That's A Wrap

Well, here we are at the end of another year. Have to tell you, it's been a shitty one just like 2020. 

Started off bad with the attempt to go to Arizona in March and finding the trailer leaking as we were set to leave. 

Then about May, I posted how my body was falling apart. Osteoarthritis has taken over and it gets harder by the day to walk. I use a cane all the time now and probably won't be long until I'm in a wheel chair. You young ones take heed. You are NOT as indestructible and bulletproof as you think you are. It catches up with you in the end.  

Camping and fishing did get better as the year went on though. Got two trips to Upper Lake and our July trip to Hope Valley. 

July began the fires. The Tamarack Fire as we were leaving Hope Valley. The Caldor Fire in August that had my son evacuated for 3 weeks. His house survived. He didn't make it to Upper Lake at the end of August though. Still evacuated at that time.

By the way, the leak in the trailer has been fixed (I hope). It survived the "Bomb Cyclone" and the "Atmospheric River" rain storms and no leaks. 

Sorry if I got a little testy about getting the Covid vaccine. People were needlessly dying and still are, most being unvaccinated (800,000 and counting). Case in point, my step-daughter went on a short trip to Target. Came home with Covid. Now her husband went to some friends house and found out they all had Covid and now he does to. Both have been vaccinated and still got it. 

Oh, and that mid-September camping trip to the coast. Westport RV Park. What a dive. 

A few jokes along the way. 

I got my fishing license for next year hoping it would be a better fishing year than 2021. 

Lastly the title of this post. I've been a Gary Larson fan for so many years I've lost count. The last far side desk calendar I had was the one with the picture below. Seem appropriate for the end of just about every year. 

"OK, folks!....Its a wrap!"

See you in 2022

I Didn't Know This

 

A Little Christmas Story............

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce

toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the

per-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which

stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were

about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out,

heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked,

the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot

of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk

all the cider and hidden the liquor...

Just then the doorbell rang, and an irritated Santa marched to the

door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big

Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa.

Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would

you like me to stick it?'

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the

Christmas tree......

A Sam's Run

Since Walmart is all over the place, I would assume that you know what Sam's Club is. A lot of people go to Costco, but we prefer Sam's. 

The day after  Sam's Run is usually a Food Saver Day. You know, buy in bulk, package is sizes you can use. 

We have a Food Saver. If you don't have one, you should. It's a vacuum sealer. There are a zillion different brands out there (everybody has to get on the bandwagon), but we've had the Food Saver brand for years. What it does is preserve food for a lot longer that just the packaging you get it in from the store. Food Saver says it keeps food fresh 5x longer than store packaging. It really lasts longer.  

Ours looks something like this. 

The one we have wasn't listed so it was probably discontinued. We've had it for several years. 

So, back to packaging. We buy 5 pound packages of hamburger and package it in 12 ounce portions. There's just two of us and we don't need more meat than that. We got Pork Chops and chicken pieces. Package Porkchops one to a package, chicken pieces 3 to a package. Today I'm packaging Basmati Rice. We bought a 20 pound bag and will package it in about 1/2 gallon amounts. No refrigeration needed. Probably have enough Basmati until we die. 

How about the garden last Summer. Ya'll haven't forgotten about Summer yet, have you? You like salsa? We packaged Tomatillos and threw them into the freezer. Tomatillo Salsa all year. We packaged peppers (several kinds), Cherry Tomatoes, Pasta sauce. You like Pesto? Make it, freeze it in an ice cube tray, then Food Saver it for use a cube at a time. 

Don't forget Kayaking, boating, camping, Fly Fishing. Seal some clothes in a package and you have dry things to put on in case you decide to take a swim and you know we do occasionally. The uses are endless.  

OK, gotta go. The Basmati is waiting. 

Merry Christmas every body.    

Yard Redo

Back on July 22nd, I did a post on the front yard. I mentioned we were using tens of thousands of gallons of water every month to keep the front yard green. 

