Thanksgiving Weekend,Princeton

Laura and I have a long history of Thanksgiving Weekend hunts,  Good times with dogs and terrific autumn weather.  She stays at the motel or cabin and I and the dog go hunting. Previous years I’ve shot bear and dear and turkey. This year I shot lots of grouse but the piece de resistance was Madigan fetching them for me.  He did one time bring it to me and proceed to chew on it in front of me.  I discouraged that taking the bird and quite frankly verbally abusing the mutt.

”I shot that bird. You wouldn’t have got it on your own. I share. You bring it to me, I take it and later I share.!”  He got the picture and loves praise. So after that one time we returned to his fetching the birds and dropping them at my feet.

I loved the Honda 420 quad .  Madigan and I rode all over the back woods. Of course I heard my guide friend Bill saying, “You’ve to stop moving if you are to get any big game Best to sit in ambush. “

My dad would say, you see more game  sitting or walking than you’ll ever see from a vehicle.” The trouble is we like riding about in the ATV and we do see grouse.

The ride out to Princeton picking up the trailer and ATV in Chilliwack, there was traffic slow down due to construction but we kept moving. The leaves were changing with lots of yellow and orange going through Manning Park.  I’d been concerned about parking with the trailer but there was plenty of street parking near Ace Motel. I’ve been staying there for years. There’s a new Korean family in charge replacing the last Korean owners since before Covid.  The rooms were immaculate and even elegant. Lovely bathroom, couch and comfortable bed. We loved that it was right in town.  Having unloaded what I didn’t want to leave in the truck we wandered about town going into the terrific Outdoors store. Their stock was depleted due to their suppliers having empty shelves.  I did get Laura a knife and enjoyed the visit. I’ve been stopping there for a couple of decade The owner and his wife are totally knowledgaable congenial and know the local area so well. Once I bought a lure and asked where to fish and sure enough they directed me to a stocked lake and I caught rainbow.

Laura came with me for the night hunt since we just had time to drive up the easy mountain main towing the trailer knowing I’d have to turn about somewhere. Madigan and I were pleased to get a grouse.  A good start. The trip back in the dark didn’t please Laura who is literally blind at night. She was glad to get back to our Motel.  I had to unload the pack and rifles each trip.  Not far though.

Pasha’s Pizza and Indian Food was the best, We had thelasagna and garlic bread take out. It was absolutely delicious with just a faint spicing of cumin plus the tradition Mediterranean spices. The cook and presumably owner is a beautiful delightful woman happy and friendly while working  serving customers.

I was up at 6 to be at the A&W for 7.  I learned later it opened at 6 am so was earlier the next couple of days.  I had planned to go out Henly where I’ve shot a lot of grouse in past years. When I took a cabin for Laura at the Princeton Castles or left the camper there this was my favourite hunting road.  The sun was well up when I unloaded the ATV fro the trailer and then loaded all the gear on . I have a short leash that clasps onto Madigan’s harness as he sits behind me. A couple of times he’s fallen off his seat into the foot well but the leash keeps him above the road, Each time I just lifted him back up with the harness. I could tell he was thankful.  He then for a while tried not to lean out toofar to peer around me.  

I shot more grouse that day and he’d fetch them. He was so proud and happy and we really do like hunting grouse together. It always reminds me of the very good times with Dad and my brother Ron hunting Prairie Chicken and Partridge on the prairies growing up.

The scenery in autumn is glorious. Sunny days, blue skies. Chilly in the evening but hot by late morning.  I explored everywhere I could go encountering a couple of other hunters on ATV’s or in trucks.  

Back in Princeton I took Laura to our favourite coffee shop by the bridge, Thomasina’s.  Laura had home made Peach Pie and I had the delicious meat pie. It was great to sit outside on the street and enjoy the ambience. A touch of Europe in Canada. 

I didn’t make it out for night hunt but instead had take out Steak and Prawns from Little Creek Grill. The food was incredible. We watched Operation Seawolf on the on demand in room big tv with Madigan happy to accept little bits of our dinners.  The cheese cake for desert was the best too.  We have take out so we can stay with Madigan but also we like it.  Cozy.  

Knowing A&W opened at 6, I was up at 5 in the dark loading the truck and first to get A&W sausage egger and hash browns with double double coffee and a thermos of more coffee.  Over the years we’ve become soft and enjoyed collecting A&W breakfast and coffee to eat as we drive into the woods for a day hunt. I drove up Jura again but this time headed all the way to Fry where I’d seen a place big enough to leave truck and trailer and have room to turn around. I imagined heading up Fry as the light came up enough to shoot. I had the ATV unloaded and gear loaded. I was just about to start it up when another ATV and small truck careened off Jura at high speed heading up Fry. So much for my slow quiet chugging along and plan to sit in ambush up the mountain.

