The Family Vacation

I know that some of you have been waiting a long time for these pictures but we are having computer malfunctions at home so I am having to do all this on my super slow lame-ass computer at work.

Anyhoo, a couple weeks ago Aaron and I, My sister and her family and My mom and Dad all convened in Fernie B.C. for a week long family holiday. We all stayed (all 8 of us) in a three bedroom condo right in the heart of town. Although not fancy, it had three bedrooms and two bathrooms so we managed to have enough space not to kill each other, barely.

SATURDAY:Aaron and I arrived and spent our first night in a hotel, missing our sleep number bed.

SUNDAY: We met up with Colleen,Curtis Daniel and Claire at the condo. Sunday night we all headed to the river so the guys could fish and the kids could swim. It took a lot of convincing but eventually Daniel took the plunge and swam across the river, Claire soon followed. Let's be clear here, we were in a side tributary where the water was VERY slow and was only over their heads for about a six foot width. Just down from us, Aaron was testing his rod and Curtis was supervising since he didn't have his license yet.

Aaron is in the water on the left, Curtis is standing on shore keeping an eye on things on the right.

Monday: We headed to The Blue Toque for breakfast about noon. Shortly after we ate, Mom and Dad arrived and the boys got their fishing stuff organised while the girls went grocery shopping. We spent most of the rest of the day hanging out, watching the Mr. Bean DVD, cooking dinner and waiting for the men to get back from fishing.

Tuesday: A pretty low key day as the guys got up in the morning to go fishing Mom and I hung out chatting while Colleen slept in. The guys came home mid-day then headed out again in the evening when the temperature cooled down again. This time Claire and I followed to get some pictures and see what all the fuss was about. We went about ten miles south of town to a lovely spot on the Elk River.

Waiting for the guys to get geared up.

Headed to the cliff of rocks we had to climb down to get to the river. No one told me not to wear flip flops.

Dad trying to trick the big ones hiding at the bottom of these rocks.

Curtis, showing us his skills. You know numchuck skills, fishing skills....

Aaron checking out this gorgeous pool to see if there are any takers.

Hey, Dad caught one. He's little but what a fighter.

Who wouldn't want to fish with this scenery?

The view from the top of the rock cliff after Claire and I climbed back up to go home. We were told the really big ones started to bite after Claire and I left, just before dark. Likely story.

Wednesday: An all girls day so what did we do?? SHOPPING!! We toured both sides of Main Street Fernie with a stop for lunch and a little rest. It was so fun to do girly things with my mom, sister and niece. Again the guys were fishing.

Thursday: Aaron and I had a little one on one time. We really took our time, stopped in Sparwood (home of the worlds largest dump truck) for a light lunch then headed to Michelle Creek for a couple hours of fishing for Aaron, reading and photography for me.
We hiked a little down stream to find a good spot to work back to the car. This time I wore running shoes.

Ha HA, hooked into one!

Good sized beautiful colored cut throat trout.

Fishing near the railroad bridge.

This little chipmunk seemed very interested in what I was doing on his rocks. He came right up on the rock beside me to check me out then scurried off.

FRIDAY: Was supposed to be a chill out in the river day after another trip to the Blue Toque but plans changed and I hopped in the truck with the guys to go find the Wigwam river. That thing is hard to find! Lets just say it took us two and a half hours to find it and 45 minutes to get home and we had THREE maps. If it weren't for Curtis' big truck we would never have gotten in or out.

Once we finally found the right road, this was our first attempt to actually get to the river. We got out of the truck and hiked down a path that took a sharp right turn and ended in a huge cliff. It's hard to see but if you look closely you can see the river winding its way through the canyon about 200 ft below. Back in the truck boys, this isn't gonna work.

Holy crap!! This hill is steep, narrow and drops pretty sharply into the trees on one side! But it's the only path we found down to the water that looked well travelled so Curtis threw it in 4x4 and down we went.

The view down stream of the Wigwam from the parking spot.

Dad, Curtis and Daniel supporting each other as they wade across this swift river. Where was I you might ask? Standing back thinking that I could get across no problem. It wasn't until I was half way across, waist deep, and shaking so bad I wasn't sure I could take another step when I figured " I should have asked for help".

Curtis standing on the far bank of the river looking down into the water telling Dad where the fish are, how many of them are lurking down there and how big they are.

One of the very cool looking rocks you can find in this river. In addition to these patterns there are dark and light pink ones and blues ones. They were so pretty. I had been told about these rocks before we left Seattle which was one of the reasons I wanted to come see this place for myself.

To alleviate all your worries, I did make it across the river but Aaron helped me back to the truck. This is also one of two pictures of me on the whole trip. And in case you're wondering, yes, I do have a tan.

Dad fishing that hole that Curtis is coaching him on.

Aaron a little upstream fishing the first hole where he got a hit on his first cast.

Daniel sitting on a log, watching the action and trying to stay warm. We only had about an hour and half to get geared up, cross the river, fish and get back across before it got dark. And let me tell you, up in the mountains, wet to the waist as the sun goes down is NOT FUN. Note to self, get some damn waders you cheapskate.

I know this is hard to see but it is a picture of Curtis fishing the infamous Wigwam river. Near the end as is got close to dark, he grabbed a rod to try his luck.

Unfortunately, that evening our luck was used up on me getting across the river safely. Just before we left Daniel constructed this Inukshuk to help us find our way back should we ever return, thanks D.

SATURDAY: Aaron and I had breakfast with the whole clan (at Smitty's this time since the service was pretty slow and the food made a couple people sick at the BT) then jumped in the car and headed back to Seattle. We had a great time but as always it could have been longer and I feel that us ladies need to spend less time cooking and more time doing what we want to do. Also, next time I will take pictures of something other than fishing!! Looking forward to the next one!