Oregon Day One

The sun broke today

Well I could just cut and paste last years first day and the year before that.  I  could just "phone" it in.  But what else do I have to do?  

Forecast called for rain and they were not lying.  Cliffy picks me up at 5:30 and we head out to the Columbia.  Waylon decided to sleep in today.  We arrive at the lot and there are three trucks already vacated.  We unload and another pulls up and a young man jumps out of his truck eager to chat.  He's dropping on us what it was like to hunt there two years ago and how it's changed.  Asking questions as to where we were headed.  We didn't really have time to answer all of the young whipper snappers questions, we wished him luck and were on our way.  We make it to where the water is supped to be.  There is a large river now flowing past the original Old spot, impossible to hunt now due to the swift deep water , not to mention the debris floating by.  The water level was at 5.2 which in the past meant some decent water, but no more.

Old Old spot many years ago

We walk out on all I describe as a beach.  We walk around the point and find some decent water, a peninsula with a little growth on it, "I can build here" I thought.  Cliffy threw out the blocks and I built a pretty good blind if I do say so myself.  We settle in with 10 minutes left before cilling time.  Morning rituals ensue.  Rain picks up.  We see some ducks, actually more than usual which gives us some hope.  Well after a few hours, lunch and some rain breaks we decide to call it, we know the are by now we've hunting there more than two years.  

Wallowa River to the Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic

Cliffy and I set out at 5 am to head to the north east corner of the great state of Oregon.  We arrive in Minam at about 11 am, by 12 the boat is loaded and we are on the Wallowa river the beginning of our 80 mile journey.  The first leg of the journey we are just trying to get to our first camp site 12 miles on the Grande Ronde, approximately 5 hours.  Once we reach the camp there will be no way in or out, other words no turning back.  We run into some cold rain the first 3 miles which turns into blue skies.  Cliffy put me on the oars for the first time which seemed to be a gentle section of the river, it scared the shit out of me and I proceeded to hit every rock he pointed out for me to miss.  We make camp at 5 just as the sun is staring to set.  After some whiskey, a couple of beers and a warm dinner of vodka sauce we turn in.  The first night is cold, the skies are clear and full of stars.

The next morning we are greeted by clear skies after some warm coffee we load up the raft and hit the river.  Water is very low this time of year, river running at 690, so we are getting stuck on rocks a lot making Cliffys job not so easy and me the push and pull man. After some stops along the way swinging flies in a few holes, with some success, we complete our 8 miles.  Set camp, tonight we bust out a new piece of equipment.  Fire pan - grill.  Tonight yellow fin tuna loins on the grill are on the menu along with a grilled veggie salad.  After dinner we have our first fire and we relax with some Jefferson bourbon and cribbage.  Cliffy wins first game me the second, the last game of trip I'll win, can you see how the rest of this trip is going?

Day three brings a head tickle to some.  Were back in the boat.  A low thick fog envelopes the canyon walls.  After a few hours it burns off and nothing but blue skies.  More fishing today with little success.  We arrive at our next camp which were planning to use as a rest day, so we set the whole camp up.  After chores I gather the wood for a fire Cliffy sets up a BB gun course.  I light the fire with one match.  Cliffy slays the course, the same course he set up.  Then dinner, pork carnitas.  Did I mention we are eating really well?  We then do some prep for the next nights dinner, we prep the coq au vin that we will be cooking in a dutch oven over and open fire. 

The next day is a rest day so that means no moving of the camp.  You are on your own schedule, do what you want when you want.  Wake up to an amazing morning.  I stoke the fire from the night before coals, my greatest accomplishment keeping the fire going three days straight with just using that first match.  We fish, I gather wood and fish some more, play some crib..…  It's a beautiful day.  We sit and hit the BB course again,  Cliffy kills me again, but I do introduce the new skill challenge, the Crusher.  Shoot the stick out and crush the can.  Yes only Cliffy was able to do it.  We bust out the dutch oven and start dinner.  A whole chicken broken into quarters marinated with red wine and mirepoix.  Then browned and simmered with more red wine, chicken stock and more veggies.  Slow cooked for an hour then liquid reduced and served over pasta.  Right?!  