I cut off the watering and put in a drip system for the necessary plants and trees. Then let the hot Summer kill the grass. I also used a bit of Roundup on the stubborn spots. This is what the yard looked like on that July day (22nd). Dry, crispy grass.  

 

Then we had plans to rent a sod cutter about mid-this month, cut all the dead grass out, put down landscape fabric and cover it with medium bark chips. It would look something like the picture below. This is the other side of the driveway. Save on water, etc. 

With plans in place, Katherine's daughter, her husband, and Katherine's grandson army volunteered, we were ready to hit the yard running (them not me) that weekend (December 11th & 12th). In case you're not familiar with army volunteering, it goes something like this: I need three volunteers, you, you, and you. Mother's can do that. 

Well, her daughter having not been out of the house in a couple weeks had to make a quick trip to Target. That's all it took for her to contact Covid-19. Fortunately she had both vaccine shots, but she still spent a week and a half in bed. Don't know what would have happened if she would have been unvaxxed.  

Needless to say, that weekend was cancelled and because of tax season (she's a CPA) the yard will now have to wait until Spring. 

So all my hard work killing the front yard is pretty much for naught and you can see by the photo below. Jeez, put a little water on it and it grows as if it's never been murdered by Moi. 

I'll just whip out the mower every so often and give it a hair (or grass) cut until Spring. At least it could have all grown back so it doesn't look like that.  

Stay safe everybody. 

Your English Lesson For Today

 Need I saw more?

I Really Dislike Winter

It's Monday morning 6:00 am. I'm up, the coffee is made and I'm planning on going fishing. 

Then I start thinking. Mistake #1. 

It's 41 degrees outside and the fog is so thick I can barely see across the street.

Down the hill at Lake Camanche North shore it's going to be a lot more foggy that here. Might be a tad warmer, but I doubt it. 

Then when I get there, I usually have to make 3 trips from the truck to the shore (only 20 feet or so) across the rocks just to get my gear by the lake. Check the picture below. Note the fog in the distance. From past experience, a day like today you won't be able to see your hand in front of your face out there.   

Not an easy trip for a gimp. 

Once set up, then sitting for hours in the cold, wet, nasty conditions. Yeh, I have a parka. I have gloves. I have a watch cap. I have hand warmers. And I would have had coffee, BUT. 

I'm just getting too old to sit out there and freeze my ass off. Might catch a fish, but then again, maybe not. 

I did renew my fishing license for 2022, but I think I'll have to wait until Summer or until there is a day when it's a little warmer. See, this is what I need. Sunshine, blue skies, warmth. 

So I'll go back to the coffee pot for a second cup and do a couple crossword puzzles. Those that know say, if you can do crossword puzzles you don't have dementia or Alzheimer's. Guess I'm good to go. 

I do them with a pen. 

Oh, did I tell you I'm a great grandfather again. Meet Azzie Marie Kautz. She was born 10/26/2021. that's her and big sister Mavis. 

Maybe I'll fish another day. 

Ingenuity And PVC Pipe

Some years ago, Jim made me a couple of rod holders. Fishing at New Melones, they worked great. Soft ground, stick them in and your rods are angled in the right up and down direction. 

Then you take Lake Camanche North Shore or Upper Blue Lake and it's nothing but rocks. Impossible to stick those rod holders in the ground without using a hammer, but they aren't designed to be slammed into the ground.   

Enter PVC pipe. I made a couple, four legged rod holders out of PVC pipe. Worked great holding the rods and left my tackle box available if I needed something out of it. I know you've seen my rods leaning on one of my tackle boxes in a past post. I know I have a picture of them somewhere in the 10,000 photos or so that I've taken since about 2008, but you'll have to use your imagination. Only problem was that I got skunked EVERY TIME I used them. Fishermen are superstitious. They ended up in the trash and I went back to leaning my rods on a tacklebox and catching fish again. 

