This is part 11 of my 2009 vacation. On Friday May 15, 2009, five other Hoodlums joined me at Gould Mesa for the first-ever "Dirt Night". dirt night 1. a slumber party for grownups, usually involving fire, sharp pointy objects, liquid refreshment, and talk around the aforementioned fire. 2. an abbreviated form of dirt time. |
Father Mike was unable to stay for the evening, so he came in for a day hike. He returned to Altadena Road just as I arrived. We had a nice, long talk. Thanks Father Mike! It is always a pleasure to be in your company. [01] |
The view from the end of Altadena Road belies the beauty to come. [02] |
Not knowing he would see me back at the car, Father Mike had left this note. [03] |
Rugged canyon wall opposite the Gould Mesa campground. [04] |
Ryan (supersockmonkey) and Jason (concentric) arrived about an hour after me. [05] |
The stream had been stocked the day before, so we decided to do some fishing. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to try out the survival fishing kit I had received at Dirttime last summer. [06] |
The contents of the survival fishing kit. [07] |
A list of the contents of the survival fishing kit. [08] |
I was here yesterday, and a fisherman gave me a small bottle of salmon eggs, with about a dozen eggs left. [09] |
Jason fishing at the swimming hole. Lots of bites, but no luck landing one. He thought perhaps the hook he was using was too small. [11] |
The creek above the swimming hole. [10] |
About five minutes after Jason gave up, I caught this one. Ron Hood once told me, "Every once in a while, a man has to kill something and eat it to stay a man." So I took his advice.... [12] |
Ryan donated a seasoning packet from an MRE. I gutted the fish and threw it on the grill. [13] |
It was delicious! And not much left. [14] |
No bears were seen. [15] |
Ryan to his sleeping pad: "Self-inflating, my ass!" [16] |
Jose (aka Garith). [17] |
Rob (aka Rob6) and his delightful daughter Alexis. [18] |
Paul Campbell. [19] |
Rob and Alexis. [20] |
Rob. [21] |
Jason. [22] |
Ryan. [23] |
Alexis and her daddy. [24] |
Jason, Jose and Paul. [26] |
Jason. [27] |
Jose. [28] |
Ryan and Rob. [29] |
Talking into the wee hours. It was a delightful evening with comfortable temperatures and no mosquitos. [25] |
Good morning Paul. [30] |
Good morning Ryan. [31] |
Good morning Jose. [32] |
A nasty surprise in the bottom of my cup. [33] |
Rob and Alexis. [34] |
Jose, Alexis, Rob, Paul, Ryan, Jason, and Bill. [35] |
It was a delightful walk out: I hated to leave. [36] |
A delightful walk out. [37] |
A delightful walk out. [38] |
Copyright © 2009 by Bill Qualls. Last updated May 16, 2009.
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