Another day

Politics is scared. We just learned that General Milley conspired with the CIA, NSA, Homeland Security and the Communist Chinese Military to overthrow, though ‘underthrow’ would be a better term the President of the the US. Claiming a threat of a ‘right wing coup’ the left wing, with Nancy Pelosi and the California crime syndicates and other democrats literally ran a left wing coup. 

Communist Chinese destroyers are testing the defences off the Alaska coast.

Continued incursions by the Communist Chinese Military into the Taiwan airspace.

All dissent is destroyed in Hong Kong. Tibet continues to be invaded and taken over for Chinese housing.  

Communist Chinese invasion of India remains stopped by Indian troops but the Communist Chinese have not returned to the lines of demarcation before their attack.

More strains of the Wuhan flu lab virus permeate the world. The Latest is the Mu variety.  I have both Pfizer vaccines but a report today says that the Chinese corporations are heavily invested in Pfizer. I don’t know what to believe. I did get my BC Vaccine Passport.

I’ve a weekend of study and recouping. Laura is coming over and will take care of Madigan while I attend the all day conference Anna Borowska is presenting on insomnia.  

I’ve a men’s meeting tonight.

I’ve plans to go hunting again before we go for Allan and Meaghan’s wedding. I’m anxious about the conditions of the roads and the truck since a boulder or pothole caused such damage to the rear of the Camper.  It’s functional and we’ll be able to use it in October for our planned hunt and rest but I’ll have to get body work done in November. 

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, typical for September. More demands. Urgent cases. More paper work demands. More expectations. More consults.  Limited time. I don’t seem to speed up anymore. I don’t miss lunch’s and dinners and work all night to serve the taxation machine. I am trying to stay healthy so I begin to rush and stop myself. I eat lunch .I make coffee.  I walk the dog.  I imagine all manner of people have done this all their lives. It’s odd behaviour for a clinician. I did this when I was on salary in the hospital and had 9-5 jobs.  Canada a country of unions and Beurocrats but I’ve had my private practice for decades with limited breaks from the pressure. All entrepreneurs feel it but live next door to others who may coast given their work and pensions and what’s so difficult is these neighbours have no idea what it’s like for us. The nurses at the hospital actually thought we had the day off after a night on call.  My ex wife called me ‘lucky’ and was disdainful of my success never seeing the truth of ‘genius is 99% perspiration and 1 % inspiration’.  I succeeded where others and failed and found the cure and success because I worked harder and longer.  It’s what I’ve seen in the many above me too.  There’s the Hollywood idea of ‘being found’ but it’s not so easy.

I’m wanting to coast and slow down and take it easy. I’m old enough .  I like cross dressing as ‘play clothing’.  My suits and shirts and even my hunting and sailing and fishing gear are all ‘work’ clothes. I liked 4 inch heels decades ago because ‘you’re not supposed to be walking in them. If you’re walking in them you’re doing something wrong.’  I envy women wearing white.  I am always getting oil grease or some kind of dirt on my clothing. I can’t wear gossamer or silk without having to fix the electrical box or manage the engine in some way.

This last weekend was a fisasco with the camper, electrical failures and dealing with hitches and trucks and ATV’s. I wanted to dress in a skirt anonymous and walk through the louvre looking at paintings. I have been countless times as a doctor called upon to attend emergencies getting blood and dirty and human waste on me while I knelt beside someone who collapse. I imagine all the women dressed in white sometime learned to protect their nails and their clothing.  

I miss working in an office as a secretary.

I miss the acting days and dancing.

I’m at retirement age but continue to work as a doctor and enjoy virtual and being of service and the work. But my ‘life’ remains ‘heavy’. Sailing was always so much ‘work’ and ‘anxiety’. Off shore was glorious but the effort to get their and ship maintenance and all that was involved in staying aware was incredible. I like the attention. I like the activity but the fact is my back hurts and I don’t want to be physically lifting and contorting in spaces with wrenches or learning more about replacing toilets and dealing with flat tires or engine failures. I don’t want to be doing surgery even. I want to write and read and watch. I want to travel.  I’m looking forward to that.

But I ‘d like venison. Madigan and I so enjoyed the grouse we shot.  It was a delicacy beyond compare. I enjoyed so much the preparation and cooking.  It was delicious.

I like photography too.  I did enjoy target shooting. 

My mood is better but I’m uncertain about the world. The election is near and I fear the machine that would keep Communist Dictator Trudeau in power.  

Oh well, work beckons.

God is good all of the time.

Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner.

Protect us Lord from all evil. Thank you for Grace and Love and Joy.  

Saturday Hunt, Success and Failure, God is Good all of the time

At 130 am I awoke in the camper, chilly, with alarms beeping.  I got out of bed.  I found that there was no electricity except enough to power the propane sensor alarm. I went out side and turned off the propane. It didn’t stop the alarm.  I cut the wires.  I can’t stand alarms when I’m trying to think. 

I plugged in the truck cable and ran the truck. Electricity ran to the outside lights of the camper but didn’t do anything to the interior. I flicked the fuses. I pressed the electricity reset. Nothing. I couldn’t look it up on utube because I didn’t have wifi or cell beyond one cell line which allowed me to text the dealer and let him know my situation and ask for advice, knowing I’d get an answer in the morning at earliest

I was delighted to have the manual bar to ratchet down the happy jacks. I”d worried about that as there was no power for them. Having tested I could lower them I was relieved.

