A Ride, etc. report ... One Summer Day in BC

[msb]

Every once in a while, circumstances fall just right for that "perfect" day to come together. Since moving out to our new home this past Spring, all of our favorite recreational pastimes are right outside our door...with no cities or even large towns, or urban sprawl & excessive traffic to inhibit our quest for outdoor activities. Today was such a day that things worked out as such ... a "Trifecta" of sorts where myself and the Mrs were able to pack a full weekend into one beautiful Summer day.

FIRST UP ... an early 4 AM wake-up call for me to head out to my favorite trout stream, the Skagit River, for some solitude and my "other" pastime, fly-fishing. The Skagit is unspoiled and remote ... a stream that is buried in the mountains on the Canadian side (runs into WA where it turns into a much larger river) and contains wild rainbow & bull trout. Mostly the rainbow that I fish for on the dry fly...typically anywhere from 12" to 16". On a light #3 weight setup, these fish are a real challenge to land....if you can find 'em and entice 'em. Not always easy, but the beauty and remoteness (and just the anticipation of hooking into one) is more than enough to keep me coming back to this place...now only a couple of hours up the mountain from home.

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There's one   I've lost more fish...and a couple of cell phones over the years trying to get photos of fish on when I'm on my own...
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A nice 14" -er...pretty much all Rainbow caught in streams in the Summer are catch & release only
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SECOND UP ... a Ride!!  Arrived home in the early afternoon to pick up the Mrs and change gear to head out for a run up the Crowsnest Hwy out through Manning Park. This is a great route through the mountains, with cliffs, hills on one side and parts of the Skagit, Sumollo, and Similkameen Rivers running along the other side.

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This is Sunshine Valley... for years it was absolutely guaranteed that when you hit Sunshine Valley from either direction...coming or going... the weather would be miserable - even if you were coming from beautiful weather in the interior or from the coast..."Sunshine Valley" would be anything but. Upon entering, it would automatically turn to rain, wind, sleet, or snow...and then clear up again when you rode out the other end. For the past 2 years however, I can't say I remember one time it hasn't actually been ... Sunny!!  Weird ... it must be "climate change" 
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Pulled off into one of the many Provincial campsites in Manning Park to enjoy a bit of lunch, and cool down along the Similkameen River. This is one of the sites we'll be spending weekends at once we pick up our new off-road travel trailer in a few weeks time

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Probably should have brought the swimsuits...sure looked inviting...
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Picking up an iced coffee at the Blue Moose Cafe in Hope... no doubt the best coffee of any cafes we frequent on our local rides 
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Hope is about an hour from home, and has a few "claims to fame", including Chainsaw Carving Capital of BC ... or is it Canada... (I'm sure many other rural communities make this same claim accross the country)
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THIRD UP...completing the "perfect day"...the Trifecta. Arrived home around 6:00, in time to change gear once again, pack some dinner, and hop in the Mrs's Miata to head to Green Point on Harrison Lake for a swim, snooze, and to watch the sun set. We truly feel blessed to have been able to make the move out to the Kent/Harrison district... right smack dab in the middle of all we like to do
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A great day...but I'm tired. Funny, ever since I turned 60 last year I have this urge to fit as much into my days as possible....the Mrs thinks I'm crazy.
Looking forward to Sept 15 when we ride out to Grand Forks BC to meet up with our Valhalla Riders gang that we rode to Inzane with this year for a few days...should be good for another Ride Report

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for sharing.   

Any brown bear around your fishing spots?

[DDT (12)]

Great report, Mike! I like the way you capture the mood of the outing and the 'feel' of the scenes... Beautiful country up your way! Congrats on finding such a splendid area to call home.

DDT

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very nice ! You are indeed blessed. 

[Oss]

That is some beautiful country. You certainly are making your own memories and taking the Mrs. along just makes it even better I'm sure.

Thanks for sharing your part of the world with us

Oss

[robin]

Great report Mike that looks like some beautiful country thanks for sharing your day

[JimC]

I like to feel that any day spent on this side of the grass is a good one.
BUT, I have to admit that a day like you just described is as close to great as you get.

Thanks,
Jim   

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Thanks for taking the time to share ... Great pictures 

[pocket aces]

Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing your day with us. 

[3fan4life]

That is certainly some beautiful country! 

[Ken Tarver]

Livin' the dream.......beautiful

Ken

[BCoy]

  Great place to live, I love the trout fishing myself. What a great weekend for sure. 
ride safe
Bill

[Beardo]

Looks like a great day Mike. Thanks for sharing. 

[NewValker]

Yup, you crammed that day full of fun! Good for you!
Craig

[msb]

Any brown bear around your fishing spots?

Black bears, Jess. I've definitely seen 'em and know they've seen me, but in all the years I've been going up the Skagit Valley I've never had an encounter with one. Guess they figure us poor fishermen are just no threat to their fishery so they leave us alone 

[Jess from VA]

I picked up my .44 Ruger 3-screw Super Blackhawk with full tie-down buscadero holster and bullet loop belt from my CMSgt who had worn it fishing while stationed on active duty in Alaska .

$175 for the whole deal was a good deal even in 1988.



I remember asking him if the fish were really that mean up in Alaska.  

 

[msb]

Great place to live, I love the trout fishing myself. What a great weekend for sure. 
ride safe
Bill

Bill, I'm always willing to share my favorite fishing spots with friends, so if you're ever thinking about a visit to BC....

[desertrefugee]

I picked up my .44 Ruger 3-screw Super Blackhawk with full tie-down buscadero holster and bullet loop belt from my CMSgt who had worn it fishing while stationed on active duty in Alaska .

$175 for the whole deal was a good deal even in 1988.



I remember asking him if the fish were really that mean up in Alaska.  

 

I'd like to do any one of the three things on your "day" list before I die!  Haven't fly fished since Vermont dang near 30 years ago.  Sheesh.

And I paid $500 for a three screw .44 Flat top eight years ago and thought I'd done well.  I see they're going for 800-1000 these days.   Crazy world.

[Jess from VA]

The number of good deals one got in buying firearms, is directly proportional to his age.

The older your are, the more good deals you got (at least compared to today's prices).   

My 1980 Shooter's Bible, lists that Super Blackhawk at $207, with either the 7.5 or 10" barrel.

I keep old catalogs as resource material, but also for a few laughs.