbourhood. Thank you for the fresh air this morning, the relative quiet, the bird songs. Thank you for the happy bounce in Madigan’s step. Thank you for work. Thank you for prayer and meditation. Thank you for all the gifts of recovery. Thank you for faith and hope and peace of mind. Thank you for this body, the sense of touch, for breath, for the beating heart, smell, Thank you for breakfast food protein bars and yoghurt this morning and Ethiopian Coffee.  Thank you for the change in season, the child in the morning air. Thank you for courses at UBC. Thank you for study and universities. Thank you for learning. Thank you for travel. Thank you for the prospects of greater learning and participation. Thank you for family and friends Watch over them and help them thrive and prosper. Thank you for wealth and health. Thank you for this day.

thank you lord

Thank you Jesus.

Saints of all religions I bow to you all. May thy love shine forever on the sanctuary of my devotion.  

Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, st. George Chapel and Westminster Abbey

Global News coverage was excellent of the Queen’s funeral. Laura told me it was on when I arrived home from the Royal Columbia Clinic for lunch. We watched the ceremony with King Charles, Carmelita, William and Harry. Laura and I reminisced attending matins at Westminster Abbey inn 2010. I’m reading Churchill’s book on the Eastern Front. Laura was pleased, ‘it’s history!’ She sai. It truly is. The end of an era.

Opening of Rifle Season

Last week it was opening of bow hunting. Laura and I were in Cariboo.  Sept. 10 was opening of rifle season.  That meant I could shoot a deer with a rifle but more importantly grouse season opened.

Packing for a weekend hunt takes as much ‘stuff’ as packing for a ‘month’ hunt. The only difference is the amount of food but the equipment is the same.  

My camper is still in repairs but thankfully no longer at Frazerway which sold me a damaged unit and lied for a year about having it ready by this spring.  All winter the Frazerway folk gas lighted and ghosted and were evil so I was glad to retrieve the unit and transfer it’s care to another reputable RV service.  Amazingly I read a complaint on the Better Business Bureau site almost identical to the abusive experience I had.  I am so thankful to have the unit in good hands without all the sociopathic behaviour. Hopefully we’ll be back in the camper soon.

This experience tenting made me appreciate and miss the camper. I was so lucky though the weather was great. Sleeping on the ground was painful but waking in the rain would have made it all a lot worse.  

Friday it was all I could do to get packed and pick up my ATV from John’s Chilliwack RV Storage. I was only missing one key and thankful to have my bolt cutter concealed in the truck.  The whole back seat of the truck was packed so I had to unpack it to find the bolt cutter.  Challenges after challenges.  Good to see John who is always so positive and helpful.  

I had my Iridium Satellite Phone from Ralf’s Mobile Electronics but I’d not renewed my subscription. I phoned them but before they could get back to me I’d bought a Garmin InReach which uses Iridium for texts and SOS from Cabelas. I’d stopped for more 30:06 ammo but they were really low and had no 180 grain.  Fortunately I have enough and did get my little propane containers for the stove. They were sold out of mule deer tags so I was glad I had ordered one at least on line.  Cabelas is a fabulous store with great stock but the staff are often ‘surly’ and unhelpful. They come acrosss as ‘superior’ too in that old ‘Holt Renfrew’ shop girl way.  Irritating to have to deal with negative attitude when spending a lot of money on ‘recreation’.  They need to take some lessons in customer relations from Reliable or Italian Sports. I just love shopping at those places because the staff are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable and helpful.  Cabelas just has the advantage of being en route.  

Madigan and I stopped at Macdonalds on the way out of Abbotsford for the requisite burger patty for the dog.  I had the quarter pounder with cheese.  We were on our way.

At Chilliwack with the trailer we stopped at Canada Tire for the Iridium package but they didn’t know either how to get the Garmin package they mentioned on line. Thankfully Ralf’s called me and used my credit card on file to do another 6 month satelite subscription so I could be in the wilderness with emergency communication capability and stay in touch with the clinics.  I didn’t need the new Garmin Inreach but now have back up.

