Shocked, Amazed and Confused

Those were the feelings that went through our heads as we arrived at our friends Dave and Leslie's place in Leduc, just outside of Nisku Alberta. Our entire reason for taking this circuitous route was so we could stop by and see them. 

We first met Dave and Leslie in January of 2018 in Quartzsite Arizona where we were spending the winter out in the desert boondocking with a group of friends we met the previous years. They were visiting mutual friends of ours from British Columbia; Steve and Dianne. We hit it off with them right away and have met up several times over the years both in Arizona and South Dakota. Now it was our turn to stop and see them!

We pulled into the driveway of their country estate to spend 3 days of catching up and enjoying the area. They came out to greet us with hugs and got the rig set up and walked into their house. 

Barb was a few steps ahead of me as we entered their house. She turned, walked into the kitchen and screamed! What the heck?!? I then walked into the kitchen to see our B.C. friends Steve and Dianne standing in the kitchen! So many things go through your head when you experience something like that. Confusion is the first, as your brain processes what you are seeing. Then shocked that they are there, followed by amazed that they actually took the time and expense to fly out to join us. Steve is taking a video of our reactions so if you want to see our shocked, amazed and confused looks, you can watch it here.  

What followed was three days of fun and laughter... and food. OMG, the filets they prepared the first night were to die for. We have not had a good steak in so long. When then adjourned to the living room for what is basically the Superbowl in Canada. Well, not quite the Superbowl, but certainly the divisional playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers were playing the Dallas Stars.

It was a good night as the Oilers pulled it off. Believe me, you do not want to be around neither Dave nor Leslie after an Oilers loss.  

The next day started with a hike along the North Saskatchewan River in Voyageur Park in Devon with the girls. 

After dropping the girls off back home, we headed over to Rig Hand Distillery just down the road for a tour Dave had arranged. This combination distillery/brewery had been started several years ago by a couple of oil workers that had been laid off. 

They also serve food, so we headed into the main area for a few cocktails and a meal. Barb and Leslie got a Ceasar flight

Then it was back home for a game of 10,000 around the fire. 

Nothing but the best from the Rouche's as they served their wine in a stemmed mason jar complete with a lid! Dianne may or may not have taken a tumble at one point ending up on her back in the grass. I can neither confirm nor deny that rumor. 

Even Zoey get in on the action!

Our last day there consisted of a hike, a visit to Sea Change Brewery, lunch at Blackjacks and another evening of watching the Oilers trounce the Stars. Next up, the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals!

The entire three days went way too fast and before we knew it, Steve and Dianne were off to the airport and Barb, I and the girls were off to parts unknown. What a great visit! Dave and Leslie were incredible hosts. We have plans to get together in the fall of '25, see you then guys!

Our parts unknown were really not unknown, they were just a few hours west into Whitecourt where we spent the night, then onto Dawson Creek which is the official start of the Alaska Highway! Between Whitecourt and Dawson Creek was the town of Beaverlodge. How could we not stop and take our picture with the world's biggest beaver!??!?

In Dawson Creek we did laundry and stopped by the Post & Row Brewing Co. where Barb had a flight of Ceasers (basically the same thing as a Bloody Mary) and I had a Strawberry Lemonade drink that sounded quite refreshing but was a little more flamboyant than I thought. While we were sitting there, we each bought an 8-day BC fishing license ($50 each) on our phones and were ready to catch some fish!

We spent the night several miles outside of Dawson Creek along a high bridge that spanned the Kiskatinaw river. A quiet and remote spot.

We walked down to the river, a pretty steep grade. The thing about going down a steep grade is that you have to walk back up. A good workout for the day. Zoey got a new rain jacket; she is not a fan. 

The next day we were ready to begin our fishing adventure! I know many of you who have been reading our blog for a while know that Barb and I have an ongoing battle of who catches the most and the biggest fish. This year I was bound and determined to take the title for both of these categories! 

Arriving at Inga Lake, it was wet, muddy and raining. We set up at the campground right on the lake (which is free) and I set up our fly rods. I then went out to start my quest for the first fish of the trip. My second cast, it felt like something was weird with my flyrod. It was then that I noticed that the top 8” of my rod was missing. Well, it was not missing, but it was broken off and sitting on the line down by my fly. I am pretty sure Barb sabotaged me already!

 

The next day I set up one of our spinning rods, our remaining flyrod and Barb and I drove to the other end of the lake to start fishing. It was still drizzling and wet, but we made the most of it. Barb had two on, got one right to shore, but as you all know, unless you put your hands on it, it does not count.

I put my hands on not one, but two really nice trout! That’s right ladies and gentlemen, I am up 2-0 leading both the most and the largest fish categories. 

Perhaps I should break the rest of our rods right now and call it a win!