Back from Wells Grey BC....

Took our new (to us) travel trailer out to Clearwater, BC, and camped at the KOA near the entrance to Wells Grey Provincial Park.   We spent the better part of a week exploring some of the parks' natural wonders.

The geology of the area is fascinating, with deep, river cut gorges exposing the successive layers of basaltic lava columns laid down by past volcanic eruptions.  The lava beds are said to be 2000m thick!

 

Click on these pics for a larger view...

We recently purchased a LOT of 1 inch thick sliced pentagonal slabs of Basalt for our home landscaping projects at 79 cents per pound... This place is worth a FORTUNE!  lol

 

As the glaciers melted and receded over 14000 years ago, the resulting torrents of water eventually wore down the lava, resulting in many awesome waterfalls throughout the park.

Spahat Falls:

Helmcken Falls:   (At 463 feet, I think it is ranked the 4th highest waterfall in Canada?)

A Clearwater River resident:

Many weird rock formations in odd places... we saw one other natural bridge like this one.  Likely there were many more....

Chinook were spawning while were in the park:  This pic was taken at Bailey's Chute, which is the last stop for the salmon.  They keep trying, but cannot pass this last waterfall.

View of Pyramid Mountain (rain falling on it) from the Green Mountain lookout tower.

We certainly didn't cover all the sights the Park has to offer - It will need another trip, another time.....

 

 

 

Some big boomers

I don't know why, but recently I had an itch for a hunting rifle in one of the big thumper calibers.

So I first obtained a Marlin SBL, which is a classic lever action in the historic 45/70 Govt. caliber. 

 

The SBL designation stands for "Stainless, Big Loop".  It also features a laminate stock, full length magazine tube, and a scope rail.Only an 18 and a 1/5" barrel, and it is super accurate. 

The SBL designation stands for "Stainless, Big Loop".  It also features a laminate stock, full length magazine tube, and a scope rail.

Only an 18 and a 1/5" barrel, and it is super accurate. 

I immediately became fascinated with this caliber!  Accurate, hard-hitting, in a compact package - what's not to like!

And as a reloader, I can taylor make loads that don't punish me if I choose.

So naturally I had to find another variation on this theme.  I found a very nice Winchester/Miroku 1886 take-down rifle.

Had to have it.  It sports a heavy 24" octagonal barrel, which harkens way back to the days of the plains buffalo hunters.

 

On mine, the crescent shaped butt stock was altered to a more traditional shape, like the Marlin above.  This model usually has a 26" barrel, but this one was professionally shortened to improve its' balance. 

On mine, the crescent shaped butt stock was altered to a more traditional shape, like the Marlin above.  This model usually has a 26" barrel, but this one was professionally shortened to improve its' balance.

 

I am still awaiting the arrival of my copy, and will update this post with actual pics and reviews ... can't wait!