What A Monster!

Pulled this sucker from a local lake, that shall remain unnamed...It tasted delicious.  It was a great midweek fishing trip after work with Andy. Those midweek trips really break the week up, but I'm not sure how much longer we'll be able to partake in them with the weather, daylight and Weigles tank traps all diminishing in quality...

I'm away sailing this weekend, but I'd like one more camping trip before the frost hits...Youbou via 4th lake and Nitnat...Camp at Nixon Creek or Caycuse!!  C'mon! 

Nice Action!

Rain - what rain?  Just good fun!  What a gal!

I rushed out of work today and went to pick both my children up after school.  Well, I was skunked on both counts: Gill was going over to a friend's to help her with Math, and Clem was playing soccer on the school team after a day of weather related off-again on-again texts.  Well, the weather improved, and Clem was off to soccer.  

What to do?

A sensible person would have made some tea and surfed the 'net, happy with the relative peace and quiet.  But, as I returned home, and I walked through the garage past the two bikes, Winston sleeping of course, the plucked tones of a six string Rickenbacker heralded the first bars of CCR's Suzi Q in my head....she was at it again - she's hard to resist and very addictive, that Suzie Q...

Oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q Baby I love you
Suzie Q

I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk
I like the way you walk I like the way you talk
Suzie Q

Oh say that youll be true
Oh say that youll be true
Oh say that youll be true and never leave me blue
Suzie Q

Oh say that youll be mine
Oh say that youll be mine
Oh say that youll be mine Baby all the time
Suzie Q...

And that was it: we were off on an adventure.   Blasting through Weigles and Doumont, the puddles were bayous and the mud was gumbo, and Suzie just frolicked - shaking it off, walking and talking through the water-filled traps with ease.  It's not like a street bike: water just doesn't seem to make a difference to the FS roads. 

And she took me right there.  How did she know?

The fish were rising - everywhere...  

After hanging my helmet, my favourite stump was waiting for me, just like I left it last time.  Has anybody been there since?  And one look over that placid lake with the rises all around me and I knew -knew! - that I was in for a treat...It was the first cast over one of the rises with the old rusty rooster-tail that got the first bite almost immediately.  Like a jolt of electricity the bugger bit: the fish was big and I hauled it up, with a desperate flourish it skipped over the water and spat the hook.  But I knew he'd be back.  A few casts later, and I had him.  But the others, while still rising didn't want to touch the rooster after what they'd seen.  So I changed it, putting on something different; something dubious.  Recommended by a friend, I knew if I caught nothing on it here, today, with all this action, then it was a Christmas-tree ornament and nothing more. 

I needen't have feared.  Within half an hour I had lost three and caught these two to add to the first...

That's a ten inch knife...I think they're Cutthroat, although they looked rainbow-like on the sides, but the red slash they all have on their chins...and the fight!  Oh, and check out the lure...it had a nice action!

And, if you can believe it, the ride back in the dusk was even better than the ride in. 

Suzi, I think I love you...

Forest Service Road Maps...Great Info Here...

When using iMap, be sure to use the layers function...

I started a thread on Dual Sport BC a while ago.  Since then, there's been lots of interesting information posted about backroad maps... not least the BC GVT iMap program. 

Here's the original post:

Electronic Back Road Maps

I'm trying to find some DECENT electronic back road maps of Mid/Southern Vancouver Island. I have the Back Road Map Book (hard copy) for the island, but many of the logging roads are out of date or not present, and I'd rather have my maps on a GPS for obvious reasons. I see that many people use GPS's (Garmin Montana looks good), but I'm hearing that the maps are out-dated or just lack detail (Garmin's TOPO Canada 4 base map is getting poor reviews from BC backroad riders for lack of logging road and trail detail).

So far the best product I've found is cheap but fairly accurate (if antiquated) TOPO Maps App for, believe it or not, iPhone. At least it gives me most of the mains, and some spurs, plus the GPS function is great. But again, it's based on old Canadian GVT topomaps.

What are other people using? Any help, hints and ideas would be great. Surely the logging companies must be using something??!!