It wasn’ that cold. A chill wind but just sweater weather. I used the toilet but without a water pump I had to use a Nestle bottled water to flush.  I climbed back into bed. I was cozy with the comforter and Hudson Bay blanket.  I slept till 730.  I thought of coffee and Macdonald’s breakfast.  I could have gone for a morning hunt but decided I just wanted to get back to civilization.  I’d forgotten to bring my generator and thought I could buy one. I could buy new batteries. I could even drop off the camper and go home.  

I manually lowered the happy jacks.  I unloaded the gear from the Honda 420 Rancher ATV.  I loaded the ATV onto the trailer.  I tied everything down. It was comforting to load the dog into the truck and start her up.  I love my truck.  I drove off with the Argentinian 20 gauge over under and the Ruger stainless steel 30:06 rife. I road hunted back to the high way. It was something.

When I put the rifles in to the camper to drive onto the freeway I found that there was a dim light happening from the overhead and the refridgerator was showing numbers. I’d later realize I’d have to turn the propane on again. I did and fridge was working .In Hope I tried to buy a little generator.  Say 500 or a 1000, something small I could stow in the camper.  All they had were 2000 or more, no different than what I had and had left at home by accident.  I almost bought batteries but decided to wait. It looked like everything was working fine. I’d bought some fuses and a crimper at Lordco along with more flashlight batteries.  I still didn’t have water so I pulled out every fuse and checked it.  The water pump worked.  Don’t know what I did but it all worked now. 

I decided to head to Harrison Lake.  That was in number 2 zone so bucks and grouse were open.  I don’t get much holiday and needed a break so figured I’d continue on.  Mistake.

Somewhere between Lordco and camp I hit a bump and the whole camper smashed down. I didn’t know what it was .  But there was significant damage to the back corner either front the jack catching, it was up higher than the truck under carriage or just from the smashing up and down. The back stay had come off so it wasn’t held down,  

I camped by the river. A nice spot. Unloaded the ATV and packed it for camping.  Madigan was in his glory, jumping up on the seat and waiting there till I was ready to go, guns and packs and spare gas all loaded. Because I had this fear the day before that someone would break into my camper I bfought my laptop iPad and iPhone along with ny passport and vaccine I’d in the bag with me. I tied it onto the back of the ATV.

Sadly the place I ‘d wanted to hunt which I’d hunted in spring was closed. They had a gate up and sign, active logging.  So I drove onto the other logging road. It went right up the mountain and huge ravines were cut to stop flooding. I saw 4 grouse. 2 and 2 more and they all flew up into the trees and from there further.  Madigan liked all the action.

 I rode right up to the top and has the most spectacular view of Harrison lake.  On the way down I saw another grouse and this one I bagged.  Madigan is not ‘with it’ regarding grouse. I had to unleash him from his tangled two point tie downs.  So the bird had stopped flopping around .  I said ‘where is it’….‘git it’….and he didn’t know what I was talking about. I showed him the bird and he stepped on it before looking down and getting really excited,  We’d come across a couple more grouse that ran into the ditch but he wasn’t leaving the road except to follow me. I did but having had to untie Madigan and get the gun, that one was long gone.  

I used the spare gas before heading down. No deer . No bear.  But lots of fun.  Back at the camp I filled the tank and the spare tank and we headed out again, north.

I came across a logging trail which led into lots of bush …I drove through Wisteria/lilac  bushes and vines. I  got down into a river bed in dense woods and bush looking for a place to turn around. I finally did. Night coming on and worried I’d get lost.  Thankfully I found my way back to the road.  I hea ed off full speed on this wide open logging road, almost a gravel highway. The ATV did 60 km /hour on the flat.  I checked one short trail and then saw the river. Magnificent. I was heading up another short trail when I realized my bag with my laptops and passports was gone. It had fallen off. It was dusk already.  I retraced my steps at high speed and thank you Jesus! Hallelujah!, I found it in the deep bush muck I’d struggled through.  The handle on the bag must have  caught on something and pulled the bag out from under bungee cords.  Thank you Jesus!

I was ecstatic. It’s like those nights when I don’t get game but God helps me find my way home. Here was a find better than that. I just thought of all the trouble and cost I’d have losing my computer and passport and vaccine passport.  I was trying to keep it safe taking it with me. Like those times I hide things for safe keeping then can’t find them when I return.  I really felt God was taking care of me. 

It was dusk. I saw more grouse but they were running full blast ,  I had 2 grouse now though. I ‘d found my way out of the deep bush.  I had found back in and found my lap top and passport. Against that was a damaged camper I hope insurance will cover some of.

Along the ride back a guy shouted . I thought I was trailing something or  something was wrong.  Turns out this guy camping with friends are camped on the side of the road. He says, “I just wanted to ask if you had any cocaine. But with a dog I guess you don’t.  We came to party and ran out of stuff.’  I don’t know what having a dog has to do with cocaine but he had the idea that guys with dogs didn’t do cocaine. He had a girlfriend and buddies. 

“No don’t have any cocaine,”. I carried on on the ATV. I prefer natural highs. 

When I got back to the camper, once again, No electricity.

