Logan Lake, Tuesday

It’s been a truly splendid day.  The night’s are so quiet. No trains or city car sounds,  Silence.  The morning is precious too. The sun up and light filtering into the camper.  Madigan so happy to see me up. Dressed I took him for a walk along the lake.  Another man and dog were a head of us but I veered off the trail to the path by the river where I let Madigan off leash.  He loved that running circles around me and covering 5 times as much territory as he would on leash.

Back in the camper I made coffee.  I had granola bars and a yoghurt.  

I’d slipped the truck out from under the camper at night and assembled the electric bicycle charging it through the night. Leaving Madigan in the camper I drove the white F350 with the folding electric bicycle in the box, to Wolverine the auto repair place in the Industrial centre behind the Esso.  I waited till the owner arrived. His son had been the one i met the day before.  We talked brakes and my hitch rack.  He didn’t think the hitch rack contributed and thought it more like a coincidence with brake wear.  

He told me he’d been riding motorcycles for forty years. I told him I’d just bought the Nightster Special.

“I saw them when they first came out a couple of years ago. Nice design.

“I’m planning on going down to Arizona in the winter with the camper and want to have a HD to drive around on.  This trip is a test of the idea.  The liquid cooled should do well in the desert.  I traded my Electroglide in for it.’

I’ve had 2 electroglides in my life.  Terrific bikes.’

“If i lived in the country I’d have kept mine. Best highway motorcycle but my Nightster is only 500 lbs and can go on a 600 lb hitch mount.  I couldn’t carry my electro glide that way”.

He showed me in there back where he had a custom trailer.  An arctic cat was on it.

’ That’s what I tow my electro glide with. The bottom comes up and takes the bike or goes like this and carries the cat.”

“Nice..” i said.  

‘That’s my son’s softtail,’ he said, pointing to a nice well kept machine.

“We’ll look over the truck and make sure it’s safe to get you home.” 

I certainly appreciate that I said leaving him the keys and also the security code if the batttery in the fob died again like it had the day before when I found that no one had that battery.  His son had told me they’d probably have one in Kamloops 60 km up the road.

I took my electric bicycle all charged up and headed home. I was glad for the electric assist going up the hill into the town.  Up hill.  The flat was fine and I was back at the camper to the joy of Madigan. I’d just time to make a coffee before sitting down to my first virtual patients. Later the Wolverine folk would phone to say the front brakes needed work they could do and the hitch was fine.  Terrific.  

All day I talked on the phone or hooked up virtually with patients. 

At noon I took Madigan on a walk on the nature trail, It took us around the lake,  There as a one of several seats where I took up my clothes down to my underwear so I could take another lovely swim. Water was great and it was wonderful to swim out to the middle of the lake and tried water. I felt weeds so it wasn’t a deep lake overall but perfect for an afternoon swim. Madigan didn’t join me but watched from the shore.  There were boats with electric motors out fishing and I’ve seen several folk cleaning fish at the station down the hill from me.  

Finishing another late day with lots of calls and patients to attend to I was rather tired but had the energy to walk Madigan down to the lake and back. Kraft dinner. Thanks to the air conditioning I could boil water without the place becoming stifling. It’s been hot but the breeze today made it tolerable until I decided to boil water or make coffee.  Madigan was glad to have his share of Kraft Marconi and clean the pot.  I enjoyed the comfort food and reading the historical fiction novel I have of the Berlin air lift.  Extraordinary story.  My patient told me he’d been to Berlin several times and his sister liked it so much she’d bought a flat there.  ‘Check point charley, so many people died there and now tourists take selfies.

Whenever I took to young people which is rare they seem not to know the corruption of the communists and their aggressiveness an alliance with the Nazis before Hitler turned on them.  

All day deer walked through the campground.   One doe had two spotted faun following her.  Madigan seems to accept the doe but is more interested in the fauns. I texted Laura a picture of him watching them from inside the campr as they crossed behind us.  She thinks it’s because they smell like babies. I think he’s young and identifies with other young animals as ‘fun’ .  They bound about playfully while the mother is serious and on alert for threats.  It’s lovely to have such a glorious view and to watch the deer.  Owners with a variety of dogs walk down to the lake through the day too.  

Last night was a Supermoon. My astronomer nephew texted us about it so I stayed up to watch this huge moon rise about the forest.  Bright yellow. I took a picture with my iPhone but it wasn’t steady enough and didn’t do it justice. I’m sure Graeme has great pictures.  

I texted his brother Andrew the post that Blavkdtone had bought genealogy for 5 billion giving them all this DNA information. I once talked with Andrew about future weapons DNA specific drone mounted sniper tools.  Certainly not something that one would want to find its way into the hands of Xi Jin Ping.  Blackstone is American based but for sci fi buffs like my nephews and I the future may be corporate wars not nation states. We may well be there.  I loved Dune, Heinlein’s master piece, and the recent movie was well done.  

