Keystone Energy Toyhauler Shakedown Cruise

It’s only 30 hours ago that Tom and I got the Keystone Energy Toyhauler ready for it’s first off road experience.  I’ve been living in it. It’s been a dream place to live, but it’s not exactly been a ‘mobile home’ or a ‘hunter’s toy hauler’ until today.
I’m embarrassed to say, there was a lot of cleaning up to do.  I hauled a ton of summer clothes and ‘stuff’ to the storage locker.  I had to find a report for work and we did have to get the rifles and ammunition.  Gilbert thinks this is all the very best fun.  Then we got back and did the final ‘shipshape’ stowing. It was far from ready. Lots of mess for sure but nothing breakable likely to go flying.
Then there was the hooking up Energy trailer to my truck. My F350 Ford diesel had the Yamaha Kodiac 450 in the box.  That lowered the box and gave the truck some more traction.   Getting the torsion bars all set up was a new experience for me.
What we couldn’t figure out was how to get the electricity from the battery to the trailer when we unplugged from the city main.  Tom miraculously found a ‘battery cut off switch’, I didn’t know I had.  Suddenly we were in business.
There was a bad smell. I’d leaked waste when I undid the grey and black water hose not completely tightening the cap.  These things can be ‘sticky’.  Wash hands thoroughly.  Leave Dodge quickly.  The smell will dissipate in an hour or so.  Gilbert rather liked the odour.
Without further ado, I was driving and towing this ‘monster RV”.  It’s twice as big as my last one and that much heavier.
Still all went well. Without any deaths or maiming we all three, Tom, Gilbert and I , got to Chilliwack where I filled up everything at the trusty Husky there.  Propane, diesel, gas, water and air.  Tom even lubricated the ball with grease for better performance.
 There's a a 40 gal  built in gas tank for the gas Cumming 4000 built in generator and the gas tank also has a nozzle so you can fill our ATV.  That’s why it’s a toy hauler.  When I got it I could imagine either my Yamaha Kodiac 450 or my Harley Davidson Electraglide, or maybe both, in the garage. So far the garage has been a great junk room and I don't need to use it for the ATV but one day still imagine the Harley back there.  When we get a moose the ATV might have to go there so we can carry the moose in the truck.  There's a whole lot of possibilities with a Keystone toy hauler.