I loved driving my Ford F-350 pulling my trailer with Honda 420 Rancher with my happy co pilot Madigan.  There was fire at Hope and we saw the helicopter dousing it with buckets from the water. Lots of smoke.  Thankfully no road closure. As I drove I listened to a Johnstone Preacher Westrn on a “movie in your mind’ audio book.  Life was good. On the road again.  Madigan curled up against my side when he wasn’t standing up looking out his side window.  

I donated a kidney and filled up with gas for the truck and 15 gallons of containers and for the ATV. At the Princeton Grocery store I stopped for last minute supplies having phoned Laura who told me sun down was in an hour.  Not only was I going to be camping again but I was going to be setting up a tent in the dark. I did that for decades on my weekend hunts when I headed out at night so I’d be in place for a dawn hunt. This time I was just slow and old and looking forward to having a place to sleep.

I had planned on Chain Lakes and there was a ‘first come first serve’ camp space available. All the lake side were taken and if I’d not dilly dallied I might have had one but I did get a space where I could just drive in with the trailer. I’m impossibly bad at backing up trailers. Dave and Mack have been giving my pointers and I actually understood what Dave had told me about holding the underside of the wheel and that would show me the way the trailer was turning.  

I got parked. I found the 1000 Lumen battery operated lantern I actually had the new headlamp where I could find it.  Setting up the North Face 4 man tent really was easy even though it was years since I did it.  I even put in the rug and sleeping bags and was ready for bed.  The only problem was I’d not brought Madigan’s jacket and he and I were both cold in the middle of the night. I got up to pee and it was chilly.  My Mountain Equipment Cooo. Draco neg 7 degree sleeping bag was great and I circled the other Draco O degree sleeping bag around Madigan to keep him warm. The next two nights I laid out my hunting jacket for him and wore a sweater to bed myself.  The nights were except whenever I turned on the ground my back hurt and woke me. I’m not a happy camper sleeping on the ground.  I had the Coleman cot but I never used it using a too thin ‘pad’ instead. I’m planning on a trip to MEC to get a state of the art pad or inflatable. I’ve tried everything to date and frankly the best camping sleep is off the ground in an RV with a good mattress. I missed my camper sleeping.

I did enjoy making coffee on the pic nic table with the Coleman 2 burner, one dead, old camp stove. I’d lost the knob somewhere and some time. That stove was 30 years old and still working fine.  I had the little propane cans from Cabelas. I had the Italian stovetop  Expresso machine where two pots gave me enough coffee to fill the thermos and have a cup for me. I had bananas too.  Honey and canned milk.  

I didn’t feel like hunting.

I’d woken at 7 am and could head out on the ATV but decided I’d try to hook up with the Bustards who were hunting that weekend with all their kids nearby.  The idea of a hide and seek adventure driving about in the truck seemed a better plan.  I packed up my tent and got back in the truck enjoying the comfort.  I found Hembrie turnoff,  I didn’ realize this was the FSR I’d just used a couple of years ago when I took Laura to stay at the Princeton Castles resort.  A lovely hunting area. I enjoyed drinking coffee and driving back roads.  I never found where the Bustards were and had a bitch of a time turning around with the trailer behind me.  I managed it and then decided I’d get an A&W burger and try finding it from the Loon Lake side.  Another long drive in the truck listening to an audio western enjoying myself sight seeing.

I saw a little bear on the road side grabbing my rifle from the back seat but realizing how young it was when i walked over to it and literally had to shoo it away. I had the camera and the rifle and took pictures instead.  Curious fellow.  Shit fur by the nose.  More like a big dog.  In a few years he might be food but not now. 

I later did see a big bear bolt across the road going to fast for me to do anything but look where it disappeared to.

I wasn’t happy coming down Dillard logging road into a steep ravine. The road had become a trail and there simply was not where to turn around with just a truck let alone with a trailer. Then the road was washed out causing me to pray as I drove at an angle half on the wall to get past the bad part. I stopped and walked forward and thankfully it got better. I’d decided looking down into death and crash that I was not having fun so I’d head out to the area where I knew the trails. This exploring had gone far enough.  I was a bit shook up though it was not nearly as scarey as the roads I’d taken on in the Broncho II and Ranger 25 years ago.  I was crazier then.  I have an ATV for these stunts not this truck I need for towing RV and for my Camper.  Silly.