I decided to head up Jura more exploring so far being the first that morning.  This turned out to be godly. I phoned Laura on my satellite phone and let her know my plan. I’d leave her messages on the cell phone or sat through out the day so she’d know approximately which logging road and how far I was. The logging roads have Km sign so knowing I’d taken a side road at 32 km on Jura narrowed the search if anything went wrong.  Younger I never concerned my self with such things, no one knowing where I was for a week or more at a tie,  but now I’m much cautious and simply don’t want to inconvenience search and rescue should I need help. I’m older and it’s becoming more apparent with all the aches and pains .

The blessing was meeting Anna and the meerkats in their SUV along with their friend Nicole on the Moosecamp road. What a joy to meet up. We’d talked of this weeks before but I’d not been able to find their camp then but this time it was just happenstance. Synchronicity. Luck - god acting anonymously.

 Anna rcognied me as I passed her on the logging road. What a riot to see this car load of kids grouse hunting. Kenda, Izac, Alex and the two little guys Billy and Bobby.  Izek had shot a deer and showed me his belt knife.  ‘We say they will get a big knife when they shoot big game’. Anna shared.   Alex showed me his leatherman.  Later Kendra would show me her mermaid bathing suit. Kids are funny. Bobby and Billy in there car seats looked like twins and were just wide eyed with curiosity.  

We separated and later I got lost in the back woods after turning around on this rock strewn sharply descending trail. The trouble is a trail can get treacherous real fast and you need a bit to turn around on these trails with drop off precipices.  I even had to back out of one horrible bit the next day but this day I eventually found a flat enough area to turn and then headed back up over great boulders standing and balancing and cursing myself for getting in this mess.  Having got out of that I was turned around and rode for an hour or more with the gas tank depleting int this endless area of great hunting.  I just don’t like not knowing where I am if only vaguely. I began marking the trail and places I’d been with the gas tank half empty and considering when to add my half tank spare, concerned that the gas had sat for a year. I got out the compass and began to go into navigation mode checking the gps and knowing I had the sat phone wondering if I’d have to phone Laura to get someone to give me advice on how to get out of the warren of roads.  I prayed . I pray a lot hunting. It’s a major mental activity, the constant praying and talking with Jesus.  An ongoing conversation including Madigan.

I experience a lot of the ‘flow’ and have a lot of gratitude out in the woods. Breathing the air is so wondrous with the smells of plant life, passing swamps, burn area, creeks. It’s an amazing eye and nose smorgasboard.  

I found my way out having got turned about coming off the rock slide trail.  I then had to drive to the end of a couple of long dead ends till I actually found my way back the main. It was a relief to find Moose camp again ,the little lake I’d passed and knew.  

I was glad for an outhouse at that point only I had put my cell phone into my back pocket to have with me along with the sat phone , only when I undid my trousers facing the hole the cell phone flipped out onto the floor but bounced against the toilet wall and slid down under the floor,.  I could touch it but couln’t get a hold on it. Every campers nightmare. I’ve had a life time of caution with outhouses fearing loosing knives or anything down the hole. There was a father and son hunting at the campsite with their truck when I pulled in. I checked my gear for any tool kicking myself for leaving the needle nosed pliers I’d just bought in the truck. They had a larger set of pliars which I tried but the hole in the floor was too narrow. There was simply no other way. I had to reach down in the shallow outhouse toilet through to the outside wall where the phone was wedged again. I was able to push it out and retrieve it. I did consider chopping off my hand after that but had Clorox wipes and decided after I’d cleaned phone and hands as much as I could I’d have a swim and wash then the Irish spring soap into the lake,. The trouble with quadding is dust.  The water was freezing but it was hot out and I went nude into the lake off the dilapidated dock.  A great refreshing sensation after soaping off with the Irish spring I felt clean again. 

Dressed and packing up my gear the Bustards En mass arrived. Nicole had had to go early but Devin was with them. The kids got into the canvas hot tub water with Kendra in her mermaid bathing suit.  Kevin talked hunting and guns and game with Devin and Me while Anna talked with the father and son. 