Up the Coquahalla Hwy, we drove.   Dusk  was just falling.  We climbed  the steepest section doing only 70 km to 80 km /hr in the slow lane along with the other big trucks and RV’s.  We did it!  We made the Coquahalla Summit.   Another half hour and we found our wilderness road turn off and headed back country.  Not too far in with still hunting light available, we found the clearing off the main logging road. We just disconnected the truck,  unlocked rifles, stuffed shells in our pockets and headed out for the very last of the evening’s road hunt. Others were coming in as we were going out. But we had an ‘evening hunt’. We were doing it. We were there. It was too dark 5 miles down the road and we returned, but we'd made it.  Maybe not the 'break of dawn' start we'd talked about but we'd made it and we had the Keystone Energy home to return to.
That night I  barbecued t bone steaks under the light from the porch light.  I had the potatoes boiling. Tom took the onions I’d got at our grocery stop in Hope and cooked them up with the fresh zucchini.
Tom found a candle.  The meal was delicious.  Gilbert even got to eat the bones and thought this was all just too dog wonderful. I followed the main course with Haggen Daz Green Tea ice cream.  Roughing it! Definitely roughing it!
We even watched a  black and white John Wayne western movie on the DVD and TV.
I had cell coverage and checked mail and Face Book.
Around 11 pm we were wound down enough to consider bed. Outside the canopy of stars was staggeringly beautiful.  The fresh air was literately tasty in the nostrils.  I climbed into bed in sweats and long sleeved harley shirt. I’d pulled out the couch bed for the first time and actually had sheets and blankets out for Tom . Gilbert chose to sleep at the base of Tom’s bed.  They’re good buds.The propane heater kept the cabin temperature  around 72 all night.  Lovely.
530 am I was up.   Coffee and granola.  Then out in the truck.
We didn’t plan to be fancy.  No ambush and stalking. Just driving around ‘road hunting’.  Horrible.  But we did have a lot of jawing to do. Tom had just been visiting family in Toronto and driven back through the northern states.  He'd put a new starter engine in a speed boat he'd been water skiing with. On the way back he'd stopped at Custer's Last Stand.  We talked about the bum rap Custer had been given and what a great leader he actually was.
Gilbert kept his eyes on the road, looking for grouse.  We drove slowly through the valley, stopping here and there to scope the slashes.  Drinking coffee. Talking. Nothing moving.
Around noon we talked with a couple of other hunters from Maple Ridge. They were in an side by side ATV.  Hunter talk.  “Seen anything?”  “No”  “What a bout you?” “Some does”  “No bucks?” “No”.
We drove on. We walked about a bit.  Looked over ridges.  Shot some targets. Tom happy to have his FAC and shooting good groups with my Mossberg Lever Action 30:30.  We both used a wilderness campground toilet thankful for the seat.  Didn't even have to squat in the woods.  Gilbert waited in the truck.  He'd run around and pissed and shit on everything when every time we got out and walked about looking up at slashes and scoping them.
We drove some more then headed back to the RV.  Pretty country.  Lots of green pine and spruce.  Colours of deciduous trees just beginning to turn to red and orange and yellows. Just beginning.  Hot day.  Temperature 23.  Sunshine and blue sky.    When we got back to the RV, I enjoyed a really hot shower.
We opened the Toyhauler garage door and sorted the remaining mess. There’s a few more bags I can take to the storage locker before our October hunt. That hunt's been a year in preparation.  This Wednesday we're getting together for the final preparation dinner.
These expeditions are extraordinary feats of organization and planning.  In the draw we'd got moose cow tags. All year we'd been getting equipment ready, Luke fixing up his truck, Tom completing his FAC and working on his core, me getting truck and rifle ready.
Now the Keystone Energy Toyhauler had totally checked out.  Tom and I loaded it up and prepared for the final test.  It had proved  great climbing up the mountain and just fine on gravel roads but I hated hauling trailers down windy steep inclines. That was  what came next.
Returning down the Coquahalla the Keystone performed beautifully.  
Tom took over driving in Hope.  We stopped for fish burgers. hamburgers and Gilbert’s doggie burger paddy at MacDonalds.   Life was good. More coffee. And an easy ride back into town before the rush hour coming home hit.
With Tom directing, I surprised myself by backing the trailer into my tight little spot. I love the Keystone Energy Toyhauler.  
Maybe I’m getting older but it really is a very pleasant way to go hunting. I’d highly recommend it. Maybe after you’ve spent 30 years or so sleeping out on mountainsides in only a sleeping bag or waking in a tent in a snowstorm on a hunt, the Keystone Energy Toyhauler really seems the way to go.  
Really,  barbecued steaks,  Haggen Daz Green Tea ice cream, John Wayne movies, propane heater, my own bed, expresso stove top morning coffee with fridge cold cream and honey , with a hot shower to come home too. Well, I liked it.  I really did.
Thank you Keystone Energy Toyhauler.  And thank you Travelhome RV for selling it to me and helping me all along with any questions and concerns.  

Sturgis North, Canada's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Festival, Merritt, BC - Part 4 - Sunday Morning and Ride Back to Vancouver