I headed back through Princeton I’d come across Alene and Methusala and another M named lake.  Back west of Princeton I was in my old stomping ground and glad to set up my pup tent, the MSG one ..   I was planning a trip to Yuma and this weekend had brought both tents and other gear to see what would work best.  I liked the little MSG tent I’d used motorcycling but the North Face test though less cozy was much easier to set up.  

I loved our camp ground and used the back gate on the truck for my kitchen, I’d shot a couple of grouse looking for the bustards and would shoot more here.  I only saw doe.  I missed a rabbit with the 30;06 at a hundred yards. I was aiming for his head and glad to miss because if I hit a rabbit body with the 30:06 it would simply explode like it had been hit with a mortar.  I was shooting the grouse with 20 Guage 6 or 7 1/2 shot

The best part of the weekend was watching the little guy run ahead of me to the fallen grouse. He picked it up and came running back to me with it in his mouse , the bird bigger than his head and him staggering forward dragging wings and dropping feathers. I wish I’d had a video of it. He was such a trooper. My Madigan , the bird dog.  Shinto had obviously done this and more and Gilbert had brought the birds out to the road and gone looking for more but none as adorably as Madigan who staggered along back to me. Time and again he did this. What a ‘retriever’, my little cockapoo hunting dog.  

I really was enjoying the Rancher 420 and driving about the back woods.

When I saw a grouse up ahead on the side of the road I’d stop and brake the quad, then lift and load the 20 guage over under shot gun.I’d take my shot hit the bird with 6 to 8 shot, whatever I had stuffed in my pockets. The bird would flop about dying.  I’d Unhook Madigan who was wearing a harness leashed for the ATV frame behind me. He’d jump down having watched everything and run as fast as his body could pounce on the wounded dying bird and kill big bird shaking it or tearing out the belly of the live squeaky toy. What filled me with pride was his picking up this bird the size of his head and more and running with it back to drop at my feet. He did this over and over retrieving five birds. I’d shoot eight over the few days. Other than throwing squeaky toys to fetch and retrieve I’d done no serious training and he just instinctively began retrieving and helping out the old guy. I’d rip off the feathered skin with my bare hands gutting the bird and tearing out the head and neck to free the meaty breasts. I gave him the heat and liver to eat raw while putting the breast with identifying winds in a zip lock bag.

I love cooking up the cubed breasts later with marmalade and spices and serving on rice. I love the Royal taste of grouse the highland delicacy. Having a companion hunting dog is such comfort and joy.

Back at my camp I cooked a dinner of pork chops zucchini and boiled potatoes with butter and sour cream on the tail gate of the truck. I enjoyed eating off the plate on my lap sitting on the cammo hunting chair with a fire of wood and waste paper products. Before going to bed in the tent I doused the embers with pot loads of water. Fire hazard warning was high.

I only saw a few deer but none of the legal horny vegans. I was thankful for the grouse a few more of which I shot on the last morning hunt. I’d actually risen at 6 am in the half light of dawn making coffee and filling my thermos. At least I was up as early as Bill Mewhort my old hunting buddy demanded. It would be dark when we’d set up in ambush. I was a lot more successful big game hunter younger shooting 30:or more dear over the years  I don’t sit or stalk enough but so enjoy driving about grouse hunting, road hunting being the best grouse hunting strategy often. I saw a few rabbits too as they come out at dusk or dawn and nibble the road side grass.

I was glad to pack up the truck and load the Honda onto the trailer. Madigan was sad for the weekend to be ending. He sat on the loaded ATV wanting us to go out once more. I convinced him to join me in the cab and head home

We were in time for the mandatory A&W sausage egger., mamma burger and a beef patty ‘on the side for my dog’ A large coffee double double’.I love eating and driving listening to country music on the way home. We passed a large semi on its side at a turn on a mountain bridge, police directing traffic, the driver fortunately not hurt. At hope the fire we’d seen on the way up was just smoking.However a new fire still flaming was being water bombed by a couple of helicopters with buckets and on ground firefighters. Traffic was blocked on that lane but ours was clear into town.

I dropped off the trailer at Chilliwack storage doing a better job of backing up the trailer with Dave’s tips. ‘I taught all my kids to back up the boat this way and they all learned it this way’. It works but I’m still lousy at backing up trailers. Looks easy for some but requires patience and precision Im not gifted with tired at the end of trips.