Brooking

For the replies, go here; there are two pages... 

KLR: Kinda Like Roads...

I couldn't help it, I was looking for Van Isle dual-sport blog links to work back to my blog and found this...  Talk about take a VW Bug and add every optional extra known to man-kind...  Why not buy a BMW or KTM straight away for less money, have a better bike and better resale?

Rhododendron Lake Rediscovered...

24 years ago, I remember driving a date to Rhododendron Lake in my Mum's Subaru.  It was snowy out, and the lake was frozen.  My date, now my wife, and my sister, both skied and skated on the lake.  This astounds me because, yesterday, Andy and I decided to ride out to the lake.  Now I'm not sure if we took exactly the same route as I did all those years ago, but by the time we finally battled some gnarly boulder-strewn gullies that could be loosely termed trails, I didn't know whether to be impressed with the my former 22 year old's brash determination, or whether I should be disappointed with my apparent lack of respect for parent's vehicle and the lives of my womenfolk contained within!

We started, as usual at Doumont/Weigles, which, although slightly wet and muddy, wasn't as bad as we thought it would be after the last few days of rain.  But for a quick stop in the tank traps to remove ATV inspired log jams, we made it easily out to the logging road headed south towards Boomerang Lake and Branch 142.  We turned right and scooted NW up Branch 142 until we met the Englishman River Main.  Turning left and heading SW, we shortly turned left again onto Branch 155A at a signpost which ambiguously said "Rhododendron Lake", but lucked an arrow.  A quick reference to both the Backroad Map Book and my TOPO maps on the iPhone showed us that apparently both routes (staying on the Englishman River Main for a bit longer before turning onto 155F, or taking 155A would both eventually get you to Rhodo Lake).  We scooted up the 155A.  This branch is well groomed in most places and there are some straight stretches where 50-70 kmh speeds are entirely reasonable, although standing on the pegs is advisable as the surface changes from dirt to pebble in places. At about 5km in, the 155A splits.  Only when you reach this fork are you entirely sure that you are actually on a road that takes you to Rhododendron Lake: a sign indicates that you should go right, and not continue up the more promising and better graded road that gently climbs away to the left.  I couldn't help thinking that if I wanted to keep my fishing hold private, I would paint a sign and hang it up deliberately pointing the wrong way too.  Perhaps it's just the way my mind works.  After less than another km, the road splits again: right and rocky up-hill, or left and level along a marsh. After a brief chat, we decided to take the right fork and proceed up hill, with Andy's "your the boss" confidence boosting endorsement ringing in my ears, we negotiated a trail (155B) which had evidence of another vehicle having recently been on it.  Looking at the maps, both forks go to the lake: one, the shorter one, skirts round its south-west side counter clockwise; the other (marked in red in a later image below) goes clockwise to the southeast-skirting a marsh-for a long way then turns abruptly west, as shown on the map below:

We climbed 155B, at one point taking a wrong turn to the left a km in (you can see it as the first fork on the map above), which took us past an incongruously parked yellow VW bug - sans occupants- to a bluff with a gorgeous view.  Unfortunately, the usual shotgun shells and empty beer containers were in evidence too.  Turning back we got back onto 155B and climbed.  The trail was one that would have made me wince a few months ago, but now seems easy.  Hats off to Andy who seemed to negotiate the whole thing like a pro too.  There are duff sections of pine needles and forest floor type soil which give way to bouldery loose rock, but both bikes had no difficulty in negotiating these.  Finally, after 3 1/2 km or so, we happened on another sign which sent us left and into a parking area for the lake. 

You can see the parking spot below on GE:

Rhododendron Lake has fair numbers of small cutthroat, rainbow and steelhead.  The cutthroat are stocked annually.  The 5.7 Ha lake is at 366m in elevation.  Fishing begins in late April and is continuous until June. The fishing is fairly slow in the summertime because the lake is only 16 feet (4.9m) deep, and the water warms at this time of the year.  By late September to early October, the fishing gets good again until winter.  Fly fisherman and spincasters can do well working the fringes around the lake.  Thee deepest part of the lake is right in the centre.  The best place to shore fish is at the south end of the lake next to the access road as the north end has shallow water (Fishing BC)...