I’m sitting here in the relative warmth. It is warmer down by the lake than it was up at Coquahalla Summit.  It’s really quite balmy. I’m glad I found the candles.  I’d also charged up this iPad off the battery pack.  

The refridgerator is cold. There’s still ice in the freezer. I took out the bread , some drinks and the left over 2 smokies. I put the grouse in the freezer. The latest one’s  not even cleaned .The English weren’t big on cleaning right away. I’ll let it unthaw later.  

I’d thought to do the morning hunt but think I’ll probably do as I am doing mostly these years,  using the last day to pack up and travel,. I’m not far from Chilliwack.  I’m good at packing up. I’m not bothered by anything like I was once, I just go about tasks and solve the problems as they arise.  I don’t catastrophize or even focus on the negatives. It’s just a challenge. I feel when things go wrong like I ‘m back alone on the boat and have to fix it so I can go onl. The camper had been pretty reliable with some little glyches  but this is a major day with damage to.

The grouse are probably $1-2000 each.   What an adventure!.  This weekend seems like weeks of a holiday.  Getting to the tops of mountains on an ATV and seeing the magnificent views is incredible. All the quadding it high concentration and high risk up in the cliffs.  It’s all chiropractic in motion. Looking for deer, scoping hills, enjoying Madigan’s company.  Seeing the joy he takes in everything.  So much excitement.  From Thursday night to Saturday night it was a rush with one event after another and so much action. 

I’m looking forward to getting back to the ‘norm’ of work. I don’t hunt again till October and by then Far Out RV should have fixed the camper electricity.  I’ll have to take it in to Frazerway. They make them so will do a good repair.   I’d not been off the grid without my generator this year. We’ve been staying in sites with electricity.  I think the actually batteries may need replacing or the in-house charger generator or the truck cable connector is faulty too.  

I’ll not forget my generator any time soon.  

 

Friday Hunt

I almost gave up finding this place again. All the construction and changes and big trucks.  It wasn’t at Coquahalla Summit. I turned around and passed Falls Lake where I’d camped.  There it was Britton Creek and Coquahalla Lakes.  I’d found it.  I’d hunted here so many times but not for years.  

I was actually doing the morning hunt too in my truck. I drove too far and ended up deep in section 8 where the restriction is on 4 point bucks. I returned to section 2 and drove the road that runs along the border of the two areas.  There was a 10 KM Parking Lot Recreation Site which I eventually came back and set up at. I could return to section 2 and there was some wonderful hunting areas in 8.  Towing a trailer I was thankful for the space 

I unloaded the ATV from the trailer then loaded it up ‘for bear’.  I had my Argentinian over under 20 gauge and the Ruger 30:06 stainless steel. The sun was hot and I went in a tshirt with a vest for pocket.  

I started on the snowmobile trail but it was so spooky , rolling and rocky, it demanded all my attention. I systematically explored the logging roads off the main for the next 10 km.  

On one of them I saw a grouse.  I stopped the ATV. Lifted up the 20 gauge. Thought of letting Madigan off his back seat leash then changed my mind and stalked up the road loading the shot, going into the bushes where it had run,  It suddenly appeared and I blasted it, shooting over the head so I’d get the least pellets in the meat. I went back for Madigan and he came to see it.  I lifted it up and the blood dripped from the head.  Genetics and breed.  He was ecstatic.  Jumping up and down. After I cleaned it leaving a wing on for identification he wouldn’t stop licking blood off my hand..

We came back to the Camper at 1 pm. I napped. He napped.  I was so tired I didn’t make a sandwich but just had granola bars.

In the evening I headed over to section 2 and sought bucks and grouse. I actually did the evening hunt. I’ve yet to get off the ATV and walk.  I’ve yet to sit in ambush. But for a first day I did my due diligence I was out in the woods where I could shoot game. I was travelling the deepest backwoods on the ATV. I was stopping and scoping. 

I shot a grouse. 

My dog, already a gun dog, is now a bird dog. His first birthday is next week. He’s a really good dog,

Now night is upon us and we’re back in the camper. I’ve got smokies boiling.  There’s a really chilling wind and some sprinkle of rain and I didn’t feel like getting out he barbecue.  I’ve fresh bread.  Smokies with mustaard and bread and potatoes I’ll have with butter and sour cream is pretty decent meal

Thank you God that we stayed safe and despite the dangerous outback areas and the gnarly quadding we retured alive and un maimed. Thank you for the grouse.  Thank you that our gear was here when we returned, Truck and camper and trailer all safe.  Thank you that I found my way out of the woods in the dark. Thank you for Madigan a great companion. Thank you for a spectacular day of hunting.

Falls Lake turn around

10 Km Parking Lot Recreation Site

Falls Lake Turn Off

I missed the Coquihalla Summit turn off. This whole area is built up with so many big trucks.  There’s even a new parking lot for  truckers to stop. I’m surprised there’s not a restaurant up here. But I guess it’s just a place where people take a nap break.  Lots of lights. Much much more activity that I remembered from before when I came here. It was called ‘tool gate’ then.  It was dark and busy.  I pulled off at this Falls Lake turn around and checked the gps. Apparently I’d passed it 6 miles back.  I was tired. 