Back in Vancouver I was thankful my home was still there in good shape, unpacking all the gear was the last ordeal and a reminder why I missed the camper where I stored most of the stuff I had now to haul home. 

I was so thankful to climb into a hot shower with shampoo and conditioner. With clean clothes on I cleaned the 8 grouse putting them 2 together in new freezer bags in the freezer for future feasts.

I was so thankful to be home lying on my couch with the dog lying on my belly clean and in comfort with amenities and a new found appreciation for civilizations. Later I’d walk Madison and encounter Peter with his Havanese and regale him of Madigan, the cockatoo’s great retrieving. I’d sing the little guys praise again when I’d see Dave with his little shitzu bud. Madigan was strutting. It was good to be home . I could have just as easily been at the bottom of the adillard ravine or flipped on my side at that treacherous mountain bridge turn. Thanks to the grace of God we thrived and we didn’t have equipment challenge shad the weather was magnificent. I’d even stop by the side of a lake and had a swim. So I wasn’t even all that dirty despite the constant dust. I certainly would enjoy sleeping in my own bed and mattress. What a great grouse hunt indeed. Thank you Jesus!

Opening of Rifle Season

Last week it was opening of bow hunting. Laura and I were in Cariboo.  Sept. 10 was opening of rifle season.  That meant I could shoot a deer with a rifle but more importantly grouse season opened.

Packing for a weekend hunt takes as much ‘stuff’ as packing for a ‘month’ hunt. The only difference is the amount of food but the equipment is the same.  

My camper is still in repairs but thankfully no longer at Frazerway which sold me a damaged unit and lied for a year about having it ready by this spring.  All winter the Frazerway folk gas lighted and ghosted and were evil so I was glad to retrieve the unit and transfer it’s care to another reputable RV service.  Amazingly I read a complaint on the Better Business Bureau site almost identical to the abusive experience I had.  I am so thankful to have the unit in good hands without all the sociopathic behaviour. Hopefully we’ll be back in the camper soon.

This experience tenting made me appreciate and miss the camper. I was so lucky though the weather was great. Sleeping on the ground was painful but waking in the rain would have made it all a lot worse.  

Friday it was all I could do to get packed and pick up my ATV from John’s Chilliwack RV Storage. I was only missing one key and thankful to have my bolt cutter concealed in the truck.  The whole back seat of the truck was packed so I had to unpack it to find the bolt cutter.  Challenges after challenges.  Good to see John who is always so positive and helpful.  

I had my Iridium Satellite Phone from Ralf’s Mobile Electronics but I’d not renewed my subscription. I phoned them but before they could get back to me I’d bought a Garmin InReach which uses Iridium for texts and SOS from Cabelas. I’d stopped for more 30:06 ammo but they were really low and had no 180 grain.  Fortunately I have enough and did get my little propane containers for the stove. They were sold out of mule deer tags so I was glad I had ordered one at least on line.  Cabelas is a fabulous store with great stock but the staff are often ‘surly’ and unhelpful. They come acrosss as ‘superior’ too in that old ‘Holt Renfrew’ shop girl way.  Irritating to have to deal with negative attitude when spending a lot of money on ‘recreation’.  They need to take some lessons in customer relations from Reliable or Italian Sports. I just love shopping at those places because the staff are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable and helpful.  Cabelas just has the advantage of being en route.  

Madigan and I stopped at Macdonalds on the way out of Abbotsford for the requisite burger patty for the dog.  I had the quarter pounder with cheese.  We were on our way.

At Chilliwack with the trailer we stopped at Canada Tire for the Iridium package but they didn’t know either how to get the Garmin package they mentioned on line. Thankfully Ralf’s called me and used my credit card on file to do another 6 month satelite subscription so I could be in the wilderness with emergency communication capability and stay in touch with the clinics.  I didn’t need the new Garmin Inreach but now have back up.

I loved driving my Ford F-350 pulling my trailer with Honda 420 Rancher with my happy co pilot Madigan.  There was fire at Hope and we saw the helicopter dousing it with buckets from the water. Lots of smoke.  Thankfully no road closure. As I drove I listened to a Johnstone Preacher Westrn on a “movie in your mind’ audio book.  Life was good. On the road again.  Madigan curled up against my side when he wasn’t standing up looking out his side window.  