They’ d all camped here but a couple had been drunk and played loud music all night so they moved their camp further around the lake. The drunk girlfriend at 5 am was running along the rocky lakeshore near their camp and began screaming having broken her ankle. This required a major rescue action with a make shift stretcher to get her out to the canoe which they then pulled out with their quad.  What an amazing wee morning story. The bf was going to drive her to Merrit where they thought there was more medical resources that Princeton.

After that tale of horror with pictures Kevin showed me they took me to their camp two minutes away. I loved their great igloo shaped tent and the smaller tent for the boys the guide like set up of the area with Anna’s cooking area Madigan loved playing with the kids. The older kids would lead off and billy and Bobby would follow and madigan would go with the two little guys.  Great mark twain like adventures. Kevin and Anna and I were talking while these child adventures were happening. Next they were all on the ground.  Madigan loved it. It reminded me of my childhood growing up outdoors camping summers having the best time of my life. The kids didn’t wear shoes Kevin commenting on Kendra running on rocks and reminding me how we did the same not wearing shoes in the summer, hiking barefoot everywhere,  Incredile, What a great family. I liked Kevin showing me his sat message GPS device they could call out on in case of medical emergencies. They had Walky talkies. Too.  

He topped my tank up with gas saving me from unloading my gear to get at my spare, and even gave Madigan a little deer sausage meat.  Madigan was too excited there but ate it back at the motel.  I had Welch raisin cookies and gave them to the kids to share, Then I was back on the road.

I found my way back to Fry and loaded up and headed out. I wasn’t more than 10 km when I heard this racket ,stopped and found I had a flat.  

I put out my recently acquired hazard signs to the front and back and proceeded to get the equipment, Jack and tire iron needed to change the tire. I hadn’t changed a tire in 25 years. I had the excellent ford book but it took a while to find I needed to use my key to open the hole for inserting the pole to release the spare wheel under the the truck,  

I’d phoned Laura and left a message saying I had a flat and could she find out if there was a wilderness tow service in case I couldn’t do this. Fortunately it was 2 in the afternoon. Then the angels arrived. A truck stopped and asked if I needed help. I said I was having trouble releaseing the spare.  So this whole crew I’d later learn were from Langly parked their truck got out and took over the whole operation. I had laid out a tarp and been under to inspect the spare tire but this one fellow ,was right under and guided the release pole. Then with the spare out he managed to get the tether released with the help of another fellow who had brought out some grease to help loosen the tether bolt.  Another fellow was setting up the jack I had out while one of the girls, a laughing enthusiastic delight, was loosening the lug nuts saying how she loved this part.  The guys had the truck lifted on the jack. I’d blocked the tires already and then the difficult thing happened,  The old tire would not come off. Well that would have stymied me alone. The two guys just began kicking it and said it would be best if we had a long handled axe or ball peen hammer but it released with their major kicks. Then they put on the spare and the girl added the lug nuts.The truck was lowered.  Done.  Doing the faux pas I asked if they would accept money and they all laughed pleasantly shaking their heads.  Good samaritans They acted like a pit crew all working together like I was in a Trueman Show rally . I felt touched by grace and they were the best crew of angels a person could hope for out beyond the wire.

I continued on my journey and there was  another grouse I shot and madigan fetched. It was amazing how long the grouse waited for me given I was having a time finding shells with the zippers sticking on my jacket or the 20 guage shot gun strap tangling.  I actually only missed a couple on the weekend because they got bored and flew away. It was a great hunt seeing the Bustards, being rescued and getting a grouse.

We had Pasha’s Pizza that night and it was delicious,

I was thrashed. Shared the stories with Laura and showed her pictures of the kids and later the Langley crew,

In the morning I just drove up Copper Mountain with my A&W breakfast coffee and thermos in the dark, unloading the ATV and heading up as the sky turned orange with dawn,  I had hoped for a deer as I was there at the best time but instead I just mozied along in the ATV enjoying riding about as the clouds passed over and the sun appeared. I stopped often and sat watching the valleys for a half hour or so. I used to sit for hours but Madigan and I both enjoyed the ATV so back we went shooting another grouse. We even almost collided with a moose. All the deer I’d seen were does except a fast moving buck who ran across the road before I could even load my rifle the first day. Almost colliding with a great female moose they’re so big was an event.  

Then it was home and Thanksgiving Dinner. Billy’s Restaurant had a great turkey dinner and we enjoyed eating it watching more tv.  

