Thanksgiving Long Weekend, Boston Bar, Clinton

Laura arrived at 9 am. I’d already packed the truck and left home with the water off and heat turned low. I prayed the plants survived. She had had a week of ill health with worry. Her brother in law John had had a heart attack and had been medivacked from his work on Queen Charlottes.  A whole lot of stress. She’d been declared okay by the doctor and well enough to travel with me. 

I’ve just been overwhelmed a bit at work.  The lack of support,  the constant government lies, and outrageous rise in cost of living, and so many patients suffering the corruption and incompetence in administration.  The highest office in the land doesn’t even care when Hammas and Hezbollah Terrorists and illegal migrants burn the Canadian flag in Vancouver shouting Death to Canada.  I have difficulty getting out of bed and reassuring people.

Yet I carry on and was really looking forward to this break.  Yet I am physically less capable of the labour involved in hunting. I’d also done damage on the spring hunt towing the quad and paid $15,000 in camper repairs.  I love my camper but I’m just not sure about hunting.  

I find myself thinking that the greatest joy I’ve had in the last couple of years has been visiting churches, museums and art galleries. I like siting in coffee shops and writing. I really want to work on the books I have in progress. I have thoroughly loved listening to the most amazing audio books walking the dog. I love that I’ve been able to buy a Vespa.

I bought the new Vespa GT Super tech 300 at Vespa Metro and left my Harley Nightster Special there for winter storage.  I’m only allowed one vehicle at my site.  The Vespa is ideal for the city and winter. It’s also a hundred pounds lighter so will be that much better when I drive south this year.

I’m planning on heading south for a couple of months again to avoid flu and Covid season anxious for my lungs having acquired TB working as a fly in doctor in the north. I had a year of treatment in the US and no doubt that contributed to my deafness. I spent $8000 on hearing aids.

  

I never expected to live this long. I have no pension, no health care but  I’m here and I am hunting older than my father and hunting friends.

The BC Election is happening this week.  I’ve liked the NDP but normally am voting conservative yet I don’t know Rustad so I’m just confused.  Federally it’s no contest.  Trudeau is the devil incarnate and Pierre Poirve is a good guy.  Locally Eby seems okay and I’d tend to vote NDP but I’m not happy with elections and the communist chinese influence. I’m not happy with Vancouver and BC politics just the cost of living and chaos and corruption.  

I keep thinking I’m past retirement age but couldn’t retire and maintain this year with the costs without working. I enjoy working. I’ve no reason not to. Nothing better to do really. Yet the government just punishes the working class good citizens.  Maybe if I wasn’t such a good boy I could turn my attention to avoiding taxes.  I feel paying taxes is going to the devil.  Trudeau is so evil.  We’re paying so much to debt he’s created by corruption and incompetence.  I am confused.  On bad days I feel like all the patients who tell me they wake up and can’t get out of bed .  I wake up and pray.

Without prayer I couldn’t go on. I’m not happy joyous and free some days..  The cloudy weather doesn’t help. I’m happy in the sun and really do have moments of joy reading, writing, riding the Vespa, walking Madigan. I like my men’s meeting and my on line meetings. Still I feel outside and alien at times.

My friend Willie Gutowski and Anita are having their 60th year anniversary.   Was invited by Sandy but Thanksgiving is a hunting weekend.  I’ve often been successful and then enjoy barbecues.  Recently I’ve shot grouse and have to be thankful.  It’s been since before Covid that I shot a deer.  It was the slip on Author’s seat Edinburgh that did my back in. Chronic pain is debilitating but its all mostly ‘mental’.  I’m so prone on self pity so am constantly blocking that with ‘all shall be well’.  I’m really grateful that I m able to walk

Laura is half blind and doesn’t see well in the dark.  She gets anxious . We’d planned to go from John’s where I picked up the Camper and quad to Cache Creek.  Kevin and his older kids are hunting there.  It was 4 when we checked in at Boston Bar.  I was tired with the drive.  I like the Canyon Alpine RV park. The host is a dog lover and gives out treats that Madigan loves.  I’d set up the camper and walked Madigan.  Laura and I had noodle soup and sandwiches then ice cream cones that Madigan had a bit of.  He loves ice cream.  

I like sleeping at Canyon alpine RV. It’ s a cathedral of trees and so calming. I’m having great dreams.  Big meeting in the sky dreams and friends in the Greek island White Houses scenario.  I feel loved and a part of .  