Then the arthritis started and it took this indestructible and bulletproof guy to his knees. Started with the replacement of the fence after it blew down in a storm. Every time I pushed the wheelbarrow full of fence boards, I could feel my back giving away. Then the left hip gave out followed by, well everything from the L3/L4 vertebrae in the back down to the neuropathy in my feet. Thus the name of this blog now "The Wandering Gimp". 

I found out that float tubing was out. I found out walking the streams was out. I even have trouble negotiating the rocky shore of North Shore Camanche and there I can park right by where fish. I even had trouble getting in and out of the kayak. 

His and hers matching kayaks. 

Once again, enter PVC pipe. Created a rack that I could use to gracefully allow me to get into and out of my kayak. 2" PVC pipe with a couple O rings. A ratchet strap with carabiners through a metal post hammered into the ground with sledge hammer and via two 1/2" holes in the top, fill with water so it sinks in about 18" of water. Voila! Easy ingress and egress to my kayak. No problem paddling. No problem fishing.  

Now we come to the problem of bending over to do a simple things like put on your sock. I can't touch my toes, have to make adjustments just to pick something up off the floor. I walk with a cane in case my hip or knees give out so I don't end up on the floor. See what happens because you were indestructible and bulletproof in your youth. 

Again, PVC comes to the rescue. Using 1/2" PVC pipe I made the gizmo below. Slip a sock over it, stick your foot in and it puts the sock far enough on you foot to pull it on. 

PVC pipe saves the day. 

All it take is a little ingenuity and a bit of PVC pipe.  

Some More Humor

These are just jokes that hopefully get a chuckle out of you. 

Again, supplied by my cousin in Kentucky. 

Here We Go Again

 

Sometimes They are Just Funny

 

I've Been Boostered

Got my first Covid Vaccine shot in February. 

Got my second Covid Vaccine shot in March.

Got my yearly Flu shot last week. 

Got my Covid Booster shot today. 

I'm still wearing a mask when I go someplace away from my home. 

I do my best to stay 6 feet away from people when I'm away from home. 

I sanitize everything I touch once I get back onto my truck. 

 I'm as safe as I can be against Covid 19. 

That, in no way means I can't still get it. My step-daughter didn't leave her home for the last two weeks except one time to a Target Department store. She got Covid. Fortunately she had both shots, but still spent A WEEK in bed. 

You unvaccinated people out there think you're safe? Think again. 

We Survived The "Bomb Cyclone"

That's about the end of the rain. It's been raining non-stop for about 36 hours. 

We didn't need the kayaks, or the PFD's. The most we got were some puddles in the previously dead yard which seems to be coming to life again. Note to self, get the sod cutter...soon. 

Fortunately we have really a good drainage system in our neighborhood. Between Saturday and this morning, Jackson received a little over 7 inches of rain. The yearly average for Jackson is 30.4 inches. Not a bad start. 

Going back to the "Bomb Cyclone", it's just a new name for a rain storm we get every so often. We used to call it the "Pineapple Express" due to it coming from as far away as Hawaii. 

Down to Sacramento, I want to touch on something kind of new. An area called McKinley Park in Sacramento County has what's called a Water Vault. It's designed to hold excess rainfall in the area, prevent flooding, and then release it into the Sacramento River when the raining stops. Two things happened this weekend. One the vault filled up (6 million gallons) and two, McKinley Park still had some flooding although the flooding could have been much, much worse as it has in past years. So I guess it worked pretty well. Besides, once it was built, they made a really nice neighborhood park on top of it. 

Upcountry there were a bunch of evacuations due to the chance of mud slides in the burn scars of the many fires we've recently had including the Caldor Fire. And is usually the case, Highway 70 out of the city of Oroville has had a rock slide. Seems to happen with every heavy rainfall. 

So, we're all good and the storm seems to be heading East. 

Stay safe ya'll.   

Holy Cow It's Raining

California has been talking drought all Summer. Actually we've never been out of a drought since about 2012. 

Yes, we've had years where it's rained a lot, but it's not the surface water, it's the aquifer where the real drought is. If you're not familiar with aquifer's, let me give you a little tutorial. 