The next day I bought an air pressure guage at Lordco rather than search the truck to find the one I am sure I had.  Loaded up we stopped at the Chrevron to top up the spare before heading down the mountain with our A&W breakfasts and coffee.

It all went so smoothly even parking the ATV and trailer in Chilliwack.  

It was great to get home and find every thing safe and undisturbed. I was glad to address a little work and get the mail and collect food for our dinnner.  I barbecued steaks and we had them with potatoes, butter and sour cream, peas and Hagen daz  ice cream for desert. Great meal. We watched Brad Pitt in Bullet Train and it was a fabulous romp.  

I was glad for bed and sleep aching all over with a wind burnt face.  Madigan was sad as I was seeing Laura off in her little SMART Car.  She has to work later this morning as do I.

I’ve 6 more grouse in the freezer and it was a god send of a Thanksgiving weekend. What a joy!  Thank you Jesus. Thank you God. Thank you for Ace Motel, the Ford and Honda, the hunting gear, Princeton Town, Pasha Pizza and Indian Food, Thomasina’s, Little Creek Grill, Lordco and Chevron, the Princeton Hunting Store, the Bustards and the Meerkats, the Langley Truck Rescue Crew and all the good times and grace.

Thank you.

  

The Hunt Routine

I’ve been doing the deal. Bill Mewhort, my hunting buddy and a wealth of hunting lore set the standard. My father used to wake us kids before dawn and we’d be out at the marsh first light.  So no surprise when I began hunting with Bill and he had us up before dawn. We’d eat and wash up and gear up.  

“You’ve got to be in your place before light. You have to be still too. No noise. No movement.”

I followed his advice for years and shot most of my game because of it.  We’d sit in ambush 6 to 10 if we knew the game trails.  I ‘m often new to an area so I’m more likely now to be stalking by 9-10.  Bill didn’t like to move till after 10.  It was okay to drive about only after 11 or 12.

My dad would say, “You see 20 times more game walking.”  He liked to stalk game trails.  

Bill would say “You see 50 times more game sitting still.”

I think the quad spoiled me. I stopped sitting and stalking and took to riding all over  hell’s half acre like a mad man.  I’ve had motorcycles and electric bicycles and side by sides since then. The Hunt became more joy ride. The whole camping and quad ding and hiking experience is just the cake with getting the game the cherry.  

Earlier this year I even rode my Vespa in the back woods bow hunting. Now I’m back to just having the Ford truck.  

I’ve been up at 5:0 to 5:30, made coffee and filled the thermos.  I dress in long johns, jeans, socks, hiking boots, Sturges long sleeve t shirt (luck), flannel plaid shirt, (I need the pocket for my Sat phone and iPhone), red fleece vest and cammo jacket. I don’t wear red because it looks grey like deer at dawn .  I have cammo pants I will wear and prefer the whole cammo ensemble but always have a red shirt or vest I can always show another hunter during the day if I need him to see me when I’m sitting in ambush. 

I’ve got the Ruger 30:06 stainless steel rifle which got nicknamed the Sexcaliber because it was my first stainless steel rifle and it looked so sexy.  I said it reminded me of Excalibur. The girl said, “its so sexy’ .  Bill said, “Sexcaliber!” The name stuck.  

I also have the new single shots Chiappa 20 guage/22 r over under for grouse.  The rifles  ride in the front seat with me.  I have the Nikon 10 -32 binoculars to be able to identify ‘horns’ and to scan the the distance.  My truck is the Ford F-350 Lariat long box.  It’s the best truck I’ve ever had. I have it to haul trailers.  I brought the Adventurer Camper up with it.  I unloaded that at the campsite with water and electricity so Laura has almost all the comforts of home while I’m hunting. 

I’m hunting a half hour to an hour from here.  Sunrise is 630.  So far I’ve been sitting down in ambush by 7 am  Today it was rainy and cold.  Snow had fallen through the night. I was too wet and cold to stay longer than 9 am.  That’s when I began hiking up the mountain, on the logging roads or back along the game trails that run parallel.  It was a terrible slog.  

Hunting is great exercise.  I’m in a boot camp out here. 2 hours straight up, stopping and starting.  Quiet.  Listening. Scanning.  I text Laura my Lat and Long on the Sat phone or cel phone. I get cell coverage when I’m higher.  I love the Iridium feature that sends a location.  I have a Garmin Instinct watch with the GPS.  I like Laura to know where I am. Older I’ve feared waiting for rescue if I break an ankle or drive off a cliff.  