I donated a kidney and filled up with gas for the truck and 15 gallons of containers and for the ATV. At the Princeton Grocery store I stopped for last minute supplies having phoned Laura who told me sun down was in an hour.  Not only was I going to be camping again but I was going to be setting up a tent in the dark. I did that for decades on my weekend hunts when I headed out at night so I’d be in place for a dawn hunt. This time I was just slow and old and looking forward to having a place to sleep.

I had planned on Chain Lakes and there was a ‘first come first serve’ camp space available. All the lake side were taken and if I’d not dilly dallied I might have had one but I did get a space where I could just drive in with the trailer. I’m impossibly bad at backing up trailers. Dave and Mack have been giving my pointers and I actually understood what Dave had told me about holding the underside of the wheel and that would show me the way the trailer was turning.  

I got parked. I found the 1000 Lumen battery operated lantern I actually had the new headlamp where I could find it.  Setting up the North Face 4 man tent really was easy even though it was years since I did it.  I even put in the rug and sleeping bags and was ready for bed.  The only problem was I’d not brought Madigan’s jacket and he and I were both cold in the middle of the night. I got up to pee and it was chilly.  My Mountain Equipment Cooo. Draco neg 7 degree sleeping bag was great and I circled the other Draco O degree sleeping bag around Madigan to keep him warm. The next two nights I laid out my hunting jacket for him and wore a sweater to bed myself.  The nights were except whenever I turned on the ground my back hurt and woke me. I’m not a happy camper sleeping on the ground.  I had the Coleman cot but I never used it using a too thin ‘pad’ instead. I’m planning on a trip to MEC to get a state of the art pad or inflatable. I’ve tried everything to date and frankly the best camping sleep is off the ground in an RV with a good mattress. I missed my camper sleeping.

I did enjoy making coffee on the pic nic table with the Coleman 2 burner, one dead, old camp stove. I’d lost the knob somewhere and some time. That stove was 30 years old and still working fine.  I had the little propane cans from Cabelas. I had the Italian stovetop  Expresso machine where two pots gave me enough coffee to fill the thermos and have a cup for me. I had bananas too.  Honey and canned milk.  

I didn’t feel like hunting.

I’d woken at 7 am and could head out on the ATV but decided I’d try to hook up with the Bustards who were hunting that weekend with all their kids nearby.  The idea of a hide and seek adventure driving about in the truck seemed a better plan.  I packed up my tent and got back in the truck enjoying the comfort.  I found Hembrie turnoff,  I didn’ realize this was the FSR I’d just used a couple of years ago when I took Laura to stay at the Princeton Castles resort.  A lovely hunting area. I enjoyed drinking coffee and driving back roads.  I never found where the Bustards were and had a bitch of a time turning around with the trailer behind me.  I managed it and then decided I’d get an A&W burger and try finding it from the Loon Lake side.  Another long drive in the truck listening to an audio western enjoying myself sight seeing.

I saw a little bear on the road side grabbing my rifle from the back seat but realizing how young it was when i walked over to it and literally had to shoo it away. I had the camera and the rifle and took pictures instead.  Curious fellow.  Shit fur by the nose.  More like a big dog.  In a few years he might be food but not now. 

I later did see a big bear bolt across the road going to fast for me to do anything but look where it disappeared to.

I wasn’t happy coming down Dillard logging road into a steep ravine. The road had become a trail and there simply was not where to turn around with just a truck let alone with a trailer. Then the road was washed out causing me to pray as I drove at an angle half on the wall to get past the bad part. I stopped and walked forward and thankfully it got better. I’d decided looking down into death and crash that I was not having fun so I’d head out to the area where I knew the trails. This exploring had gone far enough.  I was a bit shook up though it was not nearly as scarey as the roads I’d taken on in the Broncho II and Ranger 25 years ago.  I was crazier then.  I have an ATV for these stunts not this truck I need for towing RV and for my Camper.  Silly.

I headed back through Princeton I’d come across Alene and Methusala and another M named lake.  Back west of Princeton I was in my old stomping ground and glad to set up my pup tent, the MSG one ..   I was planning a trip to Yuma and this weekend had brought both tents and other gear to see what would work best.  I liked the little MSG tent I’d used motorcycling but the North Face test though less cozy was much easier to set up.  