According to Wikipedia: An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials. Groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology.   

The above picture gives you some idea of how the aquifer works. 

I've lived in two places where I've accessed water via a well. One well was 500 ft. deep. The other only 50 ft. The second well was already in when I bought the property. The first one I watched the well driller find where to drill by witching. 

According to the Farmers Almanac: Some call it “the gift.” Others refer to it as “dowsing,” “doodlebugging,” or “water witching”—the practice of locating water underground using a forked stick. 

When he witched my first well, he uses 2 "L" shaped metal rods. He walked all over the property (I had 10 acres) and when the two rods came together, that's where he drilled. The well produced enough water that I didn't need a pressure tank. I'm a believer. 

So back to the rain. It rained off and on the last couple days and more expected tomorrow, but the big day is Sunday. We're expecting something called "Bomb Cyclone" because of its ferocity. It's an atmospheric river that brings torrents of rain and feet of snow and it's headed right toward Northern California. These atmospheric rivers extend thousands of miles from the tropics to the West Coast. 

The measurements on a barometer are in millibars. Normal air pressure at sea level is about 1,013.25 millibars. A hurricane will drop a barometer 30 millibars. We're expecting a drop of about 24 millibars. 

Don't fear my friends, we have kayaks, but we're about to get walloped. Time to batten down your hatches and get out your PFD's. The rain's is coming.  

Won't get us out of the drought by a long shot, but we'll take every thing we can get. 

Stay safe everyone. 

That's It, I'm Done Talking

 I've followed this pandemic since day one. I've watched a President do nothing and allow 401,000 people die, under his watch, that didn't have to. I've urged you all to get vaccinated and hopefully save your life. 

This morning I read an article where Chiropractors are giving exemptions for Covid vaccine shots. Chiropractors, not even a medical doctor. Merriam-Webster defines a Chiropractor as follows: 

"A licensed health-care professional who treats disorders (such as back and neck pain) chiefly of the musculoskeletal system especially through the manual adjustment or manipulation of the spinal vertebrae to correct nervous system dysfunction."

I've tried to help. I've tried to encourage the anti-vaxxers to get vaccinated. I've even got down and dirty with the Russian Roulette comment back on August 11th. 

I give up. I'm done talking. Good luck to all of you unvaccinated out there. You're going to need it. 

I think I'll go out and trim some bushes. 

700,000 and counting

As a child, I got all the shots required. Measles, Smallpox, Polio, and I don't know what else. Granted the Polio vaccine was in a sugar cube, but I'll take sweets any way I can get them. I'm 75 years old now and I've had both Covid Vaccine shots and plan to get the booster when my 6 month waiting time is up. I also get a Flu shot every year with this years coming on the 23rd of this month. 

I've suffered no ill affects from any of those vaccinations and there is nothing wrong with me from the recent Covid vaccine shots (although some of you probably think there is). 

Yesterday, the first day of October, 2021, deaths in the United States passed 700,000 deaths from Covid 19.  

Deaths passed 600,000 on June 14th, 2021. That's just 3 1/2 months ago. Yes, I'm keeping track. 

Of the 100,000 deaths between 6/14 & 10/1, 70% were unvaccinated. Those vaccinated people who died with breakthrough infections, most caught the virus from an unvaccinated person.

Florida suffered by far the most deaths of any state during that period, with the virus killing about 17,000 residents since the middle of June. Texas was second with 13,000 deaths. The two states account for 15% of the country’s population, but more than 30% of the nation’s death. 

Yup, Florida with a Governor who refuses to mandate masks and vaccinations for school children. Nice guy, huh? You can bet he'll be running for President in 2024. 

I know you're probably tired of reading about this on this blog, but I fear for all of you. So get vaccinated and I'll shut up. 

I've Got A Sense Of Humor Too

From my Cousin. 