I miss the dog.  He was so enthusiastic.  He’d huddle close in with me in ambush, his little body sometimes shivering with cold , so I’d sneak him inside one of my layers of clothing so we could both be warmer.  When we walked he’d follow on heel. Coming down the mountain I’d let him range out ahead as he sniffed everywhere in search of grouse.

I shot a grouse earlier this weekend. I only got one of five because I didn’t have a dog to find the ones that ran and hid.  Today I saw another grouse but it ran before I could get a shot.  There were three altogether.  Gilbert would have flushed them and I’d have had a shot at one at least in the air. I used to love skeet shooting with my dad. My brother and he used to shoot prairie chickens, our old dog Sonny flushed when I was a child . They were both better than me with shot guns. I’m best with big game long distance shooting today but manage okay with any of the tools for hunting. 

So far this hunt I’ve  done it all, by the book..  Riding around in the truck after 11 hoping to see grouse which come out at that time, between 11 and one or a stray deer. Bear can show up anytime.  I like to explore too since I’m new to this area. 

I loved getting a call from my nephew Andrew and his wife Tanya, and hearing about Finn , now a toddler and explorer. Great to talk to Kevin and Anna and celebrate the new pregnancy and hear about the god kids, a pack my fur baby loved. 

I love the exercise.  I’ve had 2 to 4 hours of hiking each day for three days. Lots of up and down. I’m not a gym kind of guy.  They don’t like me carrying rifles there.  

Even when I don’t get game I’m so happy to find my truck where I left it unharmed. I’ve been lost coming down off mountains and only found my truck the next morning.  That was when I first came to BC ,when I was learning that logging roads were not on the grid pattern so common in the prairies. 

 The coffee was great at noon.  I drove around a couple of hours.  That’s when I saw the grouse.  I’ve only seen deer in the campground and at night coming home. 

With the snow I was exploring where the roads were okay for the morning hunt in mind.  I ‘m afraid of sliding off the road. I’ve had some too exciting adventurers sliding down hills and almost going off cliffs when the snow has made the mountain roads slimy.  I used to have the quad so I could protect the truck.  Now I feel like the old days when all I ever had a was a 4x4 truck. I’m doing a lot more hiking than I did with the quad.  I miss the quad but I only used it a couple of weeks total and storing it was a hassle.  Motorcycles are better but once the snow comes they’re out.  I have chains for my truck tires but I hate lying in the mud putting them on. I also miss my winch. I winced myself back onto the road a few times when I had the HD edition F350.  I hate equipment issues because I’m out here to hunt, not to get my truck out of the ditch.  I’m usually alone and over the years I’ve had to get a wilderness tow truck out to get me in. I tore out a tire and rim on a partially concealed spike and another time sunk into bog that lay under some snow where  the road had been. Now I’m overly cautious. The trouble with an 8 foot box is turning around on a tiny logging road. My Broncho II and the Ranger truck had been better for that.   Sometimes situations just present themselves and it’s that or backing half way down a mountain to find a spot to turn around.

I’ve been getting back around 2 or 3, having lunch and a nap before going out for the evening hunt, watching a hill after hiking a bit then hoping to get grouse driving out before dark.

It’s a routine and a bit monotonous.  It’s exhausting and my whole body hurts.  I’ve taken ibuprofen and Robaxin before bed  Tonight I skipped the evening hunt and barbecued steaks to have a nice meal with Laura.  I’ll be back at it tomorrow. I did get some nice bird pictures today, a Clark’s Nutcracker and a Downy woodpecker.  I put them up on Facebook with whatever I think they are and Rob is nice enough to correct me.  He sure knows his birds. 

It’s a great change from the office.  In my mind I’m running prayers over and over as I sit or walk or drive.  I’m already quieting down. Laura and I feel the relaxation taking over. It’s so peaceful here and so few calls. I have cell but the wifi is only at the office not here which means I’m less likely to work.  I get cell phone connection when I go to town for food or high up in the mountains.  The Sat Phone is really working out well. I’ve not had the Ham radios working out so well - no better than VHS here. Line of sight. I’ve not hooked into a repeater. I’m relearning the tech that I used all the time on the boat.  

It’s all a change.  Exercise is good and I sleep so well. I have wonderful, often heavenly dreams. Lots of people from my past checking in.  Good feelings wakening.  I love the smells out here too, pine and fir.

Hunting is a type of work. The hunter gatherer tribes did about 20 to 30 hours a week hunting.  By the end of the fall I’m hunting full time when I’m out here. My friend in the Yukon said I did pretty good for a city boy. I’ve had good teachers. Older I’m feeling the shift more in the work from desk to outdoors.  