We decide to stick around another day.  Another rest day.  Same day as last.  The sky is blue and the winds are warm.  Today Cliffy caught a 18 inch bull trout.  The first he's ever caught.  It was the ugliest and meanest looking thing I have ever seen with rows of teeth.  More of everything, dinner of smoked ham hock stew with fresh cranberry beans and root vegetables.  Relaxation ensues by the fire.  We sit by the fire enjoy some libations and stare at the star filled sky.  Cliffy hits the sack I stay up to read by the fire.  After a while I hear what could only be described as a dinosaur walking through the woods snorting and everything.  I shine the light into the woods and see the eyes of a bear.  Gulp.  I pour myself another glass of wine and tuck in close to the fire.

The next two days are beautiful.  Lots of fishing, enjoying cold beers on the river enjoying great food at night.  Cliffy catches his second ever bull trout not as big but just as ugly.  I fall out of the boat and  the boat runs me over, making for a wet day, luckily it was about 75 degrees and sunny.  We camp the final night with 6 miles left.   Dinner of peanuts and chips and salsa.  Kill the last bottle of whiskey and get my ass kicked royally in crib.

Six days on a river.  Next up The Founders Tour.  

GBCH

All Hail the New "Expert"

It's me, Bob D.  I shotten a duck yesterday morning and now I will decide everything there is to decide, and I'm great at that. 


Clider and I headed out to Anderson Lake bright and early for morning number 2 of the hunting season.  The Oregon chapters season has also started but Fred G and Cliffy are off to float some river for 6 days so they have little chance of matching my "Expertness".  I even gave Clider a chance to retain his expert title by letting him use my .410 over under to shoot.  (It's got the recoil of a BB gun so it won't even hurt his shattered clavicle if he shoots lefty).  I can only assume that by the time I get back from my vacation I will no longer be the "Expert" but for the time being, it's all me!

Overcast skies greeted us and there were all kinds of ducks and geese out on the lake talking their talk as we set up and waited for the first sunlight of the day to greet us.  We were also surprised at the number of ducks flying this early in the season.  I had a couple greenies land outside my spread and finally a lone duck came in for a landing to my right.  My first shot thankfully missed.  My slow reaction time this early in the season caused me to almost shoot the duck after it had landed, a cardinal sin in the H7HT, but it headed off and the second shot was true.  Peat's reaction times are slow too and as he sauntered out to retrieve, bunches of ducks that were scared up by our first shot of the day swarmed around and thought about landing.  He brought me this fine Henny.  As Mitch would say with a disappointed lilt to his voice "Oh, just a hen mallard."

Clider was able to sneak up on some mallards along the lakeshore but missed with 2 shots from the diminutive .410.  I believe his good eye, bad shoulder and incorrect trigger finger had some kind of effect on his shooting.  Perhaps when Cliffy shows up he can be of some help.  As you remember, Cliffy is this years BB gun champ and displayed amazing skills shooting left handed.  We shall see.

A good way to start the season but now I'm off to spend some time with my family back in the great state of Connecticut.  I hope they remember what I look like when I get off the plane even with my inflated sense of "Expertness" and my huge brain.  Stay tuned to see what Clider has up his sleeve while I'm gone, he may surprise everyone, especially his surgeon who recommended a few more weeks before shooting a shotgun.  GBCH.

Opening Day 2014

All week long Clider called me and suggested we go out on opening morning, who am I to oppose 'The Expert'?  So off we went, not to Mudhole, not to Hidden lake, not even in the boat.  All those plans went out the window when Clider decided to take a casual bike ride down a trail at Silver Mountain called, I believe, powder puff.  We went to The Point.

Opening day seems to be the same every year.  It's warm and sunny and you don't see any ducks anywhere.  I was happy to see Clider and Peat out in the road waiting for me at 4:30 and we traveled the familiar commute to Anderson lake.  I set a small spread of decoys and cleaned out the grasses on the floor of the blind and waited for shooting time.  This year was different though, we saw ducks. And not one or two, we saw quite a few of all varieties. There were even a couple greenies that landed 50 yards outside the blind and eventually flew off in the wrong direction.  The weather was chilly and some rain fell and I had a good feeling that soon the team would all be together when the hunting got better.

