Morning Riverside Reflections

Awoke from the camp before most others today.
An odd camp of sorts.
Not your typical one, but a grand camp none the less.

Sat down on the rocks on the bank of the Kings to bask in the morning sun.
It is a good thing to sit in t-shirt, shorts, and sandals amongst the dust and leaves with a good breeze to keep things clean.
The winds of an oncoming front which sometimes make their appearance around Memorial Day.

Flow is low this time this year.
Fish jumping in front of me like a spring bubbling up to break the glassy surface.
And me without a pole.

Sun blinding off the water.
Much too bright for first thing in the morning, but the cool air keeping me there.
Where's my coffee and kuksa?
Watching the morning feast on the water.
Egrets enjoying theirs too.

Met up with a man last week who makes and sells his own lures.
Met a man yesterday who spent the better part of the first 23 years of his life in Minnesota.
Talked with him of the Boundary Waters and the walleye and the pike.
Talked with another at the same table from Tahoe who seeked out the walleye and kokanee of the deep.
It's good to talk with the fisherman and those which seek the waters' reflections.

A cousin's wedding among the vineyards of Northern California brought the family together two nights ago.
A grand and glorious sight to be seen in it's own right.
There I spoke with another cousin who in the past has talked at much length of casting flys upon Putah Creek.
His three boys of almost six years.
My sister's boy of four and girl of five.
My girl of four, and other young ones from three to twelve of family and friends'.
I do believe it is time to bring them into the fisherman's world.

Time for the planning and gatherings of the fish camp.
Time to enter new worlds together and new beginnings.
Time to flow towards what is simple and pleasant on the banks of waters.
Time for reflections.

Not just from blinding suns and flashing tails, but those of remembrance and sacrifice.
Time to give thanks for all those that made these moments possible.
Time to remember those on this Memorial Day.

 

Simple Life On The Snoqualmie

Glowing colors of the trout
as it lays motionless on the rocks.
Large river gravel of glacier remains.
Round and flat stones polished smooth
from the eons of snowmelt and springs.

Dark forests with overcast and ominous clouds
with fire light off the pinks and golds
and oranges and silvers shimmering off the scales.
Eyes open.
Mouth slightly like a breathing creature that isn't.

Glow coming from the riverside fire with
coffee pot and fry pan waiting to show off.
Cast iron and oil.
Wood and water.
Canvas and leather.
Fire and stones.
Coffee and smoke.
Seasonings and salt.
Potatoes and onions.
Pine and fish and the rain holding off.

Slight breeze cools my face,
but warm under wool and in the soul.

The joys of relaxation.
Work to be and already done.
North America.
The New World.
Simple pleasures.
Colors and textures delighting on the riverside.

A Simple Day Hike

Last week the wife and I decided we wanted to get away for a few hours and check out this lake that we've never been to. It's sort of a resort lake, but its got a campground that we would stay in. Not really getting away from it all, but more of a family place. Weather was kinda stormy but calm overall. We hiked about 3 miles around the lake, and I never broke a sweat. So I would call that perfect weather.

A calm leisurely stroll. Just taking a break from the real world, and briefly slipped into the forest world. I thought it would be a good opportunity to test out a new pack that I recently picked up. The older model Frost River NW Woodsman Bushcraft/Timber Cruiser Jr. pack I picked up used. It's been well broken in, but still going strong.

Last year I had purchased the Frost River Summit Expedition pack with the intent of using it for overnight and multi day trips.

I think that pack is more in its prime as a daypack because when loaded up with 25 lbs or more, it becomes a little uncomfortable - cutting off the circulation to my arms. I think a sternum strap might alleviate that problem, so I'll try adding one. But that pack was defiantly maxed out. So for a while I've been going back and forth, drooling over which Frost River waxed canvas goodness might work a little better. Originally looking at the Isle Royals, and then thinking long and hard about the Old #7 pack, I settled on the Timber Cruiser Jr. However these packs come with a tump line and I was wanting a sternum strap instead. Then I remembered the NW Woodsman model which had this configuration.

So I loaded it up for the dayhike to try it out. Adjusted the straps so it rode mostly in the small of my back. And not wanting to do an out of the box review, but after a 3 mile hike around the lake, it felt great with no hot spots and no numbness going on. Time and future use will tell if I could recommend this pack for trekking. These packs are designed for portaging with a canoe on your shoulders. Not so much for backpackin' in the Sierras. But I'm gonna do my best to make it work. Canvas and leather. Wax and oil. Wool and cotton. I'm really diggin' this return for me to natural materials.

Lupine and diamonds

Snowplant poppin' up

Incense Cedar and Jeffrey Pine sharing some love

These trees shed puzzle pieces

Wedding On The Riverside

A marriage celebration on the banks of the Kings.

Hard to find anything wrong with that.

Joining the campers in the early afternoon.

Children enjoying the shallow splashing in the sand.

Coffee and shade by the water's edge.

Bright sunlight reflecting off the cottonwood falling like shimmering snow upon the water showing the slow creeping currents.

Warm hearts drift slowly on the breeze.

Gals getting dolled up while last minute saunas and showers are had at a rush.

Gatherings and embraces.

Stories and laughter.

Music and dancing and late night saunas while the children sleep soundly in their tents.

Better get to the bar the Queen says with a growl, or off with your head!



So Cheers to Alicia and Bobby.

Cheers to a long happy life together.

And to many lazy days by a river fit for gracious royalty.