It was our last day at the lodge, whitewater rafting was out (water level too low), we’d already attempted the hike to the summit of Mount Tullin (stopped by snow), kayaking was a bit of a bust due to improper rigging (flashback to Jenika) and we’d thoroughly canvassed the grounds so everyone sat around the breakfast table eating eggs benedict and asking, “what now?”
Eric opted for fishing with the boys – Phil, Brian, Jamie, Ashish and he went out to cast some lines in hopes of scoring dinner.
Us five guys headed to the dock at the north end of Lake Chilko directly next to the entrance to the Provincial Park. We boarded the 24 foot Campion with a nice enclosed wheel house and headed south into the lake. Chilko Lake flows north into the northerly flowing Chilko river. Motoring out at 26 mph and 4200 RPM, we were the only people in sight. About 10 miles in, we stopped to cast for Bullhead trout in the oxygenated water of a stream’s outflow. A few Bullheads chased the lures and one hit my line then fell off when I was slow to set the hook, but no one landed a fish.
As we moved another 10 miles south into the lake, the entire southern range opened up. Motoring in 300 feet of water, we headed for an island called Honeymoon point. We beached the Campion and fished the ragged coast.
Ashish pulled in a Bullhead while I spent most of my time on the leeward side of the island coming up empty but did capture this image of our landing which reminded me of the USS Minnow on Gilligan’s Island.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Annie took me for a drive to Hausi’s place – The Chilko River Lodge, where Swati and Ashley went horseback riding. This lodge is about 4 miles away and is abudget friendly ranch where you can live rustically and work like City Slickers. It was nice to spend time with her, learning about her life with Phil and their 5 children and her business as an antiques appraiser, specializing in jewelry.
I got a full ranch tour and asked Eric to build me this teepee BBQ, where the grill is attached to a pulley that is lowered above the wood firepit and spins for even cooking. I could taste the babyback ribs slathered in Eric’s special BBQ sauce.
Meeting up with the boys, Jamie took Ashish’s catch, filleted it and served us sashimi alongside our turkey/avocado sandwiches and cream of potato soup.
After lunch, Brian took the Indians on a sea kayak outing. The wind was up, causing difficult conditions on the lake. I don’t know the details, but no one wanted to talk about it when they got back. Eric and I opted for the ATV ride with Phil “Chainsaw Master” Huston. This ride was much different from our Day 7 ride. Then we were being auditioned – could we handle ourselves on a Honda 4 stroke 4WD ATV? We apparently passed and set out on a 3 hour, 40+ mile ride along the ridgeline overlooking the Chilko.
The pictures do not do it justice, but the ride was spectacular. Dropping down to the river from a high ridge line with breath taking views of the Chilko river valley, we alternated leading the group of four ATVs on a rough trail.
Phil never ATVs without his razor sharp Stihl chainsaw strapped to the back of his rig. At this passage, he dismembered the lower branches of a fallen pine and moments later we passed through the cathedral-like arch that remained. The Go-Pro HD video camera worked great and we have some terrific high-speed footage along the trail through areas of both breath taking beauty and deep mud bogs. We are working on getting them posted on Youtube but the bandwidth exceeded the SATCOM connection to the internet at the lodge. Sheri and I both agreed that freewheeling around his vast expanse of uninhabited terrain was the highlight of the multi-sport adventure.
After a dinner of Manhattan style seafood chowder, lamb jerky with fennel and quinoa and another creme brûlée, this one lavender and white chocolate, Eric and I wondered, can you ever get enough creme brûlée? This may have been the meal where Jamie packed his knives and was sent home on Top Chef Canada. Sorry, Jamie.
After dinner we retired with a vague notion of a plan on getting us from the lodge to Vancouver. The Indians were staying til Saturday and Brian/Ashley were heading out with us for their trip to Peru. The weather was not cooperating as a low lying cloud layer developed over the Chilcotin range. We would have to wait til morning to know our fate.
Location:Chilko Lake