Rainy Tuesday Morning

I’ve woken feeling sort of out of sorts.  My catastrophising mind did it’s circle of the universe looking for cause for dysphoria.  There’s never a shortage. The first that comes up is the Trudeau government, I’m anxious about the future reading an article in the medical journal about elder homelessness.  Trudeau’s evil and mismanagement is so offensive. I was also upset to see an armed ethnic military unit marching in a parade remembering the Scottish sergeant major being arrested for wearing his ski in doo in his sock.  There’s so much pride in the leadership brandishing sword like knives at the Ferry a couple of years back.  Meanwhile I’ve not been bothered at all hunting this weekend despite having guns and ammunition and knives.  But my mind will tip towards any negative thoughts when I’m feeling in a bit of funk

I think it’s simply because I am physically exhausted. It takes me a day to recover from the unusual exertions I did all weekend, whether climbing in and out of the camper or riding rough roads on the quad.  It’s a workout for this fat couch potato who enjoys most wastching net flix and eating Hagen Diaz cherry ice cream. It was physically good. I am disappointed because I banged the back of the camper and will need to have it repaired at a cost or on insurance.

I was pleased though that my Star link worked when I transferred the dish meaning only the cable is damaged on the Camper. I’ve already ordered a new one.

This weekend I’m at Harrison’s Hot Springs with Laura.  I’ve an appointment with the chiropractor on Thursday. My back seems to be getting better with treatment and continued exercise. The weekend was good for it. Madigan is more snarly but obviously had a great dog time.  

I was pleased the Bustards shot a bear. I’d prayed they would.  With the communication problems I wasn’t really dedicated and enjoyed just travelling about on the quad. I could have done more target practice but I forgot to take the 223 ammo when I went out with the 3006 and targets.  I shot just fine with the Ruger 3006.  Good grouping.  But then I I returned and loaded all the new clips but didn’t bother stopping to shoot targets despite having the opportunity.

I wore t shirts and underwear around the camp enjoying the freedom and the deck chair in the sun.  Madigan ranged off leash.  I listened to the audio book, The Rise and Reign of the Mammals by Steve Brussate.

With the Starlink down I didn’t keep up with my prehistory course. I actually could have when I took the Duffy Lake road through Lilluettte to Hope. I stayed in the Telte Yet campground seeing the damage to the camper and being disappointed.

I’m selling my sailboat and so far getting half what I hoped and the survey wasn’t optimistic. I’ll be glad to reduce my load.  I’ve a suspicion I’ll go with the fifth wheel and truck and motorcycle or trade the car and camper and all in for a bus.  Meanwhile a part of me is weary with driving and considering a little house but not in this city. I’ve never been committed to Vancouver though am looking forward to this year’s symphony. It used to be the Ballet and now going deaf I’m delight with the VSO.  Mostly I think I’ll be doing the same routine for an other year with plans to go south Jan Feb.  I’ve a Baltimore conference July. There’s still a possibility I*’ll drive or fly down to Hay Bay before it’s sold.  I have a full schedule this year so personally would prefer going next year.  I’ll see. A trip with the camper would be an adventure.  I keep thinking I could close the boat deal and bring back my dinghy, not that I have anywhere to put it. 

I am grateful for my health especially to day though it’s raining and I had a n active weekend and my back isn’t sharp pain. Madigan’s wet but sleeping beside me. The cleaning ladies are coming today.

Thank you God for air. Thank you for water. Thank you for the life today. Thank you for work and purpose and the opportunity to be of service. Thank you Jesus.  