It’s been a long time since I pushed myself after a day of work and headed up country. I was doing fine till I got to the Agazziz turn off. I felt I was being pulled to go to Harrisons while I was thinking and wanting to go to toll gate.  I pulled off the road and made a turkey sandwich I shared with Madigan.  He’s such a good companion.  I’d been looking for a burger place but hauling a trailer I wasn’t comfortable parking in the A&W and gas station lot after I filled up with gas. 

After I had the turkey sandwich and a Monster drink I felt better. But then I couldn’t find the road that took me back onto the highway.  I had to turn around at the first dead end , not too difficult but the second dead end was a killer.  I was jockeying back and forth trying not to hit a guys mail box on one side of the road or go over into the ditch with the trailer on the other side of the road.  I’m amazed I did get turned around it was such a tight space .  I next ended up having turn around at the entrance to a native land reserve.  Three dead ends before I found my way back onto the highway.  An hour of being ‘lost’.  

I’d already lost an hour caught in the traffic jam at Langley. I was behind a huge flatbed hauling steel rods.  Twice the driver appeared to fall asleep and roll backwards. I reacted thinking I was rolling forward then hit the reverse a bit while slamming the horn. It happened once again and then I just hit the horn and after that took the HOV lane to get out from behind him.  I figure I gave a fright to the guy behind me when I backed up.  

Now I’m here.  On the side of road outside Falls Lake. Unfortunately I read up on the area and there was an advisory of theives in the Falls Lake region breaking into hikers cars.  They advised again leaving things in the car. That got my catastrophising mind going and immediately I missed Laura.  She so often stays at the camper when I head out and her presence ‘protects’ the ‘stuff’.  Of course she has a rifle herself and phone but while she’s afraid of bears and stays inside mostly I’m afraid of human theives. They’re not dangerous but prey .  So while I was driving up Coquahalla amidst all the big trucks I began lamenting the decline of government and law and order and miss Laura and wonder what the hell I was doing taking risk. I began thinking of having a house again. But when I lived in Shaughnassey theives broke in three times.  All the neighbours had been broken into.  Vancouver is a drug addict city of theives and insurance companies.  I began to worry how much my insurance premiums would pay back if my camper was pillaged.  I have an extra gun and I have a computer lap top and hand held Hamm radio. It would be several thousand to replace gear if I was broken into.  

Worrying is praying for negatives.  So there I am now driving in the dark up a mountain praying vigorously to block my catastrophising mind.

Jesus said ‘do not be afraid.  So as I told my sailing buddy, ‘worrying is wicked’.  Of course when we got into a tight spot in a blow and I was bailing the cockpit he grinned and asked “are we wicked yet’.  I was getting wicked as the night was falling and the wind was rising. I really was thankful to get to a safe harbour that night.

Now here I was wicked again and trying to block my thoughts with ‘all shall be well’ and ‘god is good all of the time.’

Only Falls Lake the turn around I pulled off at turned out to be the place where the thieves were reported.  

I put the struts out on the camper and having walked madigan climbed into bed for a great sleep.  

I woke at 430 and years younger I’d have headed out finding a camping place and starting the hunt. I rolled over and went back to sleep and woke again at 6. I’ve found coffee and made it on the stove top expresso and dressed. I’m feeling better now. But my dream is touring in my camper but I have to consider planning for possibility of theft.  Then I thought of my country homestead where I’d put in various protections. Even now I have motion detections lights. I once had motion alarms. I’ve got interactive cameras and want to get something for this camper.  But how to get such a thing outside internet range.  Still I don’t like theives and now it’s light and I’m missing Laura.  I don’t think there’s much risk from other people but the whole snatch and grab fold and the drug addicts and the light laws and the present government soft attitude towards criminals all work against property protection. 

There’s an election coming.  I am hopeful but was so disappointed the last two elections that I wonder about leaving the country. That’s my aging fear. Watching the abysmal way our government treated seniors during Covid was shocking. I fear aging and physical decline. I sometimes think the whole city girl gossip hanging out as a tribe with others is the way to go.  I have depended on my ‘manliness’ and ability to defend myself all my life but now ‘manliness’ in Canada is called ‘toxic masculinity’ and if you defend yourself you are the aggressor. Our PM who claims to be a feminist but is as borderline and gaslighting as they come says ‘if you kill your enemy they’ve won’.  What dribble.  I have thought long and hard about self defence and know that Jesus’s followers were armed. Fisherman always are.  Peter cut off the fellows ear. 

Even the Buddhist non aggression has three groups. Those who don’t eat meat at all. Those who eat meat if someone else kills it and those who eat some meat.  I studied the Chinese communists (the religions of aetheism) attack on Tibet and when the most peaceful monks were killed the B team of Buddhists picked up the left over English 303 and fought the Chinese machine guns with them. I enjoyed the fortress in Cambodia.  I’ve visitted Meteora and Cappadocia.  The Somalian Cabinet minister asked what he would do if he wasn’t reelected in Canada said he’d go back to his home in Somalia. So many of the Canadian politicians aren’t Canadian and the PM is anti Canadian claiming to be a ‘transnational’. Meanwhile I’ve nowhere to go.

I enjoyed meeting a Jain and loved worshipping with the Quakers. But I long ago figured that if a person was going to kill me letting him would make him a murderer so if I cared for his soul even I’d defend myself. If he died and I lived then so be it.  Of course there was the risk of both of us dying if I defended myself but in the past I’ve been able to stop assailants who would have killed me and lack morals and ethics and we both lived.  I’m not sure I can save myself without killing the assailant in a struggle now I’m older. We joke and say at our age there is no ‘second round’ so we have to end the fight in the first round.

