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Nimpo Lake - Days 8, 9, & 10
 
Nimpo Lake Mall

On the way back to the cabin, with Fizz tucked nicely in a blanket on the back seat, her belly shaved, bruised and stitched up, I swore I would never fish again. But the moment I saw the lake and heard those fish jumping, I couldn't resist. ... So with the $2300.00 hook stuck in my cap, I tried my luck with the worms I bought at the Nimpo Lake Mall, but I didn't have any luck, and I was beginning to think that I wasn't going to for the entire trip.

 

I didn't write anything in my journal after the accident. I just submerged myself into the place, trying to find that peace that I had begun to find three days earlier. Every time either of us had one of those 'this is the life' moments, we felt guilty that Fizz couldn't join in on our fun. She loves splashing about on the shore, climbing onto logs, falling off and then having to climb back up again, but we had to keep her quiet, and limit her exercise so she didn't pull out any stitches. We took turns keeping an eye on her, but I admit, mostly that was what Alison did, because I was off fishing in the kayak for the better part of each day.

I found out from another fisherman what the trout were taking, and with another trip to the mall, I added a gold Surshot and a bronze Flatfish to my tackle box.  ...And that's when I started catching fish.

 
My first fish
 
No fishing this evening
 
Finally! Fish for breakfast!
 
One of these guys told me what lure to use
 
A local resident
 
My Fahrenheit is a little rusty, but I think that's just below the freezing point
 
outhouse window
 
The prize: Seventeen inches, 1 pound!

Somewhere between the first trout and the last, I finally found what I had come to the mountains and Nimpo Lake to find, or maybe it was the campfire, or that one night when I was looking up with amazement at all the stars in the sky and saw Orion for the very first time; even though I've never seen it before, I knew what it was the moment I saw it.  Such beauty and solitude have a way of cleansing and refreshing your soul, whether you think you deserve it or not.
COMMENTS
Wildthing said at 4:54 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
What a great set, Dar. Love this trip. Fave photos. That bear paw outhouse door window is terrific. And the mist burning off the lake like cigarette smoke is awesome. Hell, it's all first class stuff.
Shenresi said at 6:36 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
really a wonderful tour, Dar and I`m happy, that you catched some troutes at last, but the most that makes me happy, is that your soul comes in balance!!! Wonderful and fantastic shots!!!
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:40 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Fantastic set, DAR! You have a lot of masperpieces here, it would be hard to chose a favorite pic. But I would be glad to have photo #8 hanging on my wall.
Tishfish said at 6:45 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
A lot of fine eating with those trout Dar, would have enjoyed it immensely. The bear paw on the outhouse window would have scared me a bit, thinking the real thing may come along. Wonderful shots ! ! ! !
Cowgirl said at 7:11 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Lots of love comes through these shots Dar . And its so nice to see you. Alison did a great job taking that shot of you with your BIG FISH .... And what lovely words you have written in your journal... Thanks
Chilla said at 7:54 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Serene and beautiful! So many facets to this tabblo and all of them good! Difficult to choose favourites as you have so many really wonderful shots of the lake and surounds. Nothing like fresh fish from water to plate! Thanks for sharing your trip.
Umair said at 8:31 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
stunning images. superb compositions! regards!
YorkJodi said at 9:13 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Another EXCELLENT photojournalistic tabblo... Love #5 and Fizz... & what strange leaves you saw...
JuDeck said at 10:11 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
3rd and 5th shot grabbed my attention...such a peaceful place...and then there's the life in the cabin shots....is that a gas or electric stove??...how the heck do you turn up or down the heat...lots of great just caught fish shots too with that smiling background.
Ira said at 10:43 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Excellent pictures of a nature! Tremendous! This lake and weather... They such different in each photo and magnificent!
Debdog said at 11:56 a.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
this coulda been a double TOD!!!!!!! wow......first class for sure...you hit another home run here outta sight!!!!!!!!!
Siagian said at 12:47 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
very beautiful photos here. kudos!
AliDar said at 1:43 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Good Morning! Thank you everyone! Thank you for your wonderful comments and allowing me the opportunity to share this all with you... and your patience with me for that as well. :) ... even I was getting a bit tired of seeing the same scenes over and over again when I was making this, so I really appreciate your ability to think of something inspiring to say to me.