Jane and Arlene are outside their nursing home, having a drink and a smoke, when it starts to rain. Jane pulls out a condom, cuts off the end, puts it over her cigarette, and continues smoking.

Arlene: What in the hell is that?

Jane: A condom. This way my cigarette doesn't get wet.

Arlene: Where did you get it?

Jane: You can get them at any pharmacy.

The next day, Arlene hobbles herself into the local pharmacy and

announces to the pharmacist that she wants a box of condoms.

The pharmacist, obviously embarrassed, looks at her kind of strangely (she is, after all, over 80 years of age), but very delicately asks what size, texture, brand of condom she prefers.

'Doesn't matter Sonny, as long as it fits on a Camel.'

The pharmacist fainted!

Disaster Movies Always Start With Government Ignoring Scientists

I try to stay away from ruffling feathers, but the time comes when I have to express my First Amendment Rights, besides this is my blog and I can say what I want. 

This morning I read an article on NBC.com. It was about the (and I won't mention names) the Governor of Florida. I quote from that article (well almost):

The Governor of Florida has also blamed President Joe Biden for the fact that Covid-19 still hasn’t been contained. "You know, he said he was going to end Covid. He hasn’t done that, The Governor said in August. "At the end of the day, he is trying to find a way to distract from the failures of his presidency." That is a line of bullshit if I've ever heard one. 

On Tuesday, the Florida Republican Governor named Dr. Joseph Ladapo the state’s next surgeon general. Lapado shuns mask and vaccine mandates while pushing unproven treatments popular with the far right, like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

Here we have a doctor (MD & PHD) directing the State of Florida in an unproven direction while scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci (OMRI an American physician-scientist and immunologist serving as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) and Dr. Rochelle Walensky (Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.) continue to tell the public that being vaccinated, wearing masks, social distancing, and sanitizing is the way to eliminate Covid 19. 

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?    

Another quote from that article (almost): 

Across the country, Republican leaders seem increasingly comfortable amplifying anti-vaccine rhetoric and conspiracies while banning mask and vaccine requirements, even though unvaccinated people are causing the virus to spread and increasing the likelihood of more coronavirus variants.

4 days ago the Smithsonian Magazine said that unvaccinated individuals are 11 times more likely to die from Covid 19. On the other side, those vaccinated are 5 times less likely to get infected and 10 times less likely to be hospitalized due to complications of the virus. 

Stop listening to this conspiracy bullshit and get vaccinated. 

In the last 3 days, 6,226 people in the United States have died of Covid 19. That's 2075 people a day. 2075 people a day.

I don't understand. Somebody, PLEASE tell what is wrong with these people. 

Boy, That Was Fun

 Westport RV Park, Westport, California.

We checked out Google Maps to find the best way to here. The one we know is along Highway 20 from Williams, past Upper Lake (you know we love this place), over to Highway 101 and then North to Highway 20 and across to Highway 1 at Fort Bragg. 

What Google doesn't tell you is that span of road (Highway 101 to Highway 1) is 35 miles of switchbacks and stomach upsetting ups and downs. Add to that pulling a 27 foot trailer and boy, was that fun. 

Then add to that another 16 miles of Highway 1 switchbacks and ups and downs and by the time we got to the RV park, both of us were worn out. 

Then mere feet from check-in, I got one of those lovely thigh cramps (probably from driving so long). So I'm parked in the middle of the road, using 4 letter words and trying to work out the cramp. 

OK, stopped swearing and got to check-in. Was assigned space 106. 

From their website "Here you will find beach-side camping in the sand, on grassy sites and along the creek."

First picture: That look like a grassy site? "Does that look like beach side." No creek in sight in fact never did see the creek.

Second picture: Notice how close the other camper is on the right side of the picture. They left the next morning and the new motorhome was less than 3 feet from our slideout. Now I know how a sardine feels.

Third picture: Still haven't found any grass. 

From their day use (about 1/4 mile from our spot). 

There was no way I could have negotiated ankle deep sand from the Day Use area to the water. I did bring a fishing pole.   