I wanted a Bruce Coburn Rocket Launcher to kill the generator someone was running at 4 am in the camp grounds. Burton Cummings had finished long after midnight and I think I got to bed in the tent with Gilbert around 1 or 2 am. The music down the row from me was going till at least 3 am.  A large group of people had been dancing outside their tents and RV’s.  Motorcycles stopped driving about around then too but that generator was there every time I rolled over.
Little Gilbert had his body snuggled up to mine, lying on the sleeping bag for comfort. He was warm enough. I thought about getting his coat but decided against it as he seemed just fine curled up beside me on the sleeping bag and hoodie.  It’s just that whenever I rolled over, well, there was the pain in the back and hip to consider, since the ground was hard, then he’d have to realign himself to get the maximum amount of soft sleeping bag under him.  Of course at 7 am, when we normally get up, he was there licking my face, bright eyed and bushy tailed, all ready to go to work.
“Don’t you know it’s Sunday!” I asked him.  “I got to bed after 2 pm” I said.
He just wagged his tail.
I got dressed.  Getting jeans on is one thing in a tent.  Out of the tent I had to dance around getting into socks and my Harley Davidson biker boots.  We both went down to the stream. He had a drink and we both found some bushes to mark. Then I began the slow task of taking down the tent and loading my bike.  I don't move quickly before coffee.
I was actually the first Harley to rev up.  Thankfully no one shot me,too.  I rode out of the campground area seriously considering the possibility.
I parked the motorcycle where they had outdoor toilets and also portable water fountains, just fine for shaving. I used the mirror on my bike.  Then I saw some guys with coffee.  It turned out that they were a group of Gospel Riders.  I approached them saying, “I”ve already found Jesus. Could you tell me where to find a cup of coffee.”
They laughed, which is always a good sign with Christians. Don't want to hang out with the ultra serious ones who think they're the only ones God talks too. Better to be with the laughing set who knew Jesus and the disciples had to love life, being fisherman, carpenters and all. 
“We’re just going to have a  church service," said one guy,  "We'll have more coffee after that. You’re welcome to come along.”  Well I figured I could hear Father Mark at my home church St. James Anglican going “yes!”  Of course I went along.  They wanted Gilbert to come and I go wherever he’s welcome.
I liked the service too.  Jim, a fellow who’d done prison ministries and down town eastside gospel revival played the guitar and sang some of the good old Christian songs I was raised on. “He’s got the whole world in his hands”.  Only he changed that to “He’s got Harley Davidson and all its riders in his hands”.  I especially loved singing Jesus Loves me and hearing the second verse which I don’t recall ever hearing before.  The preacher then talked about love. God’s love as great and great enough for all of us. It was a good sermon. Simple. Uplifting.  Then more songs and that was it.  We walked back to the coffee pot and I got my coffee. Gilbert got a whole lot of petting too. A number of the guys said they had dogs but hadn’t brought them.  They loved that Gilbert rode with me.
We talked about God and Jesus and ministry.  Normal stuff.  I shared about my time with Terry and the West Coast Bikers. Seeing Third Day in concert in Langley.  I’d talked with these Gospel Rider folkbefore  on the Oyster Run. They meet in Surrey Monday night. I really ought to get out for some fellowship. Good guys. I’ve liked them each time I’ve met them and it’s now three or four times. The early ‘“mass” was typically ‘light’ on numbers. They were holding a second service after people had woken up. I saw more people crowding around the stage while I was leaving.
After that the vender wagon opened. I got an fried egg and ham sandwich.  Gilbert got some sausage from the vender and doggie dried duck treats I found in a saddlebag..   Nourished in body and soul we got on the Harley.  I stopped to get Laura a t shirt from Gilbert.  We’d all gone together to the first Sturgis North.  She still takes care of Gilbert from time to time.  She's definitely one of his most favourite human.
Driving into Merritt to fill up with gas there were all sorts of motorcycles.  A whole lot of people had stayed in motels. I’d opted for camping because I thought the motels would have been sold out.  That was the case in Sturgis South Dakota.  Camping is part of the fun but I think I’d rather be the guy with RV and generator next time.  Given I have a truck, an RV Toyhauler that could carry my Harley, I really do hope I can go next year in style.  Merritt sure is the perfect location for a motorcycle rally and music festival.  But a lot can happen in a year.
The Coquahalla with its 120 speed limit, high country views and winds were a real rush of a ride. I’d switched out Led Zeppelin for the Newsboys and was blasting along at 140 passing.  Felt like I was back in northern Montana or Northern Wyoming. Big open country and endless highway. Real motorcycle ride experience.  I slowed down as we began to drop out of the ozone but was surprised how quickly I was coming into Hope. It really seemed like no time the ride was such a beauty.
In Chilliwack I figured Gilbert needed a rest. He’d been such a good dog. We’d done a 170 km and used a half tank of gas.  I called my friend Lorne, another Kilt wearing Scottish descendant. He’d just had surgery so was wearing a cast on his foot after a ligament tear when we met up at Starbucks. With coffee and muffins and Gilbert getting bits of muffin to go with his water we were all a happy crew. It was a sunny day and we were sitting outside in the old downtown Chilliwack reminiscing about how we’d started doing this together 16 years ago. We’d both met through Dr. Bernie and we’d just stayed friends. It was great to jaw and jaw and jaws.  We got all caught up and then some.
Friends are great pit stops.  I’ve got to get together with Lorne more often. We do Robbie BurnsDinners and some Scottish events but it’s been too long since we just talked.  When a cute girl asked him what the cast on his foot was for, I answered “masturbating”.  What are friends for?  We sure did laugh a lot.  16 years is a long time and a whole lot of stories.  We both missed Dr. Bernie, of course. He brought us together and we’d often go to dinners which would mostly be laughter.
Gilbert got back on the motorcycle. I mounted up.  It didn’t take long then to get back to Vancouver.  The traffic was just building up from the weekend return but we got in before the worst.
Gilbert immediately found a yellow ball. I loved walking in and finding that my whole place had had a Mida  miracle. While I was away an angel had come and cleaned and tidied the place.  Gilbert wasn’t as impressed.  He had to spill his toy bag to find a tennis ball. I was co opted to throw while he fetched.  In his world then all was right.
Despite the Friday mini office crisis, thanks to everyone I consulted I have a solution and a new plan.  More work for me in the short term but hopefully a better long term solution.  Time will tell.  What a joy though to ride my Harley to Sturgss North, hear Burton Cummings, go back down the good worm hole of memory lane, experience the rush and high of motorcycling, add in a church service,  a visit with a good friend and spend all that great time with little Gilbert, a great companion and amazing biker dog.