Lots of men and women out here this year. I expect it’s Covid and the costs of food in the country.  Gas prices are awful with more people actually making camp in the deep woods. I come across these great base camps and admire the way different guys and girls have set their sites up.  I’d say I’ve got a skookum arrangement especially since I have the best woman.  I’m missing the dog.  Gilbert was such a good boy.  A puppy should be along before long and ready for next year’s hunt.  

Sunday Morning Hunting, Princeton

It’s pouring down something fierce. I just got in from hunting when the drizzle began.  Laura told me she’d read they were having monsoon wind and rain in Vancouver.

The Maverick camper is leaking.  Laura found the pillow and top of the mattress wet when we woke this morning.  My duct tape and gorilla tape patch wasn’t wide enough. I’d planned to fill the hole with silicone putty today but now I can’t with the rain.  When it lets up I’ll do so and reduce the flow of water into the camper.  We worry about mould.  After hunting season I’ll get it in for a proper repair. I don’t know how the front got bashed.  A bird hitting it seems the best explanation. It was old and second hand.

The rain on the roof is really heavy.  It was cold up in the high country on the KTM 690 this morning. Dark clouds.  Sinister.  I was blessed to shoot a rabbit.  It stopped on the side of the road. I was too far away but blasted it with two barrels of 20 gauge 4 shot.  Then I crawled unceremoniously off my too tall motorcycle, my ballet splits getting better by the day.  I missed Gilbert the cockapoo.  I figured the rabbit was wounded and that it had crawled under a wood pile in the ditch.  Gilbert would have found or flushed it. As it was I went over the side and there sitting still a little ways away was the rabbit.  I blasted it, glad to have reloaded the shot gun.  It was smaller like the grouse yesterday was smaller.  The grouse was a good meal.

When I gutted the rabbit I saw that my shot had taken out the centre like a single shot, I was that close. There were pellets in one leg from I figure the first shot. Three legs and 2 shoulders and 2 thighs were in tact still.. . Not bad. I thought. A 22 would have been better but the 20 gauge is best for grouse.  The year I’d shot a lot of rabbits, a couple of years back, I’d made head shots with the Ruger Mini 14 223.  That turned out to be a perfect rifle for the rabbits that sat on the grass roads way up ahead. If I got any closer they’d spook so the 20 gauge and 22 were not nearly as appropriate.

I was up late and only on the back roads at 830.  A downpour had struck at dawn so I went back to sleep.  I was out riding around the back woods for three hours.  It’s incredibly tiring holding oneself upright off road trying not to slip on the wet and bumping along up and down. I almost lost it twice with riding over wet logs.  The  back end of the bike slid out but I recovered.  I was tired and wet and figured I was pretty exhausted so stopped for a Starbucks cold coffee and a can of sardines.  The drizzle had begun and I rode back doing the greasy gravelly downhill in first gear with back and forward breaks at times.  15 km.  My arms are shaking a bit still.  

Yesterday’s barbecue grouse with Canadian back bacon barbecued on aluminum foil and a 6 egg scrambled made on the inside propane stove with barbecued whole wheat buns was delicious.  I gave Gilbert and George tiny pieces of barbecued grouse and they were both in heaven. Gilbert is accommodating well to being blind, a little over zealous in his new job as guard dog but not too disappointed when I go off alone.  He sure lights up when I return and takes an active tail wagging part in my cleaning and cooking game.  He knows he’s still part of the hunt.  He also knows Laura and George couldn’t defend themselves against zombie attacks without him.  

Now I’m loving the heater and Irish Breakfast tea with honey. Life is good.

It’s Sunday and I found myself thinking a lot about God out riding in the beautiful wilderness. God the creator.  Jesus is such a personal and perhaps community God with the churches.   Jesus helped the fishermen with their catch.  He would help hunters and fishermen.  I prayed for his help and safety. Mostly I was thankful I didn’t crash the motorcycle or go over one of the cliffs..  I wasn’t doing anything silly.  Just putting along watching either side of the road for game and keeping down around 15 km/hr though returning I was doing 25 km/hr.  I feel I’m in God’s creation.  Like a dreamer inside a dream.  

The rabbit was surely a gift.

Thank you Lord.  