Looking back toward the "beach sites" (at another $10.00 per day and can't be booked online). Looked like a homeless camp to me. 

Oh, did I mention that this little piece of "heaven" is in a Tsunami zone? I would never expect one, but you never know. 

At this point, we're ready to go home and it's just the first day. We would never have been able to do the drive back so we rested the rest of Thursday and Friday with the idea of bailing on Saturday morning. 

Woke up Saturday morning, ate breakfast, and opened the door to hook up the trailer and it was RAINING! I thought, maybe it was a heavy Marine Layer, but no, it was real rain. Haven't seen any of that in a long time.   

Got the trailer hooked up, wife got everything inside secured, and we left this wonderful RV park about 10:00 am. Decided to go the rest of the way up Highway 1 where it connected to Highway 101 as opposed to returning the way we came. 

Granted it was 28 miles of single lane highway and some curves, but WAY better than the way we came. Did I mention it was raining? Yup, still raining. 

Down Highway 101 to Highway 20 and we were on our way home. It rained all the way until just before Upper Lake, then nothing. 

It was cold, windy, and wet. Boy, was that fun. 

Sure was a fun way to end our 2021 camping year. 

Another One From My Cousin

 By the way, Gavin Newsom is still our Governor. 

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he

asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money

from you, I'm doing community service this week.'

The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a

'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill,

the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing

community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank

you' card and a dozen doughnuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Member of Congress came in for a haircut, and when he went to

pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from

you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Congress

was very happy and left the shop.

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen

Members of Congress lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between

the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

If you don't forward this you have no sense of humour.

To Everyone Anticipating A Possible Civil War

From my own perspective, not having been in the military (not that they didn't try in 1965), I have no interest in going to hell. I know a lot of people who have been there and most of them do not talk about it.  

I have a friend who was one of the last 11 marines off the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon in 1975 and I have to tell you I've seen little things send him right back to hell. 

The United States is in a pile of shit right now and it needs to get straightened out pronto. You don't see this? Here is some places to look: MSN.com, Associated Press, NBC.com, ABC News, CBSNews.com.  

I'm not even going to go into vaccinations. Just looks at the statistics. 

“To everyone anticipating a possible civil war from all sides, let me give you a little bit of advice. "Many of us served and fought in wars. When our time was done, we came back to the USA to start over and live in peace. It wasn’t us who kneeled on the neck of a man until he died. It wasn’t us to retaliate by kneeling on the neck of a toddler saying “BLM NOW mf.”

You see, War is hell. Millions of you do not quite grasp this concept. We have been to hell, lived in hell, climbed out of hell, and don’t want to go back to hell. If you keep trampling on the peace we fought for, earned and love, then when that first shot gets fired, you will force us back to hell; and we will show you the brutal realities of hell.

Y’all better work this shit out before we do, because I guarantee you are not ready for this."

(Copied and shared from a cousin who copied and shared from an Army brother)

You Need A Laugh?

 

No Fire Statistic For This family

Back on the August 26th, I hoped my son's home would survive the Caldor Fire. As of today the fire has burned 216,358 acres. BUT, it's 44% contained and getting better. 

Those in South Lake Tahoe are breathing a sigh of relief. The evacuations have been downgraded and many are returning home. 

Which brings me to my son. He returned home today after being evacuated for something like 3 weeks. Three weeks in his motorhome at a couple local campgrounds. I don't suspect he'll want to be camping any time soon. 

The devastation continues though. Yesterday we had a new fire. It's called the Bridge Fire located near the town of Auburn. It started at the confluence of the North and Middle forks of the American River under the Foresthill Bridge. Some of you might be familiar with this bridge if you're a fan of Vin Diesel and the Fast and Furious movies where the red Corvette was driven off the bridge. That was the Foresthill Bridge. 

It's not unusual for this area to be on fire. Burns about every two years or so. A couple of picture of the fire. 