I loved our camp ground and used the back gate on the truck for my kitchen, I’d shot a couple of grouse looking for the bustards and would shoot more here.  I only saw doe.  I missed a rabbit with the 30;06 at a hundred yards. I was aiming for his head and glad to miss because if I hit a rabbit body with the 30:06 it would simply explode like it had been hit with a mortar.  I was shooting the grouse with 20 Guage 6 or 7 1/2 shot

The best part of the weekend was watching the little guy run ahead of me to the fallen grouse. He picked it up and came running back to me with it in his mouse , the bird bigger than his head and him staggering forward dragging wings and dropping feathers. I wish I’d had a video of it. He was such a trooper. My Madigan , the bird dog.  Shinto had obviously done this and more and Gilbert had brought the birds out to the road and gone looking for more but none as adorably as Madigan who staggered along back to me. Time and again he did this. What a ‘retriever’, my little cockapoo hunting dog.  

I really was enjoying the Rancher 420 and driving about the back woods.

When I saw a grouse up ahead on the side of the road I’d stop and brake the quad, then lift and load the 20 guage over under shot gun.I’d take my shot hit the bird with 6 to 8 shot, whatever I had stuffed in my pockets. The bird would flop about dying.  I’d Unhook Madigan who was wearing a harness leashed for the ATV frame behind me. He’d jump down having watched everything and run as fast as his body could pounce on the wounded dying bird and kill big bird shaking it or tearing out the belly of the live squeaky toy. What filled me with pride was his picking up this bird the size of his head and more and running with it back to drop at my feet. He did this over and over retrieving five birds. I’d shoot eight over the few days. Other than throwing squeaky toys to fetch and retrieve I’d done no serious training and he just instinctively began retrieving and helping out the old guy. I’d rip off the feathered skin with my bare hands gutting the bird and tearing out the head and neck to free the meaty breasts. I gave him the heat and liver to eat raw while putting the breast with identifying winds in a zip lock bag.

I love cooking up the cubed breasts later with marmalade and spices and serving on rice. I love the Royal taste of grouse the highland delicacy. Having a companion hunting dog is such comfort and joy.

Back at my camp I cooked a dinner of pork chops zucchini and boiled potatoes with butter and sour cream on the tail gate of the truck. I enjoyed eating off the plate on my lap sitting on the cammo hunting chair with a fire of wood and waste paper products. Before going to bed in the tent I doused the embers with pot loads of water. Fire hazard warning was high.

I only saw a few deer but none of the legal horny vegans. I was thankful for the grouse a few more of which I shot on the last morning hunt. I’d actually risen at 6 am in the half light of dawn making coffee and filling my thermos. At least I was up as early as Bill Mewhort my old hunting buddy demanded. It would be dark when we’d set up in ambush. I was a lot more successful big game hunter younger shooting 30:or more dear over the years  I don’t sit or stalk enough but so enjoy driving about grouse hunting, road hunting being the best grouse hunting strategy often. I saw a few rabbits too as they come out at dusk or dawn and nibble the road side grass.

I was glad to pack up the truck and load the Honda onto the trailer. Madigan was sad for the weekend to be ending. He sat on the loaded ATV wanting us to go out once more. I convinced him to join me in the cab and head home

We were in time for the mandatory A&W sausage egger., mamma burger and a beef patty ‘on the side for my dog’ A large coffee double double’.I love eating and driving listening to country music on the way home. We passed a large semi on its side at a turn on a mountain bridge, police directing traffic, the driver fortunately not hurt. At hope the fire we’d seen on the way up was just smoking.However a new fire still flaming was being water bombed by a couple of helicopters with buckets and on ground firefighters. Traffic was blocked on that lane but ours was clear into town.

I dropped off the trailer at Chilliwack storage doing a better job of backing up the trailer with Dave’s tips. ‘I taught all my kids to back up the boat this way and they all learned it this way’. It works but I’m still lousy at backing up trailers. Looks easy for some but requires patience and precision Im not gifted with tired at the end of trips.

Back in Vancouver I was thankful my home was still there in good shape, unpacking all the gear was the last ordeal and a reminder why I missed the camper where I stored most of the stuff I had now to haul home. 