After walking in from the trail off the parking circle, you veer east (right) and find a couple of little fishing spots (one marked by a commemorative plaque) which are good places to cast from as they are snag free.  I got a few hits here, but it was Andy who nearly landed my fish, but the single barbless hook allowed the bugger to wriggle free inches from the shoreline.  It looked a good pan size too. 

(Above) A beautiful lake, Rhododendron was subject to some winds which were causing our casts to be shorter than we would have liked.  Andy, here shown moments after eating a wheat biscuit, is suddenly looking piqued...moments later that fern was to have other uses...

Back in April, I had tried to get to Rhodo lake, but had taken the left fork, which I am still convinced, and the map shows you can take to get there, but about 3 km in, there was a windfall blocking the trail...I'd like to give that route a try next time...

After fishing we met a trio of ATV'ers who had just come along the powerlines and down from the east to the south side of the lake.  They were a little rattled by what they described as a very steep descent.  They told us if we continued on along the trail we had been on (155B) we would hit the Englishman River and Hilliers.  We were anxious to find the Englishman river for a spot of more fishing and so were game to give it a go.

According to GE and the Backroad Mapbook, the Mystery Trail that we tried, but decided to turn back on due to time constraints, may be an alternative route back to 155F or even 155A...

After an aborted effort to continue on 155B, we turned back and retraced our route all the way back to the Englishman River Main.  We then turned left for 14 km to the Englishman River Bridge and the start of 143A.  Despite Andy's usual Welsh cynicism, I clambered down under the bridge and began casting down stream.  Immediately I had a strong succession of bites.  Andy then joined me on the other side of the bridge and promptly caught my fish!  Again!  How remarkably parasitic: the doubting Thomas benefits from the Englishman again!

 The artist at work on the Englishman River

And, despite evidence to the contrary, he didn't purchase it at Save On.  That's our story and we're sticking to it.  It was a monster, as you can see against the backdrop of a huge bin-bag liner, and Vicky, myself, Iris, and Andy feasted on it for the whole of the rest of the day to this.  Stuffed we were.

All in all, I think that was my favourite ride of all so far.  Andy was great company and the bikes were faultless.  If it has illustrated something to me, it's that I need to start some sort of fitness program to get my clutch hand and legs stronger.  Although I didn't notice it the time, my legs are burning today from the peg standing...Well worth it though!

Stop Press: Revise Your Christmas Wish List...

I was thinking of getting one of these, but after reading this blog post, I'm leaning towards the PLB.  Being a sailor, I know all about EPIRBs, but I wasn't familiar with a PLB, let alone one with integrated GPS capability.  So a quick search turned up the NSS (National Search and Rescue Secretariat) website.  Here's there information, plagriarised unashamedly in full:

PLBs are portable units designed for land based activities such as hiking, camping, climbing and canoeing. PLBs can only be activated manually. Some newer 406 MHz PLBs include an integrated GPS capability, which allows GPS position data to be included in the distress signal message.
A PLB must only be activated in a distress situation and only in remote areas where conventional communication facilities are not available. A distress situation is defined as an incident where there is grave danger to the safety of human life.
Who needs a PLB
Although there is no legal requirement to carry a PLB, it is strongly encouraged that people who undertake land based activities, in areas where there is no cellular phone coverage or other means of communications, purchase or rent a PLB.
What PLBs are approved for use in Canada

The radio standards specification for PLBs is available in RSS-287. National Search and Rescue Secretariat's Performance Standard for 406 MHz PLBs can found in NSS-PLB 06.
Approved PLBs

-	ACR GyPSI PLB-100
-	MPR TELTECH LTD/NAT INC SATFIND-406 POCKET PLB
-	ACR TERRAFIX/AEROFIX/AQUAFIX PLB-200 W/GPS
-	ACR TERRAFIX/AEROFIX/AQUAFIX PLB-201
-	ACR RESQFIX/MICROFIX PLB-300 W/GPS
-	ACR AquaLink PLB-350B
-	ACR AquaLink View PLB-350C
-	McMurdo Ltd. FASTFIND PLB-200
-	McMurdo Ltd. FASTFIND PLB-210