Camping and Bow Hunting Labour Day Weekend, BC

The long weekend is the opening of bow hunting in British Columbia. It's also for me the weekend I sight rifles and check out my equipment.

The logistics of keeping multiple adventure activities stored and sorted is a challenge for sure. Offshore sailing, scuba diving and wilderness camping are all activities where if you forget anything or anything goes wrong you can't easily stop by the corner store or ask the pizza guy.

First stop after leaving work was to visit the gun locker and collect ammunition, knives, sharpeners, rifles, bow, arrows, stringer, binoculars, compasses. I'd forgot my radio but had my satellite phone for emergency communication.

I couldn't find the keys to the Honda 250 on road off road motorcycle which resulted in a minor delay while I searched everywhere in the truck and bags but didn't find them. I eventually hoped they'd be in the Motorhome where they finally turned up. Locks are my bane. Thieves are a terror. Taking countermeasures against the ubiquitous theivery accounts for a half hour at least of everyday. I've got keys and locks everywhere but one can't live without them.

The traffic driving out to Chilliwack was already backed up for the long weekend despite my leaving work early. I imagine it got worse. I was glad to hook up my RV (recreational vehicle) and haul it over to the Husky where I filled the truck with diesel, the gas tank for generator and motorcycle, the propane tanks as well as filling the RV with water. Gilbert, the cockapoo, was excited by all of this and glad I'd brought his tennis ball, snacks and treats. Compared to me, he travels light.

I had this great audio tape of a 'Sensitive New Age Spy" and began listening to it as I headed up the coquahala. Great for night driving. Story line of terrorists parking an old tanker in Sidney Harbour, Australia. I was tired by the time I got to the Coquahala Lakes so just pulled off the road at the rest area where I found a place I could park for the night. What a beautiful night it was too. Gilbert cavorted about the RV under the moon and starlit sky and the two of us were out in wilderness. I had brought curried venison I'd made that week which with bread made a marvellous late night meal. Before going to bed I sat up a bit reading the Christian thriller 'Harbingers'. The idea is that 9/11 was a message from God to get back on track. I slept beautifully with Gilbert curled up beside me.