The bear claw window is a fav of mine too MIKE, and mist on the lake shot, well, times like that are just magic to me. Thank you.

ANGELA, Thank you! Ballance is good. A hard thing to find most of the time, but put me in front of a campfire or stick a fishing rod in my hand, and the simplicity of it all makes it so much easier for me to find. :)

EDUARDO, I was thinking that shot would be a nice one to put in the dining room... I'll pass on the compliment to Alison; she was recording the fish, but took the opportunity to make something wonderful from it.

MOM, we didn't see any bears around the cabin, - saw one on the road, but generally I think bears tend to think we humans are scary things as well. Thank you. XXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOO :)

Thanks BOBBIE; I think it's obvious to everyone by now that I loved the place. <G> ... I'll pass on your compliment.

CELIA, I agree, there NOTHING like fresh fish from the water to the plate! ... and Thank you for letting me share my trip with you!

UMAIR, compliments from a master, Thank you.

JODI, Every morning the lake would present me with yet another breath catching scene, ... I'm beginning to re-think my predilection of sleeping in for the rest of year, with magic like that to greet you each day, it's no wonder I didn't need an alarm clock!

Thanks JUDE! :) ... I was please to get that silhouette of the fisherman. It seems to have lost a bit of it's detail with posting it in this tab. When I look at it on my desktop, I can see the plaid of the mans shirt. ...The stove is wood burning, and you control the heat by either opening the cabin's windows, ... or adjusting the little sliding vent on the side. No electricity, running water, or gas in the cabin, just a basic shelter, and a woodstove to keep you warm.

Thank you IRA, I'm glad you see the differences, I was so awed with the place, the same view blew me away each time I saw it.

DEB, what else can I say but Thanks for coming to the game! <G>

Thank you Woody. :)
Bravemoonbearer said at 7:16 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Like I said previously,a woman after my heart.The photos are beautiful.I can smell the trout frying.If you were in the South,you would have grits and hushpuppies to go along with the trout.Nothing like sitting around a camp fire with a full stomach overlooking a beautiful lake and gazing at the stars.This is as close to heaven as one can get.
AliDar said at 7:43 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Yep I agree, there's nothing like it. It's not to everyone's tastes though, so it's good to find a kindred spirit like you. ... With a nic like Bravemoonbearer, I kind of suspected that right from the start. :) ... What exactly are grits and hushpuppies anyway?
Bravemoonbearer said at 7:59 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Grits are grains hulled and coursely ground.Hushpuppies are deep fried cornmeal cake with onions.I have a lease hooked to my paddle just fir that purpose.The last thing I need to worry about when going overboard is the paddle.LOL.My Kayak has a rod holder and a small anchor.It isn't as wide as yours.After all,our lake are not like oceans like yours for the most part.Bass fishing is my favorite.
Cowgirl said at 8:25 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
What !!!!!! You havent eaten Grits or hushpuppies ... Bravemoon needs to send you all a box of Grits and i will send you the hushpuppie mix..........
AliDar said at 8:25 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
I love cornmeal bread, but deep fried and with onions sounds even better! I broke my diet eating all that fried food on the trip, can't imagine that a few hushpuppies would do much more damage. Think I'll get me one of those leashes as well, when I pick up those little rubber things to help stop so much water coming down the handles. Sounds like your kayak is similar to mine, I even have one of those cute little anchors. I'd suspect that bass fight more than trout do. You'd have no problem hauling in a trout. The only time they fight is when you get then next to the boat, when they start jumping out of the water or pulling the tip of your rod under. Love to go fishing with you Sandy! :)
AliDar said at 9:08 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Looking forward to it then Bobbie. :) ... The hushpuppies sound wonderful, but unless there are instruction on the box of grits, I'd have no idea what to do with them. Coat the fish with them before I fry it?
AliDar said at 9:09 p.m. on Oct 1, 2008:
Southerners must be very regular people.... <G>
Abking said at 12:31 a.m. on Oct 2, 2008:
The lake is beautiful. Nothing like a campfire and a sky full of stars to restore the soul.
Sd14 said at 9:09 a.m. on Oct 2, 2008:
hi alidar,
you are a very lucky lucky man iam here in ireland and we dont have anything so beautifull
and with fish in it too "WOW WOW" the first shot u in the canoe coming in i think
super i cannot fimd words to express how i feel about your pics i also fish but only for pleasure&peace give me some of that before i goe please,
HOW COULD YOU GET BORED WITH ALL THAT BEAUTY AROUND YOU AND YOUR DOG WITH YOU ALSO YOU LUCKY DUDE