Where to buy a PLB
A number of sports outfitters in Canada sell or rent PLBs. It is important to ensure that the 406 MHz PLB is coded for use in Canada.
Registering your PLB
PLB owners are strongly encouraged to register their PLB with the Canadian Beacon Registry. The information contained in the registry includes the owner's name, trip details and emergency contact information. Search and rescue authorities cross-reference the emergency beacon ID with the registry and with a single phone call can determine if the distress signal is a false alert or can collect additional details in order to better respond to the incident.
Disposal of your PLB
At the end of a PLB's useful life, it is vital that it be disposed of safely.  If it has run out of juice, and you find yourself between a sow and it's cubs, throw it at the sow.

Ok so the last sentence is mine.  Interesting that I've never heard of those manufacturers.  What really appeals to me is the increased power and accuracy over the Spot, and that it requires no subscription fee! 

So a quick search turned up this at the Mountain Equipment Coop website:

McMurdo Fastfind 210 Personal Locator Beacon
Weight: 150g
You can have the best plans, training, and equipment and still get ambushed by the unexpected in the backcountry. For real emergencies, this locator beacon requires no subscription fees to commercial signal carriers. It fits in your pocket or a PFD, and once activated, transmits two signals simultaneously. One goes to the global 406 MHz satellite system. The other (121.5 MHz) is a local signal searchers can pinpoint once they're in the vicinity.

You are required by law to register your PLB with the Canadian Beacon Registry. This insures that the signal that is broadcast includes information about you, your group, your travel plans, and any pertinent information (medical history) you have included. You can update the information at any time by contacting the Canadian Beacon Registry at canadianbeaconregistry.forces.gc.ca.

• Size 3.4 x 4.7 x 10.6cm.
• Manually activated SOS strobe helps rescuers spot you at night.
• Battery has five year storage and transmits for a minimum of 24 hours once activated.
• Built-in 50-channel GPS provides pinpoint location information to speed up response time.
• Self test capabilities for both the battery life and GPS position acquisition.
• Submersibly waterproof (though not buoyant).

So the good news is it's waterproof, but not buoyant...OK so attach a float to it.  The other good news: it ain't made in China; it's British!  No, really, not like Triumph "British", but really British!

Fishing Arrowsmith

With the higher temperatures recently, it seems that most of the lower-lying lakes have dried up as far as trout goes.  I'm not seeing any rises on my local lake, and, at Bladder lake, neither Andy or I had any significant bites last Sunday.  I was pondering this lack of fishing success when I remembered a trip that I took with Ryan a few months ago to Arrowsmith Lake.  The lake is the reservoir for Parsville, and, as such is dammed.  The banks are open and rocky, so access for fishing is easy.  Unfortunately, I have lost the pictures that I took of that trip, so I have snatched some from Google Earth. 

Here you can see Arrowsmith Lake from the west looking east towards the dam and the entrance to the lake.  The water level obviously fluctuates and this leaves the bank exposed and easy to access for fishing...

Of course, the other major advantage of this lake is it is at 809 metres in elevation (nearly 3000 feet!).  This I remember well, as Ryan and I crossed the Englishman River and wound ever higher until we reached the access road, where we had to navigate around a gate post.  The access road was exhilarating, and very steep.  The bikes went up no problem.  At the top, there was the lake, sitting behind the dam.

Again, from far aloft, you can see the exposed banks, and, consequently, how easy this lake would be to fish...

Being so high and deep, this lake is going to remain cool over the summer season and be fishable right through the season...In fact this is the fishing summary report from the website Hook and Bullet  

Arrowsmith Lake is a lake located just 6.1 miles from Hilliers, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including walleye, rainbow trout and sucker here. Whether you’re spinning, fly fishing or baitcasting your chances of getting a bite here are good.

The route is fairly straight-forward; that is, you proceed as if to Rhododendron, but pass it, and then take the first bridge to your right over the Englishman River.  From there it is a question of following the road up to the turnoff to the lake. 