After a while Clider and Peat got sick of me not shooting at small ducks and requested I just take a shot or three at some kind of duck.  The guys behind us were shooting boxes of shells, why not me?  Soon after we packed up and headed back home for chores and to give Clider a chance to ice his shoulder.  Of course on the way home my truck blew a radiator hose and is now waiting in the driveway for a transplant.  Every time Peat rides with me he breaks something.  Bad dog!  More to come.
GBCH

Expert Pre-Season Check Up

Well the season starts in just a week and it looks like you get a head start for the Expert title.  I decided to fall over on my bicycle last weekend and turn my collarbone into collarbones.  These are usually six week recoveries, however in true Expert fashion I broke mine bad enough to require 4 months of healing time.  That's about one month longer than duck season lasts.

Because $1.68 Is All I had.

Today was a good day to head out to Anderson and build up 'The Blind' in preparation for the fast approaching season.  Clider was unable to join me due to an unexpected trip to CdA so I was all alone in my bid to spend $1.68 on a new blind.

If you remember, last time at 'The Point' all the blind needed was a nice spruce up and some room for more hunters.  Things were different today.  Only one gnawed down stake was all that was left of the old blind, that and some dead branches forming the old backdrop.  I brought plenty of stakes and banged in 10 new posts which I then wrapped with twine.  The water level is still up and the current set up is a good 8 to 10 inches underwater right now but soon enough it will be high and dry.  I then cut some large shrubbery branches which were sunk into the soft shoreline to form a backdrop to keep us invisible from behind.  After that lots of scrub brush branches were cut and woven into the twine to form the basis for the camo cover.  I tied off more twine and left room for fresh cut grasses to cover the lower layers of the front of the blind.  Those will be cut and inserted on the spot to match the color and texture of whatever is there at the time.

In the pictures you will notice the sheer size of 'The Blind' this year.  It now has enough room to seat 4 hunters and 2 dogs should the need arise.  Both ends are open for easy ingress/egress and dogs to be able to quickly retrieve massive quantities of Green headed monsters.

It won't be long now.
GBCH

Offical Confidence Cow of the H7HT

What a nice piece of Veal you would be!

Preparation

Today I spent part of my day off with some preparation.  I pulled all my gear out of the shed and sorted and cleaned everything I need.  I was going to go back to Anderson and build up 'The Blind' but Clider says he will make time in his busy schedule to go on Monday and do that very thing.  So today I hung all my waders and jackets, took stock of all my gear, washed and checked my decoys and posted my last years duck stamp on the wall with the others.  Here are some pictures to get you ready to prepare your stuff.
GBCH

Training for duck season is really ramping up.

$26.50 Well Spent.

It's the beginning of Fall and hunting time is just around the corner.  It's time to start thinking about building new blinds and rebuilding old favorites.  Normally we would spend thousands and thousands of dollars getting our blinds perfect and inviting to that green headed bastard Greenie, but it's Fall, and we're all poor.  I've been spending money on deposits for the H7HT home away from home and Clider has been spending every last cent on improvements to his deadly boat.

Here's what $26.50 gets us:
$0 for wooden stakes I liberated from the golf course pile of unused and slowly rotting wooden stakes.
$6.50 for twine and staples.
$20 in gas to fill the rest of my tank in the truck.  It's now empty.

I planned on stopping at the bike path parking lot down by Killarney and riding my bike south to see if there were any spots to hunt that were within easy access to that parking area but I woke up late.  I drove right by and continued to Harrison.  During my drive I thought to myself how much easier it will be to have a house merely minutes from The Point, The Blind, Mud Hole and The Other Side. Drive time will be significantly reduced, much like when Fred G drove in the old days, saving me 1/2 hour of sleep.  When I got there I powered up with a banana and grabbed 6 stakes from the truck along with my pack of supplies.