We woke and had coffee and headed on.  At Spence’s Bridge I stopped in the great little cafe there for a coffee to go and peanut and coconut cookies. I’ve a lidded mug for me and one for Laura.  Madigan can’t spill them with all his fussing and jumping about. He wants to hump Laura.  I’m shouting at him to stop. It’s that kind of drive. Laura’s worried about something next week but she’s unwinding.  The scenery is beautiful

We stopped in Cache Creek for groceries.  I love that the refrigerator is working and we have propane and water and gas. If we had to without any discomfort we could live off the grid for a week. I like wifi and electricity and all the luxuries of RV resort experience.  I’m just not into roughing it any more. I even think of buying another house (down payment) and settling down. I think of going to the country or Alberta. So many friends have left Vancouver and the housing costs just seem to be getting higher with all the speculation corruption and elite immigration. The middle class is being pushed out.  I’m middle classs and without a pension don’t know what I’d do. I don’t think about it much knowing that God has a plan and I’ve been reasonable and responsible but the repairs wiped out the gain of selling my boat though at least I no longer have any ongoing costs.

I’m pretty blessed

Despite inputting the Cache Creek RV Park into the Truck GPS map system we couldn’t see it. We’ passed it and the message was to proceed and turn back.  We we’re 20 km from Clinton which we knew and I was tired .  So we drove to Willow Spring. I’d hoped to drive the quad to hunting but though there’s a trail it turns out that this year ATV hunting is not allowed in this section,  More rules and regs.  

I have an essay I’m completing on prehistory art and shamanism. I’ve read countless books and listened to as many audiobooks.  It’s due in a couple of weeks. I’ve a trial I have to attend to. We really like it here. I drove the quad down the road looking for a road on the other side which would allow me to hunt with the quad.  Madigan loved the adventure. It turned  out there were signs up over there as well.  No hunting with ATV.  This place is closed on Tuesday which is typical of a number of RV places as the freezing starts then.  I didn’t want to unload the Camper for a couple of days, We move out on Tuesday morning.  We’ve still got a week more.  

Last night we had hot dogs and potato salad

This morning I was up before dawn and hiked up the mountain with Madigan. I’m out of shape.  It was hard going and at the top of the hill I lay down and waited for a deer to pass. No luck Walking back down around 9 am my legs were shaking. Don’t know if it was my back or knees but it was the weirdest weakest walk I’ve known.  I was glad to get down. Now my legs are tired but I’m going to walk out to sit for a bit watching the mountain to see if a deer comes down to the water.  I really like the exercise.  I used to walk all over the mountains before covid and now I’m too fat and all iv’e been doing to riding machine and walking the dog. This is good for me if it does’t kill me.  

Time to go.  Life in the fast lane.  God is good all of the time. I really enjoyed studying Cave paintings and shamanism and then reading a Christian legal novel. I’ll walk over to do my due diligence but will be glad to be back home barbecuing the steak I put out for tonight.

Laura is good company and having a relaxing time reading.

I had a great shower this afternoon. Luxury.  I love camping.  

Thank you Jesus.  

 

  

Canyon Alpine RV Park - Sunshine

After this winter in Vancouver I concluded that what we were experiencing this weekend at the Canyon Alpine RV Park was sunshine. That explained my red face. It also explained my satisfaction at doing absolutely nothing but lying about reading. Oh yea, I made a sandwich.  I threw ball for Gilbert.  I watched the birds for a bit.  Cute little birds and hummingbirds all around.  Exhausting schedule.  I napped.  I put moisturizer on my skin.  Better to fry than bake.  Then I did some more nothing.  Sunshine.That explains it. 

Polaris Sportsman 500 HO - Day 2

Laura barbecued steaks which she served with potatoes, sour cream and pees.  I'd found the movie Rush Hour II.  Gilbert was begging for treats.  Life was good at Canyon Alpine RV Park.  After a good night's sleep I woke to walk Gilbert. Then I showered and dressed for another morning on the new Polaris.  I'd used over a third of the tank and done 25 miles.  I added more gas from a gerry can then was ready to go.  Yesterday was raining. Today was sunny.  I saw more deer, lots of bear sign, a grouse, and a hummingbird.  I really put the Polaris Sporstman 500 HO through it's paces.  I  went places I wouldn't or couldn't have gone in the enduro motorcycle.  4x4'ing was terrific.  I scared myself going into a ravine and once crossing rocks on a straight uphill with a decommission cut oddly placed high on a hill.  Other than that I had a ball.  I did stop for some pictures. I also target practiced.  I even had a bit of nap after some exciting standiing and riding ATV time.  Now I'm back at Canyon Alpine RV where I talked to owner, Brent and his wife Brenda.  "It doesn't look new anymore," Brenda said, "We can lend you a hose and you can hose it down."  I thanked them but hadn't figured on cleaning it up yet as it's only going to get dirty again soon.    

Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. ATV

 Ryan Winczura doesn't know much about ATV's but Paris, Laura's granddaughter started riding at 2 on a mini ATV.  5 Star Motorsports in Chilliwack are the best and give you the greatest deal. Laura's year 2 year old grandson , Kingston,  can be seen now in a picture looking like he's driving what would become my new 500 cc . At my age I'm actually glad my Sportsman was broken in by someone so much younger than me.

When I got to 5 Star Motorsports on Yale Road West in Chilliwack there was my new Polaris Sportsman  500 H.O. ATV.  I had a seat added for Gilbert and whatever cute girl guest he let sit with him. It also had a huge front end Polaris  winch  and an especially attractive rifle holder.  It was green and I was thankful that the guys at 5 Star Motorsports went over everything with me succinctly before encouraging me to actually drive it around their lot. I did this very carefully.  Next the 5 Star Motorsports owner was kind enough to drive my Sportsman 500  into the back of my Ford Harley Davidson Edition F350 Diesel Super Duty Truck.  It's hard to believe that anything could add to the beauty of my truck but with that Polaris Sportsman in the back I actually thought even my beloved truck looked better.  It did concern me though that I didn't imagine I could ever drive my ATV into the back of a truck despite how easy it had looked.  Further the idea of driving the ATV off the truck in reverse seemed something that wasn't going to happen.  I was glad there that the Polaris looked pretty as it would probably become an art piece that remained forever in the back of the truck.
Then Laura Gilbert and I headed off to Envision for liability insurance.  This would allow me to ride logging roads. Everyone apparently gets liability insurance.  As it was my first ATV and I had to consider that I might actually drive it,  I got all the insurance. . Alien abduction is covered as it the rapture. If my ATV goes before me I can collect on the insurance.
We then drove on to Canyon Alpine RV Park where Brent had been watching over my Rockport Mini Lite Motor home.  I thought it a good idea for the Polaris Sportsman 500 to get a good night sleep before I actually considered  drivig  it out of the back of the truck.  Laura wasn't sure I should actually ever take it out of the back of the truck.  Gilbert was just delighted to be in the outdoors sniffing everything a dog could sniff.
In the morning I positioned the truck in front of a two foot ledge, laid out my ramp.  After extensive prayers and burnt offerings, I backed the new Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O.ATV down the ramp and sang Hallelujah. It really wasn't at all difficult.
Gilbert was very excited.  The Sportsman was as much for him as me.  The last couple of years I've hunted with a Honda 230 enduro motorcycle.  Gilbert has ridden in a carrier on the back but his excitement when I get off the bike nearly tipped it.  Then with the recent increased truck size from the Ford Ranger to Ford F350  I found it difficult alone to get the motorcycle onto the back.  Gilbert will continue to ride on Harley Electra Glide in city and cruising  but now offroad  he will learn to ride on the ATV with a quick release harness.  I liked there was lots of storage at the front and in the seat of the ATV. Further I liked  that everything could be locked down.
This first time out I drove off alone. It was a bit like one of those black and white cowboy  movies with the lone fellow riding off to his potential end.   I headed up into the Alpine with a rifle only too ready to shoot a black bear if one actually tried to maul me.  I was really ever so careful at first with the ATV.   However,  remembering what Ryan had done I got the courage to increase the speed over 5 mph. It wasn't long then before I was up to 25 mph and still feeling safe.   The Polaris Sportsman 500 is simply unbelievable as a hunting machine.  I drove all over the side roads going through culverts, down and  up ravines.  The roads I took were decomissioned.  The ATV had no problems.  Compared to a motorcycle I could actually look around on the ATV really scanning the hills and forest.   I was on gravel, mud and grass going through ditches and motoring up and down without any difficulty.  The Low gear was perfect for coming down the mountainside.  It rained alot while I was riding but the sun poked it's head out from time to time just to admire my new Sportsman and my increasingly competent driving.  With luck I will keep ahead of Kingston for a few months though I doubt I'll ever catch up to Paris given her head start. Ryan was planning on a Ranger 850 with turbo charge and Harrier fighter plane hovering capability.
I love the Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. ATV.   Thank you Ryan.  Thank you Kingston for breaking it in and  thank you 5 Star Motorsport.