Next day we'd start off again up the Coquhala. I could have just as easily stayed where I was but figured since bow hunting opened the next day, Sept 1, on the Sunday I might as well drive north on the Saturday with the plan to store my trailer somewhere in the north for when I came back for rifle hunting moose. I studied the regulations and found out that bow hunting was open for deer and bear in the lower mainland but in Thompson and Caribou more things opened including rifle hunting for bear. If I reached the Omineca, which is where Prince George is I could even bowhunt moose and elk and not only bear but grouse as well was open for rifle. Now that seemed a plan or at least a heading since I could stop anywhere along the way if I wanted.

My friends who are retired just returned from Yukon and northern BC with each of them having shot a moose. I envied them their retirement because they had no real time restriction on their hunt. In contrast I was going to have to be back at work and was only going to have a week during the season for rifle hunting moose. Here was a great day for driving and listening to an audiobook. The country side is spectacular with the coastal mountains to pass then the ranchlands with tumble weed before the great grain fields further north.

I drove up to Merritt then left the Coquahala, a regular freeway, for the normal two lane highway that took me to Quesnel. At rest areas Gilbert had pee breaks and slept when he didn't have his head out the window. Not a bad life for a dog especially with a regular supply of little dog milk bones.

At 100 Mile House I got my Migratory Bird license from the Post Office. It's federal for ducks and geese. I learned then that ducks and geese opened in the north Sept 1 too. I'd not brought my shot gun. At Exeter Sport Goods I got more arrow bolts with the broad head for turkeys and grouse. I had enough razor blade heads for big game. I also got a clip for my 22 only to find I had one in the rifle which I'd thought I'd removed when I had it clean. I now have two. I got my my tags for mule deer and moose. I love 100 mile house and this gun store. It's got everything. I bought my bushnell ranger finder binoculars I love for bow hunting there a few years back too. The girls at the store are hunters and with the guys they make the whole business lively.

At Chicotin Guns in Williams Lake I couldn't resist, I could, but didn't, a combination 12 guage/20 guage over under Brazilian shot gun. The barrels are interchangeable and while I've a side by side 12 guage with long barrel I've not got a 20 guage which is better for upland birds. I'd bought a single shot 4/10 here years ago. It was argentinian and almost a boot gun. I'd carried it bow hunting with a slug in it for back up in grizzly bear country.
I was introduced to this gun store by my old friend Bill nearly 20 years ago when we were heading up north for a moose hunt near Vanderhoof. Great store and great knowledgeable folk there. I like stopping in for a break on a long drive and seeing what new stuff they have. I'd not planned to go this far north and didn't know duck and geese would be open. My reasoning though is that when I don't have the tools or the tags that's when I'll have the animals walk up at tap me on the shoulder so like a good Boy Scout I like to be prepared. The principle cost of hunting is the time off work and the cost of fuel for travelling so it's better to be equipped.

Chicotin had sold out of 12 guage buckshot so I stopped at the Walmart in Quesnel where I was able to get an elk tag and 12 guage buckshot. I also got Gilbert a Macdonalds Hamburger paddy. I had the quarter pounder. MacDonalds is a mainstay of hunting for Gilbert and I. He loves the drive throughs especially and gets excited just seeing the Golden Arches.

I drove on through Quesnel and past Hixon was finally in the Caribou hunting zone with all the possibilities of game open. Hixon is a favourite place of mine as I was staying in a motel there about 18 years ago listening to morning tv when I got watching this Hinkley Street show and thought my life was a little of course. I remember that day vowing I really ought to re think my life and get back on course as I called myself a Christian but wasn't too proud of the life I was living. Something about the wholesome folk on the Hinkley Street broadcast caught my attention and I had what later I'd call a 'moment of clarity'. Not knowing it at the time my whole life would take a rather huge turn around in the next couple of years and I'd find myself really only interested in spiritual matters. I even went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Bethlehem and would never have thought of that before that morning in Hixon.

Well, just past that I found the Stone Creek Forest Road and turned off. Pulling a trailer as night was falling heading off on a logging road with all the difficulties of turning around or getting stuck called for prayer and eventually I found myself able to pull off the road and park the trailer so I could spend the night and be able to walk out on a hunt in the morning. Again the wilderness was wonderful and the stars were glorious in the night sky





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