I’ve read a lot here but haven’t used the tv.  I have the capacity to play DVD’s but should bring my old Apple TV here to see if I can in future get it to work with internet especially if I get my Starlink working.   I haven’t had it working yet because it says there’s too many obstacles here and the wifi has been sufficient.  Most of my work here has been cell phone, a higher cost this week I’ll gladly pay for the beauty of this place.   What a lovely retreat.  

  

Logan Lake

I left Spence’s Bridge this morning at 8 am after making my own stovetop expresso.  It was a lovely morning, clear sky.  It was minutes loading up and I was on the road.  Great morning drive.

I saw goats and mule deer. I loved the baby goats. Madigan was impressed.  Lots of road work on highway 8.  I loved the tumbleweed.  Sage in the air.  In no time I was in Merritt, filling up with gas and taking 97 c north.  Paved highway.  

Logan Lake.  I remember staying here at a motel one year with Laura. It was hunting season. The lake was the attraction. The Municipal RV park is on one end with the town at the other end.  

The young men were helpful getting me a spot.  A direct walk to the lake for swimming. There’s electricity and wi fi at the site. Running water and Sani flush are at the park but not at the site. The site electricity makes it easy for me to do work while the wifi is going to work because so far I’ve not got the Starlink working.  Too many obstructions 

I loved the swim. Alright. I have a one piece and enjoyed walked with my towel to the dock and climbing down the ladder.  The cold water wasn’t too cold and good for my back.  I lost a hearing aid.  Forgot I had them on.  One did fine but the one I’d lost a couple of times and damaged is no more.  

A fellow told me that my brake was squealing.

So after that I walked Madigan into town and learned there is a fellow who does vehicle repairs. Wolverine.  I’ll go by Monday morning. It may be the HD on the front ramp.  A contributing factor. I feel I have to get it fixed before I head home

I took another dip in the lake. It really is hot.  Thankfully I have air condition.  After a short time suntanning I was back in the camper with the air conditioning on. I’m reading a historical novel from Berlin WW2. Great suspense.  Jewish boy evading nazi working in the neurological institute studying the genetics of fruit fly. 

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.  

Wilderness Camping in Luxury

Laura, Gilbert and I joined Luke at Tacheeda Lake Recreational Site. Luke had driven up in his Toyota truck carrying the Honda 230 CRF motorcycle on the back with a tent and sleeping bag in his cab. . I'd come up in my Ford F350 Diesel Harley Davidson Edition Truck with a Polaris 500 Sportsman ATV in the back towing a 26 foot Forest River Mini Lite Trailer.
After we set up camp it wasn't long before Luke was hanging out for dinner in the trailer and having showers there as well.  He slept in his 2 man tent and built great fires in the outdoor fire pit.  Sometimes we'd sit about his fire and sometimes he'd hang out in my heated trailer.  Gilbert liked being inside and outside. We were ostensibly on a moose hunt but we had fun doing other things as well.
All that goes with camping and RVing took place. We target practiced with bow and with rifle.  Luke and I swam in the lake and he even got an air mattress out for sun tanning while floating about the lake. I had a Honda 2500 generator going to provide electricity. It served all our needs. It even worked with a sump pump in the lake and hose that ran to our water tank. A switch of a switch and I had the tank refilled in minutes. No hauling water and no trips back to civilization for basics.
We did pick up more fuel at Bear Creek gas station and Convenience store, about an hour drive away on logging road and highway.  It was the closest town. We were about 120 km north of Prince George on the Cuchinka Red Forest Service Road just south of Mackenzie Junction. Since we drove up some mornings to the logging roads by Kennedy Siding we picked up fuel at the Mackenzie Junction gas station and restaurant too. So we did add fresh bread and coffee to our stock. We were using about 5 to 10 gal a day of gasoline for the ATV and Generator.  A couple of gals of fuel ran the generator 8 hours and 5 gals of fuel let me drive the ATV all day.  We used less really, those being max numbers since we were walking and sitting alot as well.  At first we had a couple of really sunny days  and I had the solar panels out charging the battery When the wind came up I put these away and settled for the generator.  I had a 'honey bucket' for emptying grey and black water.  Grey water is the water from washing and I just dragged this on it's wheels   to the nearby sand dump.  The septic tank served us for the whole week only needing emptying on the way home at an outlet.  Partly that was because we were away most of the day using the woods for a toilet. Laura was back at the RV guarding the site and as everyone knows girls don't shit.
I'm always amazed at all the wilderness activities that are encompassed in a hunt.  This time it involved camping, photography, hikin,g, swimming, 4x4 ing, RV'ing, offroad motorcycling, and ATV'ing.  Gilbert, Laura, and Luke were great companions.   The only lack of cooperation was with the bear, moose and deer who outsmarted us.  The grouse on the other hand hung around long enough so that we could bring them back to the barbecue.