So that’s what I wake with. Anxiety about possessions and theives.  Consumer world.  So many years of works three jobs to have the ability to be here where I am with what I have and I wonder about ‘safety’.  If I holed up in my bed it wouldn’t be any safer.  Yet so many of my patients do that.  Fetal position for days.

Anxiety.  

Anxiety is a measure of my distance from God.  Time to pray. Time to go too.  I’ll see if I can find the turn off at Coquahalla Summit .

Working between hunts

I love the bow hunt for the joy of the season.  Walking in the woods in the fall carrying a bow with a dog trailing along has always been uplifting for me. I rarely succeed in actually bagging anything but love the excuse to get out and enjoy fall season.  It was always a time for hunting with my father and brother and the dog growing up too.  Sept 10 is when rifle season opens.  It was the time we hunting prairie chicken out east. Now I’m looking for grouse and deer.  I’ve become older too. Older than when I hunted with my Dad. I’m actually older and still hunting than all those ‘older guys’ I hunted with.  I have a Honda 420 ATV so do more driving about on logging trails than actually stalking and sitting like I did younger when I shot a lot of game. 

Laura and I had a 5 day weekend, getting back on Tuesday so I could do a couple of days of work before heading out again. I brought the truck and camper and trailer into town so I don’t have to load them.  That’s a real blessing since gearing up takes at least a half day. I’d hoped to get away tonight but the wifi guy is coming this afternoon and I need the wifi to be working well for work so I’ll get away later.  I’m really looking forward to shooting a grouse and seeing Madigan become a full fledged bird dog.

I was reading Burton Cummings stories and enjoying them. I thought though how I’ve kept an open journal transparent about my thoughts and feelings. I liked reading the FB meme ‘everyone is a little screwed up in their head, it’s when you’re screwed up in your heart that you’re a piece of shit.”  

I’m feeling a little dissociated . Not quite in the flow. I find myself looking at my ADL’s like another person was doing them. I pray and meditate but there’s not the ‘passion’.  Just a lot of going through the motion. It’s been like that with Covid and the Lockdowns and now the Vaccine Passport.  So much skullduggery.  So much confusion.  The industrial ‘push’ of the Covid 19 with FB ‘attaching’ a ‘truth’ notice whenever Covid is mentioned, pharmacies always having some mention of it. Lots of virtue signalling. An election is going on but after the media corruption and election fraud of the US and Trudeau buying CBC I’ve become fearfully apathetic. 

I’m aging and there is a sense of marginalization.  I enjoy costume and dress. I walk around anonymous whatever I’m wearing. I remember my friend who dressed as clowns and animals and how as kids we did ‘guerilla theater’ and laughed so much.  I miss theatre and dance now that I’m older. I’ve given my life in service  and done my duty and answered my calling and done service. But now I’m on the cusp of retirement wondering how many more years I can do this. I’ve only short tern goals. 

I have Aberdeen to visit. I want to take my camper and drive about the US like ‘travels with Charlie’ and ‘black like me’.  I like the RV world.  I’ve a hankering to sail again. The inside passage on the east coast, changing my 40 foot boat to a 26 foot boat that would be more maneuverable.  

I ‘m very thankful for all I’ve had in life and the older I am the more appreciate the blessing of my parents and my teachers and friends and family.  Time to get ready for work.  In a few hours I’ll be in my truck hopefully heading out on the highway for another hunting adventure.  

Thank you Lord.

Hunting weekend, Similkameen River, Riverhaven RV Park

Laura makes me feel ‘manly’.  I enjoying camping and hunting and feeling no shame in masculinity.  Toxic feminists seem to breed in the urban cafe but dwindle out where masculinity is appreciated.  Laura loves being in the camper and Madigan and I love being out on the Honda ATV in the woods.  It’s a lot of work to manage all the aspects of daily living. Water systems, heating and refridgeration, automotive, community, electricity, sewage.  It’s a whole different thing to be sitting in a space station city apartment with all the services vaguely ‘miraculously there.”

We’re not roughing it by any means. Laura stoically joined me for all the tenting days when I’d leave her with a rifle and go off bear hunting in bear country.  She stayed in the truck one time. Another time a freak snow storm collapsed the tent roof and I found her sitting inside beside the heater read. She loves to read.  Another time while myself and the guys were out hunting grouse one landed on the picnic table and she shot it with her 22.  We were skunked and she had the grouse.  

I love this Riverhaven RV Campground. It has all the services, electricity, city water supply, sewage.  We can also access the ATV trails and back woods off the RV site.  There’s a beach and all the kids are down there all day. Yesterday was hot and sunny. I’d thought to jump into the cool stream but missed my opportunity. Today it’s overcast. Lots of folk are down swimming and playing by the water. But I’m passing. I only like cold water when it’s hot and sunny outside. I did just get out of a heavenly hot shower in the Adventurer camper. I love the Adventurer Camper.  