Port Alberni - Another day hunting -journal

I did the drill.  Alarm went off at 6 am.  I was up, prayed, made coffee, checked email, got dressed.  Already light out when I carried the gear to the truck. Gilbert really excited.  He's a dawn dog.
Stop at MacDonalds.  Gilbert almost climbed through the window.  MacDonald's is his kind of place.  Even seeing the golden arches gets him excited.  I ordered Sausage Mc Muffin, Hash Browns and large Coffee.  Gilbert had his sausage paddy.  While I like A&W just as much, Gilbert likes the MacDonalds sausage better, not so spicy.  I break it up for him and he eats some and saves the rest.  Always eats his after he sees what he can beg from me first. Definitely not a kennel dog and not one whose lived in a pack.  He's always more on his food when he comes back from spending time with other dogs.  I expect they're happy to share his food if he's not eating it right away.
We drove right up the mountain to the snow. I stopped and glassed a few clearings.  At the snow the road became too dangerous and the fog was too thick so I came down a little lower and parked. Then Gilbert and I hiked tai chi like up another trail.  Wind was in our face.  The gravel wasn't helpful but we really were going quietly. I remember when I wore socks on my feet to be more soundless. I also had some bear paws flannel booties for stalking for a while too.  I don't recall getting anything when I was being that particularly stealthy.  I think it's important to try all these things. I wore deer piss even.  Now I figure it all has helped and mostly I do the main drill and pray.  Quiet and stalk up wind.  Sit a lot.
I found a clearing and we sat for most of an hour.  The fog moved in and I was chilled.  Gilbert leaned his little body next to mine and watched everything.  Then we walked down the hill.  I had put the waypoints into the new Magellan exploits 610 gps   not that I needed them. I had my Iridium Sat phone and if I'd broken a leg or something, could have called in a "medivac' .  Not seeing or hearing a deer I would have liked to contact a satellite and have some in tell on heat sources in the area.
Gilbert was on heel the whole way then half way back to the truck I let him run free.  Off he goes about 50 feet ahead then circles around and does this a couple of more times.  "Look old human, I can really run fast, I'm young and full of energy." Then he's in and out of the side bush running patterns seeking out partridge.
Back in the truck I listened to more of Diana Gabaldon's audiobook,  Lord John and the Hell Fire Club.  I picked this audio book up in a gas station after hearing about her at the Surrey International Writer's Festival.  No wonder the women were all on fire about her writing. It's truly hot.  Great historical fiction with sultry sex and much thinking and talking about sex.  Very fine characterization. Lord John is an 18th century major with sexual issues and very intriguing assignments that really are good stories.  On the way in it was all quiet but on the way out I listened to Lord John stories.
 I'd hoped at least to see a grouse driving around in the lower regions but no such luck. Passed a half dozen other hunters waving at each other as we did.
Then it was back to Hospitality Inn.  The maid was just about to make up my room at 130 pm and I was all set for a nap.  Instead I quickly showered and changed and walked Gilbert down to the Serious Cafe, lovely little coffee shop and restaurant with two delightful pretty waitresses.  I had tied Gilbert outside where he was petted by several passers by.  Otherwise he tried to guilt me with his eyes while I ate a spinach salad and pepper soup followed by a peanut butter bar with a mocha. I knew he wouldn't like any of it but mostly he was upset at not being invited in and given a place at the table. It comes as a surprise to him when he's not treated like the special human he is.
I saw the snowy mountain where I'd climbed and realized I really was high up,  On the ferry over there'd been a lot of college kids with snow boards and skis who I gather were headed up to Mount Washington. I loved skiing that mountain. Though not the height of Whistler it was more fun in many ways because of the rustic backwoods atmosphere.  Gilbert and I liked our walk in Port Alberni but it was great to get back to the Hospitality Suite and lie down and read.
I read and nap. It's a combination activity.  I'm reading Tom Clancy's classic, Debt of Honor.  I'd read it years ago but this read I'm just blown away by the writing more than the brilliant story which had first captured me. He really was a genius of a story teller.  I love his Ryan character and the books of his which feature him are my favourite.
But after a few pages I nap then wake and sometimes Gilbert wakes me. It's 15 minutes on and off.  Now I've just got back from the hot tub and a 12 lap swim.  I could swim more but I bore easily. I do twice the time in the hot tub as I do in the pool.
None of this is exactly earth shattering.  It's rather truly mundane. I don't even think I'll make the evening hunt. I'm feeling lazy and enjoying this Hospitality Suite. A bit like a winter weekend at Harrison's with a bit earlier rising and a lot more hiking and climbing and packing guns and stuff.
I've got to get back to Vancouver tomorrow so I'm going to just get up early tomorrow and hunt on the way back. Tonight I'm going to have another  night roughing it with a room service dinner and a television movie with maybe some more heavy duty napping and reading before I sleep.  Last night the Creamy Pesto Seafood Linguine was superb.
I ve got a ginger ale, an apple and a cadbury almond chocolate bar to consider right now.
I could check into Facebook too.  My nephew may have made another movie.  There's probably some poetry readings, dog wisdom to glean, and then there's the Keira baby.   Amazing how interesting a baby can be when you know the parents. I liked the Fynn when he just had a dog.
What did we do before computers and social media.  I don't remember feeling disconnected.  I went weeks without contacting people and now I'm checking FB and emails daily.  That's a quantum change in the world today.  Right up there with daily hygiene in terms of social revolutions.  
A couple of the pictures here are taken with the iPhone and the others with the new Magellan exploits 610.










