Tuesday, October 03, 2006

roadtrip(final installment)

We pulled into our Stamp River campground in the last warmth of the day, the final moments of dappled sunlight helping us find our perfect site... making sure we had a spot where we could hear the water in our pop-up tent throughout the night and had an easy walk down to dip our feet into the crisp, clean water....
..........like so.

We stoked up a good hot fire when the coolness came down. We roasted smokies and ate too many...drank beers by firelight, watched the stars in our tiny patch of sky over the trees, listened to the chatter of the river over the rocks until we couldn't keep our eyes open any longer.
We woke to a foggy morning heralded by birds and tree frogs...and the arrival of fishermen...the Chinook are running and as long as you are in possession of a fishing license, and are not taking advantage of the staging areas where the fish gather to go upstream, it is salmon season. Good luck, everyone. Wish we had remembered licenses...and poles strong enough for a Chinook. Next year, my friends, next year.
Here is the fish ladder...at the top of the falls, so I don't really understand HOW this helps the fish at all...
Here, below the falls, the fish are lining up to attempt to "swim" upstream. It is more like Leaps of Faith...(make the picture bigger, there are LOTS of fish in there!)
The water here is super-oxygenated from the waterfall...already the fish are leaping, expending precious energy they will need to climb the falls. The splashes are so loud, like a big, fat man doing a belly flop in a pool. Isn't this amazing, everyone? Thousands and thousands of fish coming back to where they were born to lay eggs and die? Nature rocks! Doesn't She? It is incomprehensible, the number of fish we saw...and yet, what were those numbers like 100 years ago? 200 years ago? I can barely take this in and I was looking right at it...what was this sight like then?!?
Look at them....just look at them...we will never be as strong as them...it will never happen that we will be as strong as this...remember that...we may have big brains, but without them, we would be lost. Love nature...love the design. Respect, respect, respect.
Here they come....
Go, you mighty act of god and nature, go!!!! Good luck!

9 comments:

Biddie said...

Amazing..Sometimes watching something so incredible can really put things into perpesctive.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous fish photos and you didn't have to make up any tall tales to go along with them, either...the proof is right there. I do hope Emma enjoyed the camping experience...she must think she's reached heaven being with you.
P.S. Love the pink shoes, darling!

dilling said...

barb, I thought you might like those!!!

gawilli said...

Wonderful post!

"mighty act of god and nature"
...The mighty Amen and So Be It.

Michael Colvin said...

It must have been a fabulous experience to witness that. What an incredible sight! Great photos again! How cool to be able to sit outdoors by the fire at night and then just roll into your orange camper van all snug.

Heidi the Hick said...

SPEECHLESS!

.:.KC.:. the brown eyed girl said...

I'm jealous, you were able to do more summer stuff.
Everytime I see your Crocs, I'm tempted to go out and buy a pair but I have yet to do it.

katy said...

let me come next time please!!!!!!

Crafty Missus said...

fantastic shots my dear, blows my mind and makes me hungry - ummmm campfire blacked pacific salmon...