It was all day getting out here on Thursday. We had errands in the morning, and had to load the camper at John’s.  I also had to hook up the Lowe’s Store Utility Trailer with the Honda 420 Tracker ATV.  There’s keys and locks for everything so it’s always a mental Alzheimer’s test trying to remember all the details.  I keep meaning to get a flight checklist but forget to do it only to have to remember again next time.  We’d stopped at Cabelas on the way out only to find there was almost no ammunition.  None for my rifles.  Thankfully I found what I wanted at Canadian tire.  30:06 180 grain Nussler Partition.  What a find? I bought four boxes.  I’ve not been able to find any for a year but luckily have had leftovers from previous years.  The 300 Win Mag Short is all sold out too.  

It’s bow hunting, dear and elk but rifle for bear hunting. I found the bear banger gifts but the ammo was sold out.  I got a solid lock for the new electric bicycle. I hadn’t brought the Vespa so if we didn’t have something we’d have to do with out.  I was thinking this when we got to Hope to provision.  At Chilliwack we noticed the price of gas is way up.  Being older and knowing the country before Trudeau’s waste and mismanagement I remember $100 paid for a weekend of gas. Now it’s more like $400. All the food prices have gone up too because of all the taxes on primary processes and inflation.  I’m okay.  I’m still working yet I no longer feel clean paying taxes. Paying the terrorist ten million dollars for killing the American medic never sat well with me. When my taxes went to roads, defence and hospitals I was okay. Not okay but now it’s scandalous.  All the people who don’t work and don’t want to work are being rewarded and we’re suffering more and more taxes and less and less income. Same with legal gun owners, high costs and impeccable behaviour while the criminals get a pass from the government. 

Oh well, I’m far from the maddening crowd.  I love it here. Families and children and no loud music. A really well run campground.  Lovely owners.  So helpful. 

At Hope I really loaded a lot of food.  People are stockpiling canned food again as fall is coming on and more and more shortages are appearing in the stores.  Other than ammo we’ve been fortunate.  I’ve used Amazon to get some sweet items for camping.  Motion sensitive portable lights.  Also a soft Kolpin ATV gear bag seat that’s just skookum.  I like Kolpin.  

The ride up through Manning Park was a delight on a sunny day.  It wasn’t at all like the smoky surreal world I passed through last month. There was still some smouldering fire at East gate. There had been major flames before and black billowing smoke. Now it was just a little grey smoke.  A last stop at the Princeton store for sandwich meats. That’s all I’d forgotten at Hope.

The refridgerator is working well again thanks to Nick at Far Out RV in Hope.  

We finally made it to Riverhaven at dusk. A beautiful river side site. Lots of room. I was able to put the trailer beside the Camper and Ford F-350.  We’d had MacDonald’s from Hope so weren’t hungry. I did eat a cold cheese burger left over and that satisfied me. Laura wasn’t hungry after the quarter pounder late afternoon. It was so quiet and the stars were out.  

Madigan cried half the night. He wanted to be on the bed. He was bored. He was upset. I woke at 2:30 am with a cramp, took him for a walk and downed several Alleve.  I slept in. 930 am.  

Yesterday was a great day.  I actually went through all the gear and sorted it out.  It’s the first day of hunting and it’s always like this. I did get the net tent up.  Laura doesn’t like mosquitoes so I got this skookum net tent with bright lime roof. Caravan Canopy Screen House10 ft by 10ft. I put it up myself. Only takes one person. Modern design and really light weight. I love it. Laura loves it. 

When I was all set up I headed out with Madigan on the ATV.  I had to go through a rancher’s field and open and close the barb wire fence.  Magpies and steller’s jays were in the trees. Maybe even a whiskey jack. I’d see all of those and more.  Lots of birds. We stopped where we did in the spring. Madigan is fine with rifles. I sited in the Ruger and it was good enough. Nice pattern a hundred years. A couple of inches high and to the right.  It was okay.  I tried the old and new ammunition and it was okay.  Then I shot an arrow from the Excalibur hitting in the second ring from bullseye, first shot standing, 30 yards. Good enough.  Madigan was having fun running around off leash.  

I just rode the Honda 420 all over the mountain.  I saw a rabbit.  I raised a covey of grouse and got pictures.  Grouse season opens in a week. I saw one doe climbing up the mountain.  No bear.  Lots of cows. I was surprised by two beautiful young women in a Jeep wearing cammo. I’d not heard them as the ATV motor the Jeep’s quiet engine. They stopped and smiled and we shared about seeing lots of cows. I don’t know if they were hunting but they could have been. First time then for me seeing two girls out hunting together.  Always two or more guys or a couple.  I came across them again near dusk when I was heading back. I’d stopped to scope a  black lump on a mountain side. They passed me while I was stopped. 

It was 8 pm when I got back.  Dark. I barbecued some steaks and we used the cold salads I’d bought in Princeton. A lovely meal.  Not much longer we were in bed and Madigan slept well.  The park was really quiet. I ‘d walked Madigan before I went to bed around 10.  Everyone was turned in by then except for a couple of campsites where folks were sitting around the dead fire pit talking quietly. There’s a fire ban. Madigan slept and I slept and Laura slept. It was a glorious sleep.

This morning I was up at 6 am but I didn’t get going till 7:30.  Dawn was 630 . Supposed to be in position ready to ambush the dear at dawn.  I actually got up the mountain and find a place to watch for deer.  Madigan was learning how to walk behind me and did his best to sit still. Not very good. He would get 3-5 minutes before his attention broke and he had to look at something or chew a pine cone or climb on me. He did well. Normally I’m meditative and don’t move at all waiting for deer.  I was distracted but last an hour and a half before I got back on the ATV.  I drove all over the mountain after that. I stopped to let Madigan have some pond water. I had a couple of stops for coffee. Scanning the valley an clearings.  It was chilly at first but warmed up.