This is the path from the 155 main which is about 25 minutes from Doumont or 5 minutes from the North West Bay Logging Division gate in Nanoose

The route profile is staggering...with a maximum grade of 34.4%...Amazing really.  The bikes went up and down nicely, although down is very slow in first gear dabbing the brakes.

Above is a detail shot of the ride up the Arrowsmith Lake Dam turnoff and up the road.  Below is the route profile of just that 1.7km section...with an elevation gain of 229 metres (751 feet over a mile).

So there you go.  Worth a cast in my opinion.  Perhaps next Sunday if the rain holds off...

Paul

Backside of Benson: The Road With No Naima...

I had a Monday to kill today: Labour Day.  It's the last day of freedom for teachers all over the northern hemisphere until next year, so I decided to use it.  After reading about Andy's aborted attempt to follow this route on his blog I decided to try it from the other end.

Andy's route includes a picturesque stretch behind Mt. Benson.

So I started at the north end and proceeded generally south.  Starting at Doumont, I turned left and rode past two 4 by 4's and a couple of slow dirt bikers (wow - never seen that before!) and to the Boomerang junction, where I turned south (left).

This road is well used and the grading is great.  I took a couple of shots from the photo symbol area in the image above...

It's a beautiful lake and the boat launch is a nice touch.  There was some shooting from the other side, so I moved on...rapidly!

Then I bore left. (avoiding the Cottle Lake turn off to second lake via the outback...beautiful views, no traffic there...but that's for another blog)...

A while ago, Andy, Ryan and yours truly were taken on a hell ride to a lake by Ryan.  We had to stop as the trails got so small, even Andy's TTR125 was having trouble getting the bars between trees...Well if you take the left above, you will end up on the other side of that lake.  So don't.  Do as it says: keep going...

The road is great and 50kmh is easy to maintain while sitting if need be...

When you get to the bridge, keep right...(when heading south)...And that's a river that can see winding away in the valley below on the image.  You never get to see it, but if you stop just prior to the bridge, there is a steep drop off with some cribbing.  The sound of a waterfall echoes up loudly.

This is where the fabulous views of the backside of Benson are revealed...on the Open Ridge...

 As you can see, the road surface is great, as are the views to the north...

Looks so near, yet so...

Carrying on the trail, there were two mystery quad trails the first one to the right and the second to the left.  They look totally do-able, at least the first portions of them. I believe the first one goes to Lucid Lake, which you can see on the left of the picture...Could be a good place for a spot of fishing...Must give that a try! 

There is a junction: don't take the right turn...The road branches into skidder trails with large boulder crush and they're quite steep...It doesn't seem to go anywhere...

The fabulous view points along the road are just that and, if I had a good camera, rather than a phone, I could take better pictures!  These don't do it justice...

The road is still great...

When you get to the junction, if you take the left fork, then you will end up at a locked gate.  I will show the above picture in more detail, as the gate poses a problem as Andy indicated.  You'd need two people to lean or cant the bikes and support them in order to get them under the low gate...Here's a more detailed map of the Gate, and the Gate Bipass...

If you take the right fork at the junction and proceed a short way up hill, you will find a quad trail.  Walk it first.  Follow the arrows.  I the dry this is a cinch.  In the wet, with gumbo mud, it would be suicidal.  It's littered with roots, ditches and boulders...It joins a great logging road which spits you out just below the gate...

Above: this is what the entrance looks like. 

The dust would turn to pretty slick mud...

Wind around over roots and rocks and follow the arrows...

...More arrows

...And you join the road...Which leads you here...

Here you can see SuziQ glowing with victorious pride...

At the junction of Nanaimo Lakes Road and South Forks Road...Take the left for Nanaimo...

All in all, the trip was about 30 clicks give or so, and well worth doing again.  Finally, I'd like to thank the young first-nations couple who generously, while toking up and undressing (them not me), offered me the information that got me round the gate.  I left them quickly to continue with their carnal delights behind the gate and, in a ditch!  Romantic.

Paul