Yeah that’s where I was this afternoon and even got a painting done to prove it, of the dip netting at Moricetown Falls, Bulkley River, British Columbia. I had actually sort of forgot about this turn-out but got reminded from good friend Chantal. This place is about 40 clicks west of Smithers. More on Smithers in a bit. So, anyway, we had stopped here last summer but it was a bit too early for the salmon to be running and consequently there were no dip netters, dip netting. Aha! Why are they called dip netters? Glad you asked. It is the practice of the local First Nations people (Native Americans down in our neck of the woods) to use nets at the end of long poles to dip the salmon out of the rivers when they are migrating upstream to spawn. Often this is done from wooden platforms built out into the river or from natural rock outcroppings. It is a long centuries old tradition and way of life for the First Nations People and is still legal and allowed today. For many this is a significant source of food for the upcoming winter.

So, when I left Vanderhoof this morning it was into a stiff, wind again coming from the west, which of course is the way I was heading. It wasn’t cold like the other day but really blustery non-the-less. It blew for most of the day and is still gusting a bit here at the campground. I don’t understand it. Tired of getting beat up by the wind, that’s for sure. The scenery just kept getting better and better as I headed to Smithers. It was along in here somewhere when I finally felt I had gotten to where I rode all the way up here to be. From here north it just keeps getting better and better. It took me 7 days to get up here so I’m thinking I’ve got 4 or 5 days to mess around the area and then I better be heading back. My how time flies. I have a gallery/show reception in Boulder on the 30th and the way it looks right now, I’ll go directly there and Kathy will meet me. I have a painting selected to be a part of a  the Plein Air Artists Colorado member juried show of which I am a signature member, so I guess I better go.

I plan on going to Prince Rupert tomorrow and hang out for a day or two to see what I can paint. I was just talking to some fellas here who are salmon fishing and they said I really should go do to Kitimat while I’m in the area. Beautiful view of a long channel/canyon that runs into the ocean. You can see all from there. You’ll have to look it up on the map. Head east out of Terrace and turn right at the four way stop. You’ll see it. I also want to get up to Stewart BC and Hyder, Alaska just down the road from there. That’s several hours away but the road into Stewart is lined with glaciers. Thought I could do a couple of paintings in there somewhere. On the way there, I also want to stop at Gitanyow. It’s an old First Nations village with some ancient old totem poles. Chantal also said I should do the New Hazelton museum for more totem poles and First Nations People history. I’m thinking I’ve got a pretty full plate as I want to do a painting or two back over in Alberta in the Canadian Rockies on the way home. I absolutely have to stop at the Num-Ti-Jah lodge on Bow Lake and pick up a poster for my bride. That won’t take long unless I do a painting of the glacier that feeds bow lake while I’m there.

So here I am this evening camped in the overflow section of the municipal campground on Ferry Island. Sometimes you have to take what you can get. I’ll leave you with this.

Yeah, that’s my orange tent in the background.

Mike out.