Two Approaches to Life

I stopped by my friendly pharmacy to pick up a prescription and a person was standing at the counter berating the cashier because the internet coupon was already past its expiration date.  The counterman walked out to the aisle to see if there was another on sale coupon at the shelf.

As he walked past, the irate customer turned to me and started on about the BS that they were being put through.

Stupidly I replied "Well......... it's really not his fault."

"Who the heck asked you to butt in, why don't you mind your own business! Stay out of my business and shut up!"

Doh!
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Two hours earlier I stopped by North Cascades National Park Headquarters and went in to get some information about several future blogs.

Several families were in their asking the staff about what they could do tomorrow.

They had just returned from a hike up the Sahalee Arm and the whole family seemed to be piping in all at the same time to express what they had seen.  Wildflowers, Johannesburg Mt., glaciers, Forbidden Peak, Sahalee Mt., whitewater, green trees, the color of the water, walking on snow and "it's almost August",

"My God it was so beautiful."

The NPS staff all smiled right back because no matter how many times they have heard these same platitudes - they still felt the same way as the guests from somewhere back in the midwest.

"I know a place that I think you will enjoy!", the Ranger mentioned.
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Please be sure to stop by one of the NPS information Centers and Bookstores (run by the North Cascades Institute).  The staff are excellent and obviously love to help each of us make the most out our trips up to the North Cascades.

Kudos to all of you working for the National Park Service, US Forest Service, North Cascades Institute for making our trips more memorable, more relaxing.

Breath deeply and visualize a calming location...........

By the way - I'm packing up the kids, their friends, she who must be obeyed and going camping up on Ross Lake.  Don't tell the wife but we are going to sleep on dirt - yee haw!

I'll stop by the resort and say hi to Tom and Carol for all of you!

Oh - I'll bring my camera and try and get a couple of images to show when I return!

Cheers!

Visit North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake

Come paddle and camp on these beautiful waters.  

You will return home with a good spirit.

Meet Allen and Lisa Rhodes

"Paul! Call up Joe-Joe the dog faced boy and Gomer I got another batch ready!"


"Oh man Rhodsie I got in trouble the last time - I missed work. You gotta quit trying so many different recipes and just stick to one - you know like -  Oly." "Man I appreciate being a guinea pig but these taste tests on work nights gotta quit dude!  What time?"


"9:00- after the wife's in bed but you gotta help clean up!"


"Arghh - ok - but you gotta cover for me with Ted if I don't make it in tomorrow"

Allen and Lisa Rhodes

My buddy Allen is a brewing artist.  25 years ago we met in his basement to try the latest and it didn't matter if it was manna from the beer gods, uncarbonated warm swill, or was a bit.... well chewy......we were young, we were guys, it was beer and it was free. Yeaaaah!

And you know after a few samples it didn't matter that we had to take his wife's good bathroom towels to wipe off the ceiling when a couple bottles got knocked off the washing machine.  It was science! Chemistry!

We could throw the towels in the washer!

And the wife was asleep.

I think.

But the beer was organic, it was alive!

Today Allen owns the Rockfish Grill and Brew Pub in Anacortes.  Great Beer!  Great Food! Great Music!

Here is a partial list of his masterpieces:
Oatmeal Stout
Honey Cream Ales
Klosterbier
Golden Lizard Belgian Wit
Locomotive Breath Imperial Stout
Broadsword Scottish Ale
Extra Special Bitter
Aviator Dopplebock
Cask Real Ales
Hefewerzein
Octoberfest
India Pale Ale

Here is a link to his website:  http://www.anacortesrockfish.com/

Next time you're in Anacortes ya gotta go there and try some of his art.

Just don't stand on the washing machine - it's too hard on the knees to jump down.

9 AM Limit

"Hey old timer, let's run down to the lake and catch a fish!"
"Well say young fella, why don't we walk down and catch our limit!"


Romaine Souey, Jim Hobbs and Ray Andrews display their limit of Wild Ross Lake Rainbow Trout.

I had just spotted them pulling in front of the bunk house at 9 AM.  I made the mistake of asking them if they were coming back in for breakfast and maybe a nap.

"Heck! We already ate a fine breakfast at 4:30 and caught the limit by 8:15!"


"We thought we would come back here and wake up some of the young guys and get them out."


About then 3 or 4 of the young guys stepped out of their bunkhouse took one look at the 3 limits, rolled their eyes skyward and shook their heads.

They knew they would never hear the end of this.

I believe I heard a consensus as Romaine, Jim, and Ray were walking away that maybe they would fire up the BBQ, cook a few fish, and serve the young guys lunch in bed.

Invaderettes

Four good friends, Lara, Carey, Sarah and Stella soak up the rays and practice trolling near Devils Creek.

Brothers

Kevin Pressler shows little brother Corey what a fine catch they
 have to share with their friends at the Lightning Creek Campground

Traditions

I'll be writing more about traditions at a later date, I need to stew on that topic for awhile.

One tradition we have is stopping off for ice cream.  The kids like blueberry and down in the lower valley west of Marblemount is a good stop!

And the blueberries are in season right now!

New Article in Bellingham Herald

Doug Huddle is an excellent writer with the Bellingham Herald.

In todays edition he wrote an article about Tom and Ross Lake Resort and the resurgence of the Wild Ross Lake Rainbow Trout.

Here is the link to the half page article.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/07/23/1539716/outdoors-ross-lakes-rainbows-are.html

I admire writers and photographers for newspapers and magazines.  They work to deadlines often in stuffy offices.  They deal with bombastic editors.  They have to come up with story ideas on subjects that they really could care less about........ "Ms Gertrude Hannibal - of the Lector Hannibal's - is hosting a luncheon and fundraiser for the Human Society,  the menu will feature a fine selection from her collection of carpaccio recipes..........."


Meanwhile, I get to visit Ross Lake, pick and choose what to blog about, meet people that are on a holiday in one of their favorite spots on earth (why else do so many return year after year), and sit out on the deck drinking coffee watching the sunrise.  I can hear their voices in the office, "should we get him more coffee?".

"No, no, don't disturb him - he's thinking about what to write next!  It will probably be brilliant!"


Lucky for me they don't hear what I am thinking because my typical thought process seems to go something like this when I have writers block:  "If I sneeze really hard with a mouthful of coffee and it comes out my nose, will some of the caffeine be absorbed through my nasal cavities?"


So as you probably already surmised, not a lot of deep thought goes into some of these posts - but I do like to sit out on that deck pondering my caffeine addiction, I do like to hang out with my good friends the Barnett's, I do like meeting all of you and I do like writing and photography.

I do sometimes wish I had an editor.

I do like to read good writers writings..

Check out Doug's writing on the link provided.

Cheers

Grande Ronde - a Beautiful River

Had a blast drifting and fishing on the Grande Ronde River in extreme south eastern Washington.  One of North America's finest steelhead fisheries.

Hot temps, family, good friends, good wine picked up on the way from some excellent wineries and by the way - hot fishing.

Trout and Dolly's were biting on Joe's Hoppers, smallmouth bass were slamming a deer hair mouse with yellow feather tail.

But even tho fishing was hot sometimes you just have to serve that inner child and jump off a cliff or two.  No, that was not me doing a back flip -that honor belonged to Jake who was showing off successfully to the niece.

I am a master of the belly flop.

By the way, it was interesting casting fly's from the sit on top ocean kayak while drifting backwards through small rapids, trying to maintain a hold on to the paddle while the legs straddled the waterproof camera case to keep it from shifting around.  Ended up casting backwards, sideways, left handed, right handed, under handed, overhanded, under the arm pit, around the neck......

It was fun just dinking around with the son on his first fly fishing experience.

Fishing a deep hole on the Grande Ronde

Jake launching a 50' back flip

Niece Jenna giggles through whitewater

Mackenzie riding her breast cancer pink Ocean Kayak in the clear, cold waters of the Grande Ronde 

Dylan surfs a small hydraulic

Brother-in-law Bob carries one of the little one's, the family dog and lunch 

in his old beater canoe - casually chewing on a cigar

Over several days and several car ferries we drifted approx. 25 miles roughly between Troy, Bogan's Oasis and Schumachers Landing.  From Schumachers it was an approx. 13% grade road that would have been a bit sticky if wet or slick.

Next time we will either float the upper wild river portion starting in Oregon and possibly end in Troy, or continue down to Heller's Bar where the Grande Ronde joins the Snake River at the lower end of Hell's Canyon.

We were a motley crew.

On the lower drift we had the river to ourselves and everyone was able to hoot and holler the afternoon away - songs and laughter bounced off the canyon walls. Teasing over past mishaps were casually, offhandedly discussed.  Casually??? Yeah right!

The drive home was long and tiring but the next morning I woke up chuckling to the image of Bob going thru the whitewater casually shaking droplets off that soggy old stogie.

Families, friends and little adventures - the good life.

The Pacific Northwest - we live in an interesting and beautiful part of the world don't we?

Off to Fish and Float for a Few Days

I'll post more images next week.

A lot of stories yet to post.

Cheers!

New Boat Landing Near Ross Dam

Here are a couple of images of the boat landing and haul road just below the old landing site (down lake just a short distance.)

The setting is stunning.  The National Park Service, Seattle City Light and the construction company did an unbelievable job in getting this prepared for all of us.  We have to walk about 100 yards and up approx. 9 easy steps.  Take your time.

Enjoy the view.  Enjoy your family and friends.

Hey -  if you want an elbow to hang on to ask for it.

We all want to help each other enjoy this experience.

Why do you think some people have been coming back for 50 years or more!

Scout Troop 850 of Lake Forest Park

Hey check out these Boy Scouts after a week paddling around Ross Lake!

Looking pretty good guys - but I bet you miss Mom's cooking don't you!

How many times did someone step in the pancake batter? Oh the ridicule and bitter memories I had to live thru!  All it did was add a little Boundary Waters roughage to breakfast I say!


Scoutmaster Damon LaPointe guided these adventurers around the lake. the beautiful wood canoe was built after many nights working til midnight by Dad Tom Breit.

You adults deserve special kudos for helping these young men become even better young men.

And I bet their Mom's all said a quiet thank you when they saw their toddlers walking up the front steps.

Special dinners were prepared that didn't include feet dipped in batter!

Special note to Gary and others planning on using the portage service.  You may call ahead and plan the portage with the resort.  Pictures depict the trip out but you get the general idea of the haul road width etc.

It is only about 100 yards from the dock to the point where you will load the canoes on to the trucks. The trail is wide enough to have people on both sides of the canoe.  You will unload your gear at the 1st dock, the 2nd dock is where the Seattle City Light Tour Boat unloads and loads passengers.

Good Friends, Fish Tales, and a Lifetime Well Spent

Tom Barnett fails at keeping a straight face as Gary Fuller of Bellevue describes who consistently has been catching the better fish over the last half century.

Ken Tallquist of Mukiltio tried to listen patiently - but that didn't last long. Yeah - like about 5 seconds!

Ken has fished these waters for 53 years.  Gary (the rookie) has fished here every year for the last 48!

These two know what they are doing around these waters.  And they enjoy sharing time here high in the North Cascades.

They promised to try and find some photos from the early days and share those with us.

Nice to meet these guys!

Did I Mention that the Fishing Has Been Pretty Good?

Ho hum.

Another day catching Wild Ross Lake Rainbows.

Mike Johnson of Toppenish displays his morning catch.  This is his 2nd year.

Hey - he don't fish like no sophomore!

Dave Meyers, foists a toast.  He has been coming up to Ross for 33 years.

But then you have to make some tough decisions on what you want to do with the rest of your day.

Like hang out with a buddy, sit in the shade, maybe prop your feet up, catch a z or two and perhaps if you choose to get up - grab a cold one???  You think?

Course you may prefer sitting in traffic on I-5 like I did earlier today.

It's your choice!  

Grandpa Gil Miller, Isaac and Alex Ramsey

Grandpa Gil learns how to catch the Wild Ross Lake Rainbows from Grandson's Alex and Isaac.

They then illustrate the proper way to fillet the trout.

Man oh man, my mouth is watering - look at the beautiful color of the fish.  See, this is what Wild Ross Lake Rainbow Trout look like after fattening up on the red-sided shiners. It ain't no farm fish injected with red dye #2 and sold in big box stores.

Manna from the fishing gods.

Gil learned a thing or two from these two ace fishermen the past week - but they made him promise not to tell their secrets!

I'd say it was time well spent for everyone - eh?

Isaac Ramsey - The Next Generation of Ross Lake Anglers

Few fish are safe on Ross Lake when 12 year old Isaac and his brother Alex Ramsey are let loose to catch the Wild Ross Lake Rainbow Trout.  Grandsons of resort partner Gil Miller the boys are talented and dedicated fishemen.

Tom Barnett Taking a Rare Moment to Relax

Wild Ross Lake RaInbows Ready for the Grill

Invaders Invade Ross Lake

Click photo to enlarge

Just Back from the Resort

Hi everyone, I just spent an excellent 3 days up on the lake.  Met some fine and interesting people and groups.

Shot a lot of photos.

Have a number of posts to write.

Need to tell you this!

The old loading dock on Diablo Lake has been moved to the site of the new unloading spot at the base of Ross Dam.

You will unload all of your gear at the site of the Seattle City Light Tour Boat Float - just after turning the corner after crossing the dam.  It is marked.

After unloading take your car and park it in the usual area then walk back the roughly 300-400 yards.

The advantage - you no longer have to go down and up stairs here with all of your gear and it is an easy stroll back from your car.

You will recognize the old float at the new unload site up by Ross.  You will have to carry your gear up the 5 or six steps and a gentle path of approx. 20 yards to the waiting new Kubota tractor and trailer that Tom bought to carry your gear.  Thanks Tom!  That was a mucho good decision to help us.

After all the gear is on the trailer head on up the 100 yards of gentle grade to the waiting truck.  Your gear will soon arrive and everyone can help load it on to the truck.

It's a wonderful Ross Lake tradition - everyone helping out!  And if you are unable to lift much, well, there always seem to be guests that step up and help and that will offer an elbow to hold onto.  Bam!  You just met some new people. You never know, it could be the CEO of BP or Bill Gates traveling incognito.

Hey it could happen! I took the kids to Glacier NP about 5 years ago and the Secret Service were standing right outside my window all night.  Laura Bush was staying in the room above.

I think......

Hey!  Was that a good thing?

Let me think about this for awhile and get back to you.  I need to look at some of my old blog sites and emails I think.

I'll have more images later tonight and a couple of more posts.

The weather was warm and beautiful, the water refreshing, fishing was great, the snow capped peaks - beautiful.

Gotta go pick up the kids from pole vaulting practice, more later!

Freedom of Information request form site  - lets see where that is.........