I was so thankful to climb into a hot shower with shampoo and conditioner. With clean clothes on I cleaned the 8 grouse putting them 2 together in new freezer bags in the freezer for future feasts.

I was so thankful to be home lying on my couch with the dog lying on my belly clean and in comfort with amenities and a new found appreciation for civilizations. Later I’d walk Madison and encounter Peter with his Havanese and regale him of Madigan, the cockatoo’s great retrieving. I’d sing the little guys praise again when I’d see Dave with his little shitzu bud. Madigan was strutting. It was good to be home . I could have just as easily been at the bottom of the adillard ravine or flipped on my side at that treacherous mountain bridge turn. Thanks to the grace of God we thrived and we didn’t have equipment challenge shad the weather was magnificent. I’d even stop by the side of a lake and had a swim. So I wasn’t even all that dirty despite the constant dust. I certainly would enjoy sleeping in my own bed and mattress. What a great grouse hunt indeed. Thank you Jesus!

Autumn and home

I just returned from walking Madigan.  There was a definite nip in the air. We noticed the mornings were chill in Clinton. Here in Vancouver it’s the same though the weather forecast is another week of sunshine and heat.  Cool nights and hot days then.  

I’m waking with back pain but not the sharp kind of falling down pain, rather the ‘sore’ dull ache.  I wondered if someone was stabbing me in the back and I was psychically experiencing the betrayal.  Then I considered the self pity pain of Atlas , carrying the weight of world on my shoulders. The fact is I don’t stretch enough and did a lot of lifting carrying gear to and from the truck.  I might guess I”m getting older and am being rewarded with the karma of not being sympathetic to my father who complained of back pain in later years.

I associated with ‘the man’.  Men have back pain, women have pelvic pain, the old cliche.  

Laura has an extra day off and has risen.  I think her plan was to drive home today to get a parking spot near her building so she can unload her gear easily. There’s so little parking in the west end.

I’ve a couple of days of virtual clinics then another weekend of hunting. The challenge will be getting the tent and camping gear together to truly ‘rough it’.  It’s been a few years since I slept on the ground. The question will be how hard it will be to get up and moving in the morning.  I’ll be closer to game and may even be on a lake to go swimming in the day.

Last night I barbecued steaks on the new Weber barbecue.  The potatoes we picked up at the roadside Hilltop Fruit Market were delicious with butter and sour cream and the creamed cauliflower.  We watched John Bateman a BBC drama about an English trader, formerly with the East India Company, living in Delhi 1790.  It was fascinating and engaging. Having been to India and Delhi it was all more more enjoyable,

Good to be back in my bed and returning to the routines,  Hard to believe we’d been away 6 days just adding extra days to the already long labour day weekend,

Izek shot his first deer on the weekend youth hunt as well as shooting grouse.  The Bustards are having fun.  

I’m feeling somewhat isolated and alienated with the sense of what am I going to do when I grow up. Looking forward to the heat and dry of Yuma, working but hoping this inflammation will be helped by the climate. Also thinking of my lungs and the fright of not being able to get breath a couple of years ago.  Like the scuba diving accident but in this case just a ‘flu’.  I’ve loved this year with the break of Europe and summer though late was so relaxing simply enjoying sun bathing in the back yard and walking the dog.

Madigan is curled up against me He’s been totally absorbed with Laura this week and it later today it will be back to being my room mate.  We’ll miss her.  

It’s been a good end of summer and now autumn which I enjoy so much.  

Cariboo Lodge Clinton

Laura and I love Cariboo Lodge.  We really enjoyed it when Derrick and Naomi were with us.  She was pregnant then and Laura laughed because she’d hear her vomit each morning and then chipper as could be the two would go off for a hearty breakfast.  Derick and I meanwhile would be out in the woods looking for deer.

I shot my first Moose when I was up here staying with Bill Mewhort at the Circle H ranch late in the season.  That must have been 30 years ago. 

I’ve camped a few times by the duck pond where Laura was in the tent when the horses went by and I was already out bow hunting. She was excited to have the tent surrounded by horses and a cowboy.

