It doesn’t matter what you call it . . . there are times when it’s important to refocus energy.
This was one of those weeks, and time on a stream is our preferred method.
Looking for a place to start
It was a perfect fall day.
Sun generated enough heat to counter the chill, as long as you were layered up. The Crooked was fishing well, and wildlife was prolific.
Media, mainstream and social, has gotten in the way. The constant barrage of sales and holiday propaganda came to an end . . . severed and throttled, those sources of noise were quieted.
This blog is where we can be found.
This river is magical
It’s a calm niche, carved out of the madness that is swirling about us.
Don’t expect us to click ‘like buttons’ on popular social media sites. If you need to talk, you know how to find us . . .
. . . right here or on the river.
Find a spot of your own and refocus . . . the world is going to get messy.
Woke to snow falling this morning. It would appear that winter is here. Not an issue, just a shift in travel strategies.
Looking ahead . . . the forecast shows rain, rain and even more rain.
Job #1 . . . find a stick
Earlier in the week, we used a crisp, sunny day to take a tour up the Cascade Highway. In late summer the Upper Deschutes is a regular stop.
This year wildfires kept us away. The smoke is gone, but the breath of winter has been felt.
Happiness
This section of the Deschutes River looks nothing like the lower run that holds big Rainbow and Steelhead.
Afternoon light on Upper Deschutes River
At the source, the Deschute’s crystalline water is rarely more than a couple of feet deep.
It’s home to Redband Trout that are rarely over ten inches. It is perfect for dog wading.
This is what he came for
Past September 22, this stretch of water is closed to fishing however, Tip was interested in fetching.
He quickly procured a suitable stick. Well actually, what he showed up with had to be trimmed a bit to serve our needs.
Locked on target
The season of fall is over. There are patches of snow under the trees. A few leaves still cling to branches, but for the most part they carpet the understory.
Remnants of fall
The wind had a bite . . . so we didn’t linger.
Once Tip had chased a few tosses of stick in the river, he was ready to get back in the car. Afternoon sun can only offer so much warmth. It did make for a very pleasant drive.
Satisfied on a good fetch
There are plenty of sun drenched days ahead. The days may only warm to the high forties, but that just means gloves and sweaters.
Leaving Fall behind
Once the early winter rains pass we’ll embrace the snow and shift to a winter schedule . . . starting with installation of a set of snow tires. It’s just that period of adjustment between seasons that is a bit awkward.
Rain, marking a transition between fall and winter, started up this week. But it didn’t stick around long.
We headed up to the Crooked River to take advantage of a perfect fall day. Morning starts with a dusting of frost and fog obscures the view. We just add an extra layer of flannel under the vest and venture out.
A perfect fall day
By midday the frost is gone and the fog has burnt off. October skies are typically clear and the sun feels warm, even if there is a bit of chill to the wind.
Keeping Watch
This time of year migration is in full swing, which boosts the variety of bird sightings. JQ’s camera is kept busy with the renewed activity.
Falco sparverius, the American Kestrel
The Kestrel has come back along the river and is hanging near their old nesting site. Hours pass watching the comings and goings of all the different critters.
Another seasonal shift on the river is water levels. As irrigation needs subside, the reservoir restricts flow to start the process of resupply.
These lower flows are matched with temperature shifts, which in turn trigger bug hatches. This is good for the fish and the fisher.
A finch in hiding
All too soon shorter days will bring cold days and hard frosts. Snow is not far behind which will cause a shift to our travels.
But for the present we’ll add warm shirts to the packing and shift from iced to warm drinks. There is still plenty of sunny fall days to enjoy.
Today saw the season’s first hard frost that glazed pine boughs and sage leaves. Winter announcing it’s arrival.
Before the snows come, we made one final trip to Cottonwood Canyon.
Reflection on evening weather
This last camp of the year is a bourbon and hot cocoa sipped on the porch kind of stay. The temperatures require layers and socks in your sandals.
Drama over cottonwood canyon
But the weather only threatened rain as we were leaving and with a sweater, the porch offered ample cover from the canyon wind.
Last light of day
Our evening was highlighted, literally, by a break in the clouds as the Hunter’s Moon rose over the hills.
A Hunter’s moonrise
We didn’t get to do much star gazing with this bright object in the night sky. On the other hand, a flashlight wasn’t necessary for the evening toilet.
Early morning visitors
A pair of mule deer joined us for morning coffee and scones.
A nye of ring-necked pheasants occupied the field just to our north. However, that was only evident when they flew in and out of the tall grass.
Storm clouds to the north
Grain fields were mostly fallow or brown with this year’s stubble. Occasionally there would but a plot that showed the short green sprout of winter wheat.
It still turns, but not sure it draws water anymore.
A series of storm fronts kept the wind farms active and presented us with a grand show of cloud formations.
It’s a pleasant drive through the rolling hills along Highway 97. We’ll not venture this far north after winter comes full on, but likely be back in the spring.