mesd14+++joe
Sd14 said at 9:11 a.m. on Oct 2, 2008:
where on this earth is nimpo lake damn just a piece of heaven for anglers ilike me




mesd14+++joe
Chaitiamma said at 10:08 a.m. on Oct 2, 2008:
What a beautiful place to spend your holidays...............Lucky you !!!
PaulBarfoot said at 10:51 a.m. on Oct 2, 2008:
Oh Dar. I love love love these pictures and the story that goes with them - the lake with the sihouettes, the wood stove! and those (aspen?) leaves that look like they were designed by Keith Haring!
AliDar said at 12:50 p.m. on Oct 2, 2008:
Nothing like it Allan. :)

Joe, Thank you for your enthusiastic comments. Nimpo Lake in in British Columbia Canada. ...It doesn't usually bother me. A lot of people mistake me for a man, but Joe, if we're going to be fishing buddies, you might want to know that I'm a dudette, an woman. ... Although I do like the camaraderie of dude. Dudette just doesn't work so well.... :)

Thank you David; I felt very lucky!

Ha, Paul I had to remind myself about Keith Haring's work, and you're right, they DO look like they were designed by him! ... Alison took that shot, so I didn't see exactly where it was, but the Birch and Aspen are the hardwoods around there, and I seem to remember a lot of seedlings around the cabin. Thank you Paul. :)
Sirnicolay said at 2:48 a.m. on Oct 3, 2008:
Oh, Dar... I'm really starting to envy you.. Your trip has been very relaxing--and the pictures show what a really great vacation you had. I wish I could go fishing, too. I want to try it on a lake also. Haha! The only time I tried fishing was in a very small pond, with some local fish, using an improvised fishing rod. I want to learn how to gut a fish and I want to catch different varieties of fish. Maybe someday. :) Thank you so much for sharing. :)
Welshchick said at 4:19 p.m. on Oct 3, 2008:
Yum YUM..fish frying...little doggy on the mend...the mist raising from the lake...I think you're making some MAGIC moments here! For some strange reason...Life INSISTS that we mix our wonderful moments with pangs of tragedy...it all balances out somehow and this keeps us in touch with reality...but the main thing is~ Fizz is on the mend and you show that LOVE is worth all the hassle in the world~ BRAVO Dar ~~~~ :^)
AliDar said at 8:00 p.m. on Oct 3, 2008:
James I'm chucking about your wanting to learn how to gut a fish. <G> ... I've heard about the large variety of fish in the sea where you are from.... I'll look forward to your fishing story, and seeing the whopper you caught. :)

Rhonda, life seems to insist on that sort of thing, doesn't it? It does balance out somehow, maybe because you end up with a clearer understanding of what's important to you because of it. Thank you. :)
Krisu said at 5:04 a.m. on Oct 7, 2008:
Wonderful! Cool! Awesome!
Andre. said at 8:41 a.m. on Oct 7, 2008:
These are nice images. I especially like high-contrast lake-sky photos, fire and the dog. Nice work
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