Minutes later I found that The Point blind had been so well constructed 2 years back that it needed no reinforcement whatsoever.  In addition the grasses and scrub brush had grown up around the blind so nicely that all it really needs is for the grass to be cut inside the blind and to plop down your chair, it's perfect.  The plan behind bringing the other stakes was to increase the size of the blind to sufficiently hide 4 hunters and 2 dogs.  Instead I decided to make another blind right next to it that can be removed after the H7HT Charter Tour if we see fit.  I cut brush and filled the twine knowing that a month from now it will be totally dead and out of place but I figure that it will make a nice base for whatever other camouflage we choose at the time.

After constructing that blind and cutting some brush to be used later I took a minute to look around at my favorite view from October to February, it was good to be back.

When I showed up at Clider's he was unwrapping his new drive shaft and propeller.  I would love to tell you about the interesting things that happened in Clider's basement getting it installed but that would ruin his fun when he decides to start telling stories again.  I will tell you though that the sheer number of decoys in his basement is appalling.  I can't wait.

GBCH

Rhymes with........

First time 4 members in 1 place.....coming to a theatre near you Nov 17th-23rd.   Founders tour is on!!!

H7HT headquaters Harrison Idaho.

http://www.vrbo.com/451352

Happy Birthday Fred G!

It won't be long now.

Let the battle begin

This past week was summer vacation time for the founding members of the H7HT.  As all of you know summer vacation means one thing and one thing only, the fight for the Blue Jacket.  Along the way we had some other fun with Clider but golf was the main attraction for this trip.  Fred G traveled to the great state of Idaho and I picked him up at the airport then was off to work while he was able to get in a few practice rounds at Galena Ridge.  The practice was important as I was not giving him any strokes this year.  Last year the 17 strokes I gave him cost me the Blue Jacket and a little thing I like to call pride.  Beaten on my home golf course is no way to survive a winter lay off from the sport. 

 

The first day we played a solid round of 18+ at the most spectacular mountain golf course in the region, Galena Ridge. (find us on facebook or at www.silvermt.com) Then it was off to the cabin for some home cookin' on the Sportsman's grill and not one, not two, not three but several delicious beverages.  The next morning sporting clays were on the schedule and we met Clider at his house bright and early.  After a quick stop at McDeath I had a teriffic plan to keep me out of jail.  I let Clider drive.  We made it to the range where I miraculously shot 73 out of 100 clays to win the day.  Clider was right behind me and Fred G had problems with a bent and misfiring gun and was only able to come in 3rd out of 3.  Fortunately the club had a big cooler of water for all to have which kept me from further dehydration and almost certain death.  Did I mention it was hot?  142 degrees in the shade that day and more heat to come.  We droped off Clider after a tour of his deccoy collection.  (There are no pictures of the collection because pictures can not do it justice.  Suffice to say, when Clider brings all his decoys we will need two trucks to get wherever we are going.)  Then it was back to the cabin where I waited to die and took a nap.

 

 

The next morning it was bright and early again as we drove to the world famous Coeur d'Alene Resort Course and their amazing floating green.  Our Golf Pro for the day was none other than Mr. Andy Warburton, a friend from the winter months and the only way we could play this expensive and beautiful course.  Kyle, our caddy, had his hands full tracking down the occasional errant shot and being our #1 cheerleader for 18 holes.  Oh, to be young and dependant on tips.  After crushing the course like none before we stoped on the way back for another quick 9 holes at Galena.  The Flat Iron steak Fred G. made that night was delicious.  Did I mention he had been crushing me at Ducey the whole time?  THE WHOLE TIME!

 

The next morning was another hot one as we walked the 9 holes at the Shoshone Counrty Club and destroyed records at yet another golf course.  That afternoon I had been planning a trip up to Clider's summertime domain, the Silver Mt. bike park,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLrZFHsT8rM but Clider would not be able to join us as he was off to Glacier Ntl Park for some well deserved time out of the valley.  Fred and I were only able to get our hands on size medium XC bikes rather than the XL full downhill bikes I had planned on but even with that disadvantage we made it alive through a warm up run and an unintended 3,400 vertical feet of singletrack back to town.  Fred G absolutely shredded the trail despite not having been on a real mountain bike since I tried to kill him in Breckenridge years ago. That night however, I went 6 to 0 to stage the most amazing ducey comeback in the history of the world.  I was in fuego.