 

The Dixie Fire is approaching 1 million acres. Currently 910,495 acres with 57% containment. This one is a little harder to handle. Here's some photo's. 

If it's Summer, California is on fire. When we lived upcountry in Volcano, it wasn't a matter of "if", but when. The Caldor Fire caused this area to be on evacuation notice. That means get your vehicle loaded and be prepared to haul ass. 

It's a fact of life, if you live in the US of A that something will affect you. Just take a look at Hurricane Ida. Drowned about half of the country. 

In the East, you have hurricanes. Mid-Westerners have tornado's. West Coast has earthquakes when it's not on fire. Southwest has blasting hot weather and Upper Mid-West you freeze in the winter. 

All that said, I'm extremely happy my son and his family are OK and back in their home.

We're off to a new camping place on the coast mid-next week so if I don't post before...........

Stay Tuned.    

Back From Camping

 My son and daughter-in-law were supposed to go with us to Upper Lake this past week. As I mentioned in the 8/26 post they were evacuated. Well, they are still and unfortunately missed the trip to Upper Lake. Apparently the appeal to go camping isn't there when you've been camping (so to speak) for the last three weeks. That said, looks like their home is going to be OK. Fire (Caldor Fire) hasn't moved toward them for some time even though it's raging Eastward. Currently 212,907 acres with 29% containment. 

Being the good and kindly father I am, we went anyway. Actually it was their decision since their motorhome was crammed with everything you take when evacuating. 

Sunday was the drive up. Only took us 3 1/2 hours (normally 4 1/2) because no usual traffic jam at the airport and no road work to negotiate. I think I've mentioned that California only has two seasons. Winter and road repair. So we got there, set up the trailer, got out our favorite beverage and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. I give you a Sunday Night sunset for your viewing pleasure. They really do have great sunsets here. 

Monday morning we got out the kayaks and set up the "rack" I use to gracefully get in and out of my kayak. Unfortunately I forgot the spike that holds the "rack" so I had to ratchet strap it to a log laying there. Not quite as stable. Just have to make sure you get the straps in a straight line.  

Spent part of the day paddling around the lake and just getting used to kayaking again. Last time out was June. It got pretty rough with a wind across the lake at about 15. So we just cut it short and called it a day. A Monday night sunset. See what I mean about great sunsets? Every night is like this and I should mention this was taken from the side of our trailer.  

Tuesday dawned a lot calmer so off we went. this time I didn't forget the trolling attachment for the kayak. 1/4 oz. Gold Kastmaster was the lure of the day. Last June I caught one off a certain cabin so I trolled by there again. Sure enough, same spot and I hooked up again.   

Now, the picture below isn't just for a look at my knee, it was the first picture of said fish above. I can't see it, doubt you can. 

I took another. It's hard trying to get your phone out for a picture when the fish is pulling you around in several directions, but I got him this time. 

Turned out it was a nice about 12" Rainbow. Again I couldn't hold him, get the hook out, and get a picture all at the same time so you're just going to have to take my word for the size. After all, I am an honest fisherman. 

Wednesday I didn't catch any from the kayak although I did get one good bump in the same place. Later in the afternoon I soaked a little Rainbow Power Bait off the dock and took a second one, it too about 12". Gave it to the guys next to me. Told him I would back him up if he wanted to say he caught it.  

Since we were going home Thursday, I also got you a Wednesday night sunset.  

If you remember the June magnet fishing incident. You know the dislocated and sprained fingers, I had to "get back on the horse" so to speak, so Wednesday about mid-day I hauled out the magnet fishing bucket. I got the usual nails, screws, hooks, snaps, and an occasional chunk of metal. This time the prize (last time was the top part of a fishing rod) was a "live' 410 shotgun shell. Seems magnet fishing is always an adventure. Still have about half the dock to cover. It will still be there next June when we come back. Besides my daughter-in-law is still a magnet fishing monster. 

That's it for this trip. In a couple weeks we are off for our final trip of the year to a new campground on the coast. 

Stay tuned.