Princeton - Copper Mountain - BC Hunting

Thank you God for another day alive. Thank you for my sobriety. Thank you for Madigan, Thank you for family and friends. Thank you for this camper and F350. Thank you for my Honda Quad. Thank you for all my equipment, this break from routine. Thank you for Starlink and Apple which allows me to fulfill my work obligations and be here for the evenings.

I have enjoyed running about on my quad in the backwoods. I always think there are those who simply enjoy a drive in the country. There are those who like to bring a dog. There are those who like just to camp and those campers who have moved as I have from lying outside into this skookum camper with all the amenities. 

Thank you for Kevin Spence who did the additions like A/C to make it a home away from home.

Then there are this who like to bring quad getting off the beaten track onto the backwoods logging roads.  Then there are those who bring bows or rifles and enjoy target shooting out in the backwoods. Finally there are those of us who enjoy the all of this but add hunting and fishing to the mix.

I thought yesterday of those who like to ‘score’ and are focused on the ‘win’.  To that end they’re big game hunters and are only really happy when they shoot the large game,  I confess I was like that younger and have shot near, moose, Elk and deer.  Today I enjoy the journey more than the destination. 

I really like that I have the skills and capacity to do all this.  I like that I’ve been camping since I was a little boy with my parents and brother and continued on for 60 years  I like that I’ve been able to maintain my equipment and get the best of equipment for the tasks I have come to like.  

I had the F350 because I towed a 40 foot RV but it’s also allowed me to have a large Camper. I no longer have a camper with a slide because this one works just fine and I can ‘stealth camp’ . I take a nap on the side of the road and nobody minds. My last camper needed to have the slide out and suddenly everyone knew what I was doing,

I love my stainless steel Ruger 30:06 as it’s shot so much big game in my hands. But yesterday the most fun was target practicing with my relatively new 223 Black Creek Siberian semi auto rifle I bought at International Shooting Supplies. I bought it last year had a great day target practicing with vet Victor.  Then I shot off a few rounds in the woods but it was kind of alien to me, This year though it was ‘my’ rifle. I was shooting cans and 2 inch groupings around the centre of the target.  Looking forwards to more target practice. 

I”ve got it for rabbit hunting so hope to see a rabbit too. I almost had chance since the rabbit was very patient with me but the strap got caught and I could load the clip quick enough.  The rabbit got bored and left.  

I’ve really enjoyed taking pictures of the sunsets too, I’ve also enjoyed taking pictures of Madigan. I especially like the one of him sitting on the quad looking at the two grouse I’ve shot and he’s fetched and I’ve put on top of the quad.  

Mostly I’ve enjoyed the scents.  The pine smells are incredible but there’s also this cinnamon scent I keep coming upon like the musky scents when we pass by water. It’s a wonderful.  Nature’s perfumes.

I also enjoy the coffee and barbecues.  It’s all a trip. I enjoy working from here too. Such a change from my home office.  

Laura and I are going north in October for a hunt,  There it’s Just ‘bucks’ and I’m more hopeful Here its only been ‘4 point’ bucks.  Because I can’t separate the camper from the truck I have to be somewhere I can ride my quad directly from the camp.  Insurance has been impossible coming through on the strut that’s weak because of damage.  Thankfully I’ve been able to use the truck and camper together..

It’s one day at a time.  I’m practicing the presence of God, being here and now. When I’m riding about on the quad I work on praying unceasingly.  I have such peace of mind at times.  Then my poor me mind will flash back to some ancient trauma and I have to let it go, turn it over to good and enjoy the magnificent present. Get your head in the same room as your ass is.

The propane is holding up even though I’m using the heater through the night.  My gas is doing well. I’ve only used two 5 gallons Jerry cans. I’ve got lots of food still. I hope to return on Friday or Saturday. My only reall concern is water but I have an extra 5 gallon Jerry can and I have water purification tablets if I decided to get more water from a stream.   I’m definitely rigged out as a survivalist with backwoods cababilities.  This was once very important to me as it was when I was a solo blue water offshore sailing.  Today I’m less daring , more cautious and content with being closer to town. For work I’ve been thankful for the Starlink and the cellular. Cell coverage has been problematic apparently because of the smoke. it’s intermittent her while when I’m a ways up the mountain I even get 2 bars of coverage.

Thank you Jesus.