Lillooet, Gilbert and the Godkids

I just returned on the Sea to Sky Highway, having taken the Duffy Lake Road from Lillooet to Pemberton through Whistler back to Vancouver and Burnaby.
Heading out Friday with the Palomino Maverick truck camper on the Ford F350 with the KTM690 on the front rack for the first time I stopped for the night of a logging road near Lytton.  In the morning I drove onto Lillooet where I hooked up with Kevin and Anna, Kendra, Izek and Alex.  They’d come the other side of the great circle route stopping short of Pemberton.
We arrived simultaneously in town and met at  Cookhouse Restaurant in the Reynold’s Hotel. .  They’d had breakfast but we all had drinks and  I had a perfect bacon and cheese burger.  We also had the delicious home made gravy and fries. The staff were terrific.
Kendra, Izek and Alex really like policemen for some unknown reason.  Kendra even thinks her jacket which has a badge is a police jacket. .  They all jumped up and down on their seats waving and cheering when a somewhat pleasantly surprised RCMP officer came in.  They greeted Gilbert, their friend, the same way. Gilbert couldn't stop his tail wagging and squirmed and licked all of them at once.
The Bustards are fisher folk.  Most every weekend we enjoy Kevin's pictures of them all catching rainbow trout.  This day Kevin caught a lovely rainbow and damned if I didn’t too.  Meanwhile Gilbert, Kendra, Alex and Izek were in heaven messing in the dirt.  It was raining.  So what.  Fish were biting.
We parked by the river and decided rather than going on to a campground just to stay there. It really was a nice wilderness spot a little off the highway.
I’d brought steaks but we had enough rainbow for everyone coupled with the corn, potatoes and herb butter and sour cream I’d brought. Kevin cooked up the fish and beans while I boiled the potatoes and Anna barbecued the corn.  The kids and Gilbert played everywhere in the camper and around the grounds. The meal was heavenly.   We had plums and hot cross buns for dessert.  With kids meals are a more rewarding communal rite especially when we hold hands and say grace at the beginning.
Later while I answered an endless stream of questions from the kids, “what’s this for?’ ‘what’s this.’   Anna and Kevin put up their tent.  The adults had tea and coffee and talked about adult things with the three kids sneaking across from the tent to the trailer to listen at the screen door repeatedly until Kevin finally said a boogeyman would get them if they didn’t stay in the tent. They are afraid of bogeymen.
We had all attended St. James Anglican Church and reminisced about Father Mark and our time there. I told them how Father Mark had welcomed Gilbert to the church but said he wasn’t sure about me. His two big dogs had joined us and  became Gilbert’s church friends.  We discussed the Christian revival all over the world, especially in the former USSR, and Poland,  the persecution of Christians in Islamic nations, especially the Coptics and by the Atheist Communists in China. The place of family and values and challenges to the faith, were all part of the discussion.   Kevin had started as a Pentecostal,   I’d started as a Baptist,  Now we'd all become friends as Anglicans.
Kevin and Anna left to join their kids while I and Gilbert bedded down in the  camper,  During the bouts of rain it had served  as a terrific dry haven with running hot and cold water, a working refrigerator and an indoor toilet Kendra had earlier become enamoured by.  She used so much soap in the sink my grey water was full of bubbles.
The night before had been a full moon but this night was intermittent rain,  a good thing given all the forest fires BC had been plagued by.
In the morning  I awoke and put on the expresso coffee and boiled water for Anna's tea. The three munchkins had slipped out of the tent first and were shortly followed by the parents  thankful for the cups of hot coffee and tea I handed them.   The kids liked the tangerines, plums, ham and cheese croissants and yogurts I thought to bring.
Family and food.  I was surprised 3 adults and 3 kids fit in the camper booth but we did.  Prayers and meals .  Then we were breaking up the camp  to go to another a fishing hole Kevin knew.   I never did get my motorcycle off the rack but we had to shovel away some gravel to get it clearance for it to get back onto the road.
The evergreen scenery, mountains and streams and Duffy Lake, the twisting turning Duffy Lake Road was all such a joy to travel along. Given all the  times I’ve travelled this route, either on motorcycle ,or in car or hunting in a truck, I never tire of it. It’s truly one of my favourite  drives  of all times.
At Pemberton, another favourite town, we all got MacDonald’s Burgers  including an Angus paddy for Gilbert.
The next fishing hole included  quite the climb down to the roaring river.  The kids and 4 wheel drive Gilbert had no difficulty but I had to go down on hands to avoid falling.  Unfortunately I’d broken the tip of my rod so was just along for pictures.  The fisher folk caught more rainbow.  Kendra  was ecstatic when she caught her fish, doing a little dance while Anna extracted the hook and bonked the fish with a rock.
A great family weekend.  I was reminded of fishing with my mom and dad my brother Ron watching Kevin and Anna helping the kids with rods and hooks and worms. I remember Mom and Dad having the patience of saints with the tangles I’d get my line in.  
What a wonderful tradition.  It was  so much fun for me  to be apart of this fisherfolk family weekend.    Gilbert thinks he’s one of the kids. They’re just great with him.