More grouse.  a Rabbit .  Doves. No elk, deer or bear.  But. I was there.

I came down the mountain after noon.  It feels safe here and I didn’t mind leaving stuff on my ATV. I put the bow and rifle in the locked truck but didn’t feel the need to unload.  I’d just put a tarp over the ATV the night before and found nothing disturbed in the morning.

I’d been hankering after eggs and bacon so barbecued some back bacon while Laura made scrambled eggs. We ate together outside under the Screen Tent. 

I had a lovely shower.  It’s so dusty on the back trails.  I loved getting clean.  

Now I’ll head up for evening hunt in an hour or two.  I might have a nap first. It’s so peaceful here.  

Riverhaven RV Park, Hedley , BC - Glamping!

Glamping Hunting! That’s as best a description I can come up with for this last 5 days.  Riverhaven RV Park is a glorious find on the Similkameen River. The owners are a delight. Everything is proper. Cute little cursive signs “Beach”, “Dog walk”.  There’s even a horse shoe pit and a place for children to play.  It’s compact but takes double trailer pull through.  I remember the first time I came a decade or more ago I had to use the pull through because I didn’t know how to back up a trailer. The new owners still helped me guiding me in backing up my F350 and Adventurer Camper  and ATV hauling utility trailer   last year.  We in the spring. We’re coming back again later in the fall.  I’ve got the hang of backing up with the utility trailer finally. 

It’s quiet. Beautiful spruce and pine and only the sound of the Silmikameen River after 10 pm. Children playing on the sand beach and dogs on leash.  Everyone friendly.

Meanwhile I’m the killer among them. At least the ‘wannabe killer’.  A trail off from the park connects to endless miles of forest service road and trails.  I must have done a couple of hundred at least this week .  I had my green Honda 420 Rancher literally loaded for bear.  My Ruger Stainless Steel 30:06 on the front rack alongside the Excaliber cross bow.  Black bear season for rifle was open along with bow season for elk and deer.  I had the new Kolpin soft back seat and bag  which Madigan ,the cockapoo could very comfortable.   I tied on the cased Nikon camera at the front and wore a GoPro camera on my helmet too.  

The first day I did hours of afternoon ATV road hunting.  I had to pass  through the barb wire fence, mounting, dismounting, moving the ATV and remounting,   opening and closing the gate so the cattle didn’t get out.  Up the mountain in a clearing, I sited in my Ruger again. I was using Federal 180 grainNosler Partition ammunition.   A few expensive shots confirmed I was shooting true.    On first shot with the Excalibur I hit one inch from the centre at 50 yards so didn’t spend any more bolts. Razor blade pointed bolts are expensive but the weight affects the shot. I target practice with a standard bolt but shot one of the heavier deer killing bolts to confirm accuracy.  Madigan wasn’t at all bothered by the noise , happily running alongside me back and forth between the target and the ATV.  My little cockapoo was in dog heaven.

I saw lots of grouse. Whole coveys.  Madigan was riding behind me on the soft Kolpin seat with a leash from either side of the back ATV rack connecting to his red harness.  When I’d stop I’d let him off to sample cool creek water then he’d bound up to take his seat again.  “Let’s go.” His expression always said.  The pines and spruce were glorious against the blue sky with the mountain ranges rippling like huge waves out to the horizon.  A few white clouds drifted by. I love this time of the year. I was only in my new khaki ‘tactical’ cargo pants , a Harley tshirt and a vest. Later I’d wear the blue jean jacket coming down the mountain.

I was up at 630 dawn but didn’t get away till 8 the next day. The next day it was a 730 start and finally I was able to get away at 630.  I doddle in the morning. Love my stove top expresso.  If it weren’t for my cheerleader Madigan I’d crawl back into the warmth and joy of bed with Laura. Madigan now that he knew what was coming was whining to get going at 600.  My thermos is critical and hand ful of Nature Valley crunchy granola bars. And yoghurt. I popped some Aleve but while my back had been more painful when I arrived, the relaxation and  the rolling camel ride motion of the ATV, like my offshore sailing ship, loosened me up more than a chiropractor. I slept like a dream too.

I enjoyed meeting the father and son. The boy must have been about 10 or 11 yo.  They were both dressed in cammo and the father was on the ATV. The boy had a tripod and 22 rifle and just missed a grouse when I came along. The proud father said, “He got his limit yesterday.”  It was youth grouse season. I missed  the year when we could hunt grouse with bow as well as deer. It cost a lot in bolts but I did bring home some grouse. I only saw one buck this year. I thought it was a buck . I was driving about the back trails slowly on the ATV when I saw it and thought I glimpsed a spike horn.  That’s where I’d come the next day.  For bow hunting you really need to sit by a deer trail.  I drove 27 km back into the woods that day enjoying the weather though it’s was a cooler overcast day.

