Autumn is my favorite time of year. The old carbureted bikes love the cooler air and just seem to have that little bit of extra giddy-up, and my favorite local fishing spots are even more remote and productive. In between a few bouts of heavier rain, the first couple weeks of October this year have been especially great, as I've found time to fit in my two favorite passions numerous times so far...AND, this October has provided us with an extra little bonus as well
Yesterday, after clamping the shield on for the upcoming late Autumn/Winter riding season, I took the old Wing out for a leisurely ride through the local farmlands. Lots of neat little backroads through the rural Eastern Fraser Valley.
Last weekend, the Mrs and I headed out on the Valk to a great little spot about an hour away where they make the best soup. The intention was to head there and back as we rode through the odd sprinkle or two, however after early lunch at the Hope River General Store, the Blue sky began taking over from the Grey so we decided to take a run up the Fraser Canyon to view the remains of what used to be the historic town of Lytton, which burned to the ground this Summer during our record heat wave in July. Kind of an eerie (and sad) feeling riding down main street of a town we've been to and passed through so many times over the decades on our travels up country.
Love this ferry on the Native reserve just outside of Lytton...boats with outboards lashed to the side and back of the ferry to push it across and keep it on line to the other side against the current
A sad sight indeed...
The previous day to our ride up the canyon, I had an outstanding day on my favorite local flyfishing stream...the Skagit River, about an hour and half drive up into the mountains. Eight hours on the river and not another soul in sight. Like riding, I've done this most of my life, and days like this just can't be beat. I liken them very much to long days in the saddle on a completely solo ride...some concentration is required, but the mind and body just fall into a state of total relaxation from the peacefulness that only this type of solitude can provide.
Riding and fishing...what else is there? Why family of course...family bumps even those two lifelong passions into second and third places. The first week of this fantastic October, we got to meet our brand new granddaughter up in the Okanogan (she seems enamored with Grampa's beard)
Thankfully this one's only a few hours North of us instead of 14 hours North like our first, so we'll be seeing plenty of her in person
. Yup, I've been blessed to be surrounded by the fairer sex since hooking up with the Mrs...two daughters, now two granddaughters, and a third granddaughter due next month. Got some new chains for the truck, just in case we need 'em to get over a few mountain passes when we make the long trek up North in November