 

Our vacation came to a close the next day after more golf at Galena Ridge and another close round.  In the end I was awarded the Blue Jacket in a ceremony not unlike the pros.  The former champion presented the jacket to me in a luxury cabin while several insiders looked on in awe.  Shortly after I went back to work and Fred G went home to get on with the business of being a former champ.  Giggitty.

 

Thanks to all that made this years golf outing great, and only a few short months before the shooting starts!

 
 GBCH


 

Who Shall Remain Supreme?

A. Bob DaFolder

3. Fred G.

Nothing new in hunting.....how about home improvement?

As found

As some of you that know me know, I always need a project.  This spring I decided to improve the storage capacity of our mud/laundry room by adding some cabinets to the bare logs.  The first step was finding just the right style of vintage, slightly beat up, rustic and inexpensive cabinet.  I found it at a complete junk show of a yard sale just down the street.  As I was looking through the dead hoarders junk on display I asked the nice lady holding the sale if she had any cabinets.  She did.  They were in the basement of the house and it was slated to be torn down.  If I was to remove them myself I could have them for a mere $50.  Done deal.  I carefully tore them out of the basement and took all the shelving and 1950's lumber I could.  You just don't find this kind of lumber at the Home Depot, it's solid and strong.  The 2x4's have a heft nothing like the lumber nowadays. 

Above the other door too

My plan was to reconstruct the cabinetry so that it fit my space and I started with making shelves and getting them in place.  After that I built the cabinets around them using most, but not all of the originals from my pile.  (Some of the cabinet doors are left over and will be added to the shed in an upcoming project.)  A litte paint and some ingenious hardware choices inspired by my Sweetie and you have the new laundry room storage you see here.  The cost of the entire project was just about $100 and took a few days.  Bam!  With the shelving left over I plan to make a nice folding table.  That's right, folding.  Like, laundry folding.  Not that other kind.  The real kind of folding that will occur this fall when the H7HT takes to the blind.  Soon.



I am now Retired.

Don't let anyone tell you it's not possible to live your dreams.  Because sometimes dreams come true.

ThankyouFred

I have been slacking on my blogging duties for awhile now.  First off I wanted to say that I am proud of  Bob for getting in a boat, and surviving.  I hope he was exceedingly polite, please. Thank you.  I assume they restocked the river after you guys pulled all the fish out of it.

I went to Portland a while back on a quick, surprise trip.  Bob made me promise to avoid chain restaurants for the duration of the trip and it was truly expert advice.  The occasion for the journey was Monica's birthday and we had no agenda except eating three meals a day.  Following more of Bob's advice we stayed at the Kennedy School which was a pretty unique experience, definitely would do that again.  We bumbled around Powell's book store, went to both Voodoo Doughnuts and even hung with the homeless in China Town.

We got reservations at Fred's store for Friday night, Monica's birthday dinner.  My only experiences with Fred have involved strong smells, slurred speech, copious amounts of profanity, too much wiki, blood and feathers.  I heard tales of Fred having a pretty nice little place in Portland but didn't really know what to expect.

I had no idea what a classy guy I was hanging out with.  Everything was amazing, Jackie brought out course after course of incredible food.  We had everything and dessert.  Dinner was the highlight of our trip, and it was shocking to see Fred in a professional setting. Thank you for making it such an awesome night, we both had a really great time.

Cliffy, you should come out with Fred this winter, early season.  Also come play golf with shotguns in a few weeks, Bob needs someone to carry his gun.  His heart can't take too much strain.

goose

A Friend of mine heard we hate geese, so I have these now!

The Float 2014

                                                                                                                                         

Pretty.  The one word to describe this year.  

