Zigs and Zags
Mountain bike trails wind up and down hills with many zigs and zags. On a weekend afternoon, followed trails up and over hills, but I took some off trail shortcuts too for a 1.4 hour hike on a sunny and windy day.
Continue reading →News
Edith with the 2009 Tacoma
Time was short and my truck was in the process of being sold privately, so I went out early for a last paddle using the 2009 Toyota Tacoma to bring the kayak for a paddle on Edith Lake. There was no wind in town, but it was windy at the launch at Edith Lake. I headed into the wind, making slow progress for a … Continue reading →
Nicola Lake (TikTok)
Louis Lake
As I cycle through a long list of paddling spots each season, I visit some lakes only once in the year, at the right time of year. Louis Lake is a marshy lake just off the Pinantan Road. Any access requires hauling the boat and hand launching on a muddy shoreline. The lake drops in summer and becomes too shallow at the west … Continue reading →
Recent Reads
Three recently read books are given short reviews here, at the end of April. Rumpole and the Primrose Path by John Mortimer All of the Rumpole books are excellent. They follow “an old Bailey hack” as he navigates defending clients accused of a variety of crimes. He staunchly believes in the adhering to the principle of everyone is innocent until proved guilty by a … Continue reading →
Some Destination Hikes Upcoming
A few hikes planned will require some medium to longer drives: Stein Valley Trail (April 23) Neskonlith Meadows (April 28) Albas Falls Sallus Creek to the Fraser River Kane Valley and more Watch for posts on these over the next month on KamloopsTrails, RambleOn, and or A Wildflower Journal…
Continue reading →Paul Lake West Kayaking
It was raining lightly when I arrived at the west end of Paul Lake. I launched my kayak and paddled up the lake, heading east. When I turned around on the eastern side of Gibraltar Rock, the rain had stopped and it cleared as I paddled back with a light tailwind. A 5 km morning paddle.
Continue reading →Through the Hills
We hiked a loop route through the hills on a greyish day in April. The trails were dry. We spotted squirrels, an eagle, crows, some wildflowers (sagebrush buttercups, yellow bells, desert parsley, and woodland star), several leafing shrubs (saskatoon, wax currant, douglas maple), and other signs of spring on a 4.4 km hike.
Continue reading →Nature Hikes
A great time to do nature hikes is in spring. The locations match the areas in which spring emerges from the winter and there are wildflowers, flowering shrubs, birds, pollinators, insects, plant growth, and wildlife to spot and observe. These hikes are usually shorter and slower, but they also may be hilly or even strenuous. They are interspersed between other hikes and kayaking … Continue reading →
All Calm at Edith Lake
On a Friday morning the forecast was for wind gusts starting at 10:00 am, so I loaded the kayak and headed up to Edith Lake early. The lake was calm, the first day like this since spring started. I launched into the lake and paddled the shoreline. For the whole loop, the lake was still. In the back bays, I enjoyed the reflection … Continue reading →