Sunday, August 20, 2017

A Moyie (Mo--ee--ay) Day





We ate deli fried chicken and deviled-egg tater salad in the land of large fish yesterday. That was while batting away hungry bees with rolled up newspapers. 

Shortly after noon, my daughter-in-law Debbie and I took off toward Bonners Ferry, stopped off at a couple of stores and stocked up on goodies for a picnic with Bill and Willie.  

On our way, we also enjoyed a quick visit with a horse-loving friend Marv, who had just returned from spending the past year or so in Ireland. 
Marv  Lagerwey


The Bill-Willie fishing team had already headed for the Moyie River with their fly rods and waders.  

By the time we saw the father and son, they were hungry for food---unlike the fish in the river. Twasn't til later that the fish started liking the looks of those flied dropping on the Moyie waters.

Bill loves to tell unsuspecting visitors that he'll take them to a place where they're gonna see some really big fish.  When they roll across the railroad tracks and arrive at the picnic grounds, they start seeing the big fish----OUT OF WATER.

Yup, those fish sculptures, placed in prominent spots around the picnic ground, don't really care much about flies or bees or hooks.  Except for some occasional vandalism, their metal bodies are safe from extinction. 

And so, we survived the bees, had a nice visit with the anglers and then headed on our way, going south on Meadow Creek Road. Just a mile or so down the road from the picnic ground, we saw some more big fish.  

These trout were live and swimming, and they don't feed so much on flies cuz they eat a lot of bread, thrown to them by humans. 

The big trout swimming around the pond next to the deck at Feist Creek Falls Restaurant provide but a portion of the charm to be found at this eating place, serving railroad workers and anyone wanting an excellent meal and some local color in a remote, beautiful location. 

The falls themselves, cascading down a moss-covered rock wall to feed the fish pond, are stunningly lovely any time of year.  

When Debbie and I arrived yesterday, we enjoyed another part of Feist Creek charm.  It was late Saturday afternoon, and the locals and their dogs were gathering in front of the restaurant.  Both a Kelty and a blue heeler greeted us, along with several friendly residents.

I visited with Justin, a California transplant with a white beard, bright red tenny runners and two armloads of tattoos. Justin told me he's an artist and that he pretty much thinks he's found Heaven in his new little corner of the world up the Moyie near Canada. 

The fact that Debbie was wearing the Trinity College t-shirt Bill had given her was not lost on one of the diners on the deck behind the restaurant.  

Immediately spotting her logo as she came around the corner, he told us of his friend who coaches at Trinity College and of his visit to the Book of Kels in June just a few weeks before we had visited Dublin. 

Next time he's taking his wife and visiting the whole Emerald Isle, he told us. 

We moved on down the road and turned into Meadow Creek Campground, a longtime family favorite.  The campground hosts were there, and once again Debbie drew the attention.  

They know her from their experience of volunteering at the Bonner County Food Bank, where she works as the director. 

Jack and Judy, who live the rest of the year near Elmira, were quite welcoming and happy to visit.  We learned all about of setting up camp there in the weeks before the campground officially closes for the season.  And, we might just give it a try.

We toured the grounds and looked at the possibilities and then headed for home.  As we pulled into the Colburn farm, Barbara, Laurie and their friend Nancy had just arrived from a day of looking at Arabian horses over in Montana.  

Seems that some more of those lovely creatures will be making their way over to Idaho.

I learned this morning that the fish in the Moyie did eventually get hungry with Bill and Willie catching and releasing about 20 fish each. 

Yesterday's outing offered a nice change of pace and some great moments of natural beauty and good visiting.  On my way home from the Colburn farm, Mama and her baby Bambi's were enjoying some grass alongside the road. 

Twas a fun day. 

Happy Sunday. 




























No comments: