Birken_head
Tracy and I think the fall season outweighs all the other seasons-- its by far the most rewarding and delightful in the way of weather and for the beautiful fresh produce that you can consume. The list of organic veggies this year at the West End Farmer’s market was augmented by numerous out of towner’s. Our favorite, a fellow from Keremeos, “Gurt” was a very knowledgeable farmer, loaded with 6- plus varieties of garlic! He made it most weekends. The blueberries this year were 2 weeks early on account of the dry summer and we found some beauties to eat and freeze for the winter. This year is also the 4-year cycle for spawning Sockeye (have to get to the Adams river to check it out!) and it’s supposed to be a bigger return than usual. We found some nice fillets at the farmers market brought down from the Skeena area and stocked up with about 40 lbs. Also, if you like salmon, we have a good salmon recipe for you alchoholic’s. It uses whiskey, maple syrup, bacon, garlic, coarse pepper, lemon and butter! “Delightful Margret”
Another highlight would be, of course, Red & Millers garden and fish smoker. They have a great selection of organic veggies, raspberries, potatoes and beans that spoil all of us. Tracy spends a few days jarring them, including the picking and jarring of 360 lbs of tomatoes, that she divides with her mom and sisters. Most of the tomatoes they go find are from Nicola River Area. (not far from Spences Bridge)
Tracy B. and myself just spent some time around the South Chilcotin—something we have meant to do for a while. The scenery through Pemberton Meadows into the high alpine Hurley Pass and descent into the Bridge River Valley is stunning. You may not be happy on the Hurley pass with a small car or a vehicle with low profile tires as the washboard and rocks will kill your tires/suspension. The Hurley River Road is not a highway but a Forest Service Road that is not maintained on a regular basis. For clearance reasons a 4x4 is the best vehicle suited for this road. (Bad roads seem to bring good people there...we met good peoples, people). It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to get over the pass from Pemberton Meadows until you t-bone highway 40 that will take you to Lillooet or Goldbridge. On a good day you should be able to get from Vancouver via Hurley pass to highway 40 in 4-5 hours.
Taughton lake turnoff itself, is about 85 km northwest of Lillooet.
Driving in on the main road to the Tyax lodge, we went past the lake by mistake thinking there might be a forestry campsite near the lake area further on. After climbing a hill and going around sharp corner, we saw a bear paused momentarily in the middle of the road and realized by the color and shape of the back, it was a yearling Grizzly! Had to do a u turn and head to the resort since we wanted lake front accommodation's. At the main lodge we were able to describe the bear we had seen to the front desk people and they didn’t say much, rather than the fact he was motherless and they were well aware of him. Nice spot, this Tyax Resort-- mountainous and unspoiled with numerous cabins, chalets and outbuildings. (must be busy in the summer!). They have a huge log structure with all the amenities including: hot tub, sauna, mountain bikes, canoes, a huge stable full of horses and a Beaver airplane that will take you up to Chilco lake for lunch, or to fly you over the Bridge glacier. The dinners and breakfasts (# of patrons permitting) are buffet style. We are the only campers? but we did venture over a couple of times to check the environs and to have a couple pints. We chose Taughton lake for its small, narrow size (canoeability) and for the towns of Bralorne-Goldbridge (Close by) that we wanted to explore for their remoteness and for the interesting Real Estate.
Taughton lake itself is in the transition zone (rainshadow) between coastal and interior, no cedar is evident, lots of fir, poplar, rose hips and berries including masses of wild cranberries that Tracy noticed immediately growing around the lake. Tracy, her mom and sisters would make these berries into jam or syrup when they lived up in Dawson Creek and she says she hasn’t seen these berries since then.
After leaving Taughton lake we drove up to Lac La Hache via Lillooet, spending a couple days with Tracy’s parents. We had intentions of going into Alexis for a couple of days to visit J&J Broomhall but soon thought (J&J) may like some quiet-time alone so we spent the next few days tucking back into the mountains, down the Duffy lake road back to the Birkenhead. No Battery life for camera's.. It sure cooled off. It was like someone flicking a switch. We endured some fresh snow, had tarps covering everything, had a big fire and some whiskey…
This year may have an early winter?
Tracy and I are getting back to some of our roots and activities that we used to enjoy and know best. It’s been a good summer and here are some thoughts for you.
(Eckhart Tolle), Vancouver author of the Power of Now and Stillness Speaks)
We have to take a moment to think how much time was spent this year listening to the sound of rustling poplar trees in the wind, or watched some wispy cloud wrap around a mountain peak? I am typical of the city dweller where the world seems so noise polluted and driven, that the idea of quietness and stillness can spook you for a while. Rather than a void, silence in the outer world helps to access the riches of our unconditioned mind. This allows us to enter a state of inner alertness and in that alertness, we stop looping through our past and we find our true selves. A place where thoughts, ego’s and attachments fall away and we are left with only what the moment has to offer. Take the canoe-- true in the moment, uninhibited, uncomplicated pleasure-- so enjoyable…Written by BJammin Broomhall
Cheers B&T.
Birken_head
Tracy and I think the fall season outweighs all the other seasons-- its by far the most rewarding and delightful in the way of weather and for the beautiful fresh produce that you can consume. The list of organic veggies this year at the West End Farmer’s market was augmented by numerous out of towner’s. Our favorite, a fellow from Keremeos, “Gurt” was a very knowledgeable farmer, loaded with 6- plus varieties of garlic! He made it most weekends. The blueberries this year were 2 weeks early on account of the dry summer and we found some beauties to eat and freeze for the winter. This year is also the 4-year cycle for spawning Sockeye (have to get to the Adams river to check it out!) and it’s supposed to be a bigger return than usual. We found some nice fillets at the farmers market brought down from the Skeena area and stocked up with about 40 lbs. Also, if you like salmon, we have a good salmon recipe for you alchoholic’s. It uses whiskey, maple syrup, bacon, garlic, coarse pepper, lemon and butter! “Delightful Margret”
Another highlight would be, of course, Red & Millers garden and fish smoker. They have a great selection of organic veggies, raspberries, potatoes and beans that spoil all of us. Tracy spends a few days jarring them, including the picking and jarring of 360 lbs of tomatoes, that she divides with her mom and sisters. Most of the tomatoes they go find are from Nicola River Area. (not far from Spences Bridge)
Tracy B. and myself just spent some time around the South Chilcotin—something we have meant to do for a while. The scenery through Pemberton Meadows into the high alpine Hurley Pass and descent into the Bridge River Valley is stunning. You may not be happy on the Hurley pass with a small car or a vehicle with low profile tires as the washboard and rocks will kill your tires/suspension. The Hurley River Road is not a highway but a Forest Service Road that is not maintained on a regular basis. For clearance reasons a 4x4 is the best vehicle suited for this road. (Bad roads seem to bring good people there...we met good peoples, people). It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to get over the pass from Pemberton Meadows until you t-bone highway 40 that will take you to Lillooet or Goldbridge. On a good day you should be able to get from Vancouver via Hurley pass to highway 40 in 4-5 hours.
Taughton lake turnoff itself, is about 85 km northwest of Lillooet.
Driving in on the main road to the Tyax lodge, we went past the lake by mistake thinking there might be a forestry campsite near the lake area further on. After climbing a hill and going around sharp corner, we saw a bear paused momentarily in the middle of the road and realized by the color and shape of the back, it was a yearling Grizzly! Had to do a u turn and head to the resort since we wanted lake front accommodation's. At the main lodge we were able to describe the bear we had seen to the front desk people and they didn’t say much, rather than the fact he was motherless and they were well aware of him. Nice spot, this Tyax Resort-- mountainous and unspoiled with numerous cabins, chalets and outbuildings. (must be busy in the summer!). They have a huge log structure with all the amenities including: hot tub, sauna, mountain bikes, canoes, a huge stable full of horses and a Beaver airplane that will take you up to Chilco lake for lunch, or to fly you over the Bridge glacier. The dinners and breakfasts (# of patrons permitting) are buffet style. We are the only campers? but we did venture over a couple of times to check the environs and to have a couple pints. We chose Taughton lake for its small, narrow size (canoeability) and for the towns of Bralorne-Goldbridge (Close by) that we wanted to explore for their remoteness and for the interesting Real Estate.
Taughton lake itself is in the transition zone (rainshadow) between coastal and interior, no cedar is evident, lots of fir, poplar, rose hips and berries including masses of wild cranberries that Tracy noticed immediately growing around the lake. Tracy, her mom and sisters would make these berries into jam or syrup when they lived up in Dawson Creek and she says she hasn’t seen these berries since then.
After leaving Taughton lake we drove up to Lac La Hache via Lillooet, spending a couple days with Tracy’s parents. We had intentions of going into Alexis for a couple of days to visit J&J Broomhall but soon thought (J&J) may like some quiet-time alone so we spent the next few days tucking back into the mountains, down the Duffy lake road back to the Birkenhead. No Battery life for camera's.. It sure cooled off. It was like someone flicking a switch. We endured some fresh snow, had tarps covering everything, had a big fire and some whiskey…
This year may have an early winter?
Tracy and I are getting back to some of our roots and activities that we used to enjoy and know best. It’s been a good summer and here are some thoughts for you.
(Eckhart Tolle), Vancouver author of the Power of Now and Stillness Speaks)
We have to take a moment to think how much time was spent this year listening to the sound of rustling poplar trees in the wind, or watched some wispy cloud wrap around a mountain peak? I am typical of the city dweller where the world seems so noise polluted and driven, that the idea of quietness and stillness can spook you for a while. Rather than a void, silence in the outer world helps to access the riches of our unconditioned mind. This allows us to enter a state of inner alertness and in that alertness, we stop looping through our past and we find our true selves. A place where thoughts, ego’s and attachments fall away and we are left with only what the moment has to offer. Take the canoe-- true in the moment, uninhibited, uncomplicated pleasure-- so enjoyable…Written by BJammin Broomhall
Cheers B&T.