A whole range of memories, all positive, are associated with Clinton. I’m so glad Bill Mewhort introduced me to this town all those year ago

I was with Tom up Pavillion way when I shot a bear at a couple of hundred yards. That’s always been unforgettable because Stuart, my little white Scotty dog, immediately began kicking dirt on the dead bear’s head to bury it.  Another time I shot a mule deer here and Gilbert was with me. The deer was bounding across the field when I shot it with the 30:30 I was using that day.  He crashed to the ground only to have my cockapoo Gilbert beeline to him and jump on his head , to keep him down. 

I’ve come here early in the year for bow hunting season and much later in the year when the snow has begun. I brought up a Honda 250 and rode all over the back woods shooting every can with the 30:30 cowboy rifle. I never got any game but I had so much fun those late fall days

A lot of bikes have been staying here this week. Harleys and adventure touring bikes.

Laura and I are in 108 right where we stayed with Naomi and Derrick.  Log construction. Clean comfortable. The staff have always been so friendly and helpful

When I arrived here after the picturesque 5 hour drive from Vancouver up the number 1 we immediately had dinner on the veranda.  With Madigan under the table we’ve eaten all our meals on the porch in front of the indoor restaurant. There’s a bar and outdoor barbecue area too,  We’ve had beef dip, burgers, mushroom chicken fettuccine, fish and chips. Each morning we have the best breakfast. I’ve had eggs Benedict and the rancher.  Laura liked the eggs benny.

Then we have filled the Ford F-350 truck up with fuel using about $50 a day , thanks to Justin-flation,driving around the backwoods. We don’t need to do that but frankly I’ve loved exploring,. With Covid it’s been several years since we’ve been here and it’s fun seeing the new construction. I was supposed to stalk through the woods but instead we’ve driven about slowly hoping a deer will come out of the woods to wave. I once hit a deer with my truck here after we’d been to the little Catholic Church and prayed for success. The deer almost hit the truck coming out of the church parking lot.  

We could see a bear but haven’t They are legal now.  As are ptarmigan which has had me studying the grouse to make sure they’re not ptarmigan which look similar. 

Instead we chatted as couples do driving about in pick up trucks on country roads with the dog so excited to have his head out the window. Kind of romantic.

We did stop each day to go swimming. I loved that.  It was so hot and the swim was so refreshing.  Canadian summer. Swimming in fresh water lakes. Later I lay on the lawn chairs I’d had in the back of truck.  Given the heat I was quickly air dried.  Laura and Madigan waded.  Madigan rolled around in the dirt after he got all wet.

After we’d go to the gravel pit and shoot targets.  Laura first tried out the heavy 223 and had trouble holding it up. The next day she had her 22 rifle with the gloriously coloured wood stock. It’s lighter and she was more used to it. I was shooting the Ruger  30:06 getting nice groupings with the 180 grain bullets at 50 to 100 yards.

Back at Cariboo Lodge we napped and read.  In the past I’d go out for the evening hunt but instead stayed in after dinner reading and going to sleep early.I’m enjoying another Randell western book.

It’s amazingly relaxing.  

Driving about we’d name trees and birds, spruce, pine, ravens, flickers and more. We enjoyed driving over to the Canoe Reserve.  Lovely country. Seeing the rodeo grounds the hockey rink, school and houses including the little apartment complex. Lots of trucks and cars.

I’ve enjoyed taking pictures.  Lots of grouse but the season doesn’t open till next week. That’s when rifle season opens.  We’ve always enjoyed bow hunting season as tranquil and a time to check out equipment.  I’ve shot deer and grouse with bow and arrow in the past but mostly it’s been misses and fun and stories.  Like the time Tom and I drove the ATV around a bluff right into a herd of a  half down or more deer who stood staring at us.  We couldn’t get the bows unpacked or loaded before the deer wandered off.  

The weather is always the best this time of the year.  It’s been a truly glorious week of sunshine and hot late summer early fall days.  This is beautiful country.  Cariboo Lodge is a great place to stay.  We’ve enjoyed walking about the town late afternoon too. Very quaint, 

Laura’s had her bath and it’s time for us to go for breakfast.  I tell friends we’re roughing it but the pictures of sumptuous fare and cozy accommodation catch me out.  

Another day before returning to the city , the clock and urban pressure. I’m going to enjoy today.