The next morning heading back to the same spot I saw the deer, finally having got away at dawn, I’d surprise a big cougar. I was creeping along the back trail when this beautiful animal came up out the ditch and turned around after almost running into the front of the ATV.  Not more than 20 feet away in the ditch it turned around again and we stared at each other. I was thinking whether to grab the rifle or the camera but believed cougar season wasn’t till November.  I’ve never shot cat but ate delicious cougar when I was a flyin doctor in the Yukon.  I had a tag but reached for the camera rather stupidly unafraid.  I am a predator and he recognized it. I suspect he was equally curious about the little excited quivering puppy behind me, some sort of human dog cyborg ATV machine.  I couldn’t get the camera out fast enough but watced him slink so gracefully back into the spruce.

I left the ATV where I’d spooked the deer and walked a few hundred yards along the  trail to where I had a good view down the mountain ravine deer trail.  I had my rifle  filled with ammo and had cocked my bow and loaded an arrow. I had my Nikon P2000 telephoto. I had my thermos and pocketful of Nature Valley granola bars. I sat down with my back to a tree and tied Madigan to my leg. The day before he’d only been able to be still for 3 minutes not at all ‘getting the quiet still waiting game of the ambush’.  This day he was magnificent. A couple of hours passed as I dosed in the heat of the morning sun. I drank a couple of cups of thermos coffee and shared some crunchy granola with Madigan who was mostly content to chew sticks and listen and watch.  What a great little hunting dog companion!

At a bout 10 am we walked back to the Honda and loaded up.  More roaming about and exploring. Such beautiful country. Normally I drive on the main at about 20 to 30 km per hour in 3rd or 4th gear while in the back trails I crawls along between 5 and 10 in 2nd or 3rd gear.  I confess on the main logging road I enjoyed at times gunning it finding I could do 55 km/hr in 5th gear easily. I loved deep breathing too smelling the rich aroma of cut logs when I passed active logging sites. The smells in the woods are incredible. Here and there a touch of smoke scent still from the old forest fires of the summer. Then the musky marshy smells by the rivers.  The outdoors is such nose and eye candy. I loved it.

I loved all the birds, magpies, whiskey jacks, falcons, hawks, crows, stellar jays, chickadees. 

Each day I’d come back around 3 and plan for an evening hunt but after lunch and a nap I’d rather hang out at Riverhaven with Laura. She’d spent the day puttering and reading. . I’d put up the Caravan Mesh Screen Tent so we sat outside for dinner and reading. There were very few bugs this time of year and the screen tent kept the rare ones away.    Because all the kids were doing it and an our neighbour had a blow up dinghy, everyone one seemed to be down on the beach playing in the water, I actually put on the Tevas and bathing suit did too. I walked in the shallow water out into the middle of the stream where the chill water was above my neck.  They’d walled off a shallow area with rocks so thanks to the foot wear I was able to walk over that and enjoy the brisk mountain stream cool rush.  I completely immersed and it felt so good but I didn’t linger. Back in the camper I showered and shampooed with hot water.    I love this glamping!

I’d brought the new Motorino folding electric bicycle and rode it down the highway to the provincial park.  Mostly tents with the occasional small RV compared to Riverhaven with only a few tents and mostly buses and fifth wheels. Each night I’d walk the dog around the campground and look at the neighbours. People mostly barbecuing in the evening or sitting about chatting. One older couple were watching a wide screen tv that opened out of the outside wall of their big bus. They were sitting in lawn chairs and I didn’t hear any sound so expect they had it connected to hearing buds.  The provincial fire ban had been lifted so several had campfires going and marshmallows roasting. 

Laura and I read after dinner but as I had to be up early we were in bed by 10 pm.  It was wonderful to lie in the comfort of the camper queen bed looking up through the sky light at the stars poking out amidst the tall spruce trees.  I sleep so well in the country and have the best dreams of my favourite peninsula and the mansions and meetings.  

It’s been a spectacular 5 days.  Bowhunting with Laura has always been sweet with beautiful company and glorious BC fall weather and the dog.  Riverhaven RV Park with electricity, city water, sewage, wi fi and cell service has been more Glamping than Camping. I was even able to do some work though I wasn’t able to load the large company files only keep up with social media and emails.  Because everyone was using it loading pictures took too long for my patience. I did down load another western from Kindle when I finished one.  I expect some of the kids were streaming movies and games.  I expect God stopped Oscar loading to keep me from working all weekend.  Without the main program and the ability to fax in prescriptions I just took the calls and saved the work till I got back phoning pharmacies as needed. It really wasn’t onerous sitting in this heavenly campground. Several of the neighbour men were obviously doing some executive work at their camp tables with laptops, someone having to pay the outrageous high price of gas taxation.  It takes money to haul these homes about even if it is wonderful to have all the comforts of home in the great outdoors. 

Each night I barbecued . Laura made up salads. We had barbecue chicken which Madigan loved, pork and steak.  We had Hagen daz ice cream bars for after dinner.  Sleep was glorious. 

Now its time to pack up. Not much to dismantling camp. The natives in the old days could have their teepees down and horses loaded in an hour or two  and that’s about how long it takes us. I enjoy the moseying about, no hurry.   I used to go for a morning hunt on the last day but now I don’t.  I m just so glad to be off the clock and a way from the rush and pressure of work. Laura loves being out of the city where the Covid downtown is always angry with sirens and windows being kicked in.  She says there’s shouting all night and she loved the relaxation and quiet here and her wonderful sleep.  

Thank you God for a grand place and a fantastic holiday.