 

Pemberton Valley

Pemberton Valley Lodge remains a luxury dog friendly hotel with swimming pool and hot tub. I've been coming here since it opened. Pemberton was the first place I hunted deer in BC back in 1986-87.  I tented a lot in early years along the Hurley River. I stayed in the very basic Pemberton Hotel a few times in colder months but once the lodge opened I've become an autumn regular.  It's Gilbert's third year too.
We drove up in the dark and headed right out to the backwood. Lots of does on the road but the only buck was running away from me on the road and when I stopped the truck he sped off into the woods.  It's been raining heavy so no grouse out on the roads. I've not been hiking much which is rather lazy of me.  Even now I'm thinking of skipping the evening hunt, getting to bed early so I'll be able to get up early again for the morning hunt. I always love morning hunts because I have all day to deal with any game I shoot.  I don't like field dressing deer in the dark with a flashlight and that's what it's ended up with.  I also don't like shooting bear at night nearly as much as the morning.
There's a hot tub and pool here and great television in this room.  Order in Chinese.  Gilbert's had some time running around in the woods.  It's going to be hard to get up after I go for the hot tub. I've got some paper work along too so can easily justify skipping the night hunt.  That's the only downsize about the Pemberton Valley Lodge. Once I get here I don't want to leave.
I stopped at the Pemberton General Store and bought another cowboy shirt.  I love that store.  Every type of clothing for outdoors and all great brands.  I even got birkenstock alpros, the little rain clogs.  I've been happy with my hiking boots with orthotics but only had my leather canoe shoes along to change into. With this rain and the size of puddles these will work a whole lot better and pass as shoes.  Up by Gold Bridge there was snow in the woods and at the Pemberton General Store they already had a great selection of flannel shirts.
Of course I had to stop in at the Spud Valley Sporting Goods Ltd (www.spudvalley.com).  Today I just picked up a couple of the new combination style trigger locks. I've lost the keys to my other trigger locks so like these. Even while I was there another hunter came in looking for a tool to get his trigger lock off, having forgotten his key.  The combination locks are the trick so long as you don't forget the combination.  One time I was there, Brad's wife was near due and now they've another child.  Brad's started doing more fishing guiding under the business name "Pemberton Fishfinder".  (www.pembertonfishfinder.com).  Can't think of a better guy to go fishing with or have as a guide.  He told me they're doing ice fishing in December so I might do that. Haven't ice fished since I did it with my brother and father in Manitoba.  I've not been downhill skiing this last decade but still cross country ski so am thinking Pemberton would be the place to come as a break in winter. I've been horse back riding at Mount Curie but see there's a whole lot more horseback riding in the valley with more dude ranches and tourist attractions. The town is really catering to the back woods tourists with lots of backwoods biking on the trails.
Well I hope I get a deer in the morning and the sun comes out so Gilbert gets some grouse. With the medical conference last week it made for a long week, even though attending courses all day was different from my regular work. I had to work in the evenings and I'm now preparing this presentation so more scientific papers to read and writing to follow. I'll have to brush up on Power Point.
I've been listening to Exit Ghost, the truly brilliant audio novel by Phillip Roth.  As a New York city piece of intellectualism and extraordinary character and city descriptions its been as captivating auditorily as the Pemberton Valley has been visually.  Quite the juxtaposition of extremely different landscapes.  Coupled with that have been all these does showing up and driving poor Gilbert mad as I don't let him out to chase them and all he can do is stare.
Gilbert is a great companion even if he can't discuss the genius of Phillip Roth with me.