This year was like all others, lots and lots of fishing, great food, BB gunnin, beer and booze.  Amazing fishing.

Cliffy picks us up bright and early at 6am.  Rain in the forecast did not scare us off.   After a short jaunt to the put in unload and load up, on the river at 830.  The river was the crowded, the most we have ever seen, this did not sway us.  Bob this year boughtin a license and a spinner rod with the hopes of catching the biggest, the most and the best fish.  He was on mark.  First stop Bob catches the first fish.  Damn!  Next stop Bob lands another monster, truly amazing, Cliffy and I are scratching our heads, spinning reel?  It's on.  After many stops we make it to the camping pull out.

We procure our normal spot.  We unpack and set camp.  I am immediately back in the water throwing flies.  My first cast I hook up a massive white fish.  It fought for nearly 20 minutes until I thoroughly exhausted it, we were undecided if I should even throw it back due to how I punished it.  Would it survive after such a battle royal?  Well I gave the big guy some mouth to mouth and revived it back to life and off it went up river, cause that's the way fish swim, to live to die another day.  Cliffy had some stank on his hook a couple of times, teaching these bastards not to F with the H7HT.  We start some damage on the cooler to make props we could put down with the Daisy.  There was also much wikki flowing too, it was so cold, which we welcomed on the scorching desert day.  Cliffy was on fire!  Knocking cans silly, making Bob and me drink over and over again.

Dinner arrived not a moment too soon.  This year was Mexi.  Pork Rojo tacos.  Delish.  After we all helped do the dishes we were back on the Daisy.  Still Cliffy was master, punishing every can like it was his red headed step brother.  These two guys even felt bad for me, remember that time I did all the shotguns?  Well they just volunteered.  Soon enough all of our bottles of wikki went dry.  Darkness fell upon us like goose poo on a golf course.  We sat up by the fire and told stories of slaying ducks and watching stars shoot by us.  After several hours we call it and hit the hay for the most restful night sleep, bellies full of chili rojo with beans.  A light rain lulled us into slumber.

We awake and have an awesome breakfast.  Farm fresh eggs, homemade sausage, griddle cakes with fresh strawberry jam and hot coffee.  We pack up and hit the river for some more catch and release, and there was much to be had by everyone.  Seems as though if our flies were wet there was a monster on the other end.  We get to the pull out high from our river experience.  As we are pulling out we hear other fishermen cursing the river coming out with no luck.  Of course they came out empty the H7HT caughtin all the fish.  

Yet another great float.  Beauty.

Do the DU, Monica is bonafide!

Won't be long now.

Three days from now

I sit on the prow

Of the fishing raft how

I try to fish now

 

 

My Captain Cliff

Bridges the rift

Between my old skiff

And the hunting I wish

 

That my days did hold

And while I still fold

The new dreams are told

Are of fish all cold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That elude my grasp

 And swim right past

The rod I cast

Never to be last

 

Of my desire to be

A fisherman thee

That gets maybe three

Of the elusive fishee

 

 

Maybe I can win

A fish that can swim

And a beer that gives in

To my ongoing grin

 

I'm not the only one thinking about the annual H7HT fishing trip.  You are too.  You say to yourself, "I wish I was going down the mighty Deschutes river and challenging fish to their final demise", but alas, you are not going.  We are.

All three of the Charter Members will soon be packing their gear and heading to the Warm Springs Indian pow-wow for a 2 day float trip.  We will fish.  We will camp.  We will shoot a BB gun with amazing accuracy.  But most of all, we will represent the H7HT.

It's spring and many people will be thinking about riding their bike or playing golf or working in their garden.  Not us.  We will bond. (disclaimer: I have been thinking of all those things.)  The Fish we catch will fry on the grill with amazing ease and the beer will be consumed with the same fervor. We will teach all other fishermen on the river how to be Men and they will look at us with respect and envy.  Furthermore, we will be Kings.

So just be aware of how you are missing out on this.  Be jealous. Be resentful.

And the following day be happy you are not the one with a big hangover counting the hours until you reach home.  RESPECT.
GBCH.