Mission: to boldly fish where no man has gone before

Actually, it's not exciting as the title suggests: it's better!  JU is very passionate about fishing.

This past weekend's mission was to search out one place where we have not fished.

0645 on Saturday, a text message was sent to brother Wiz that JU and the Miracle Squad were heading up the mountain.  We met up at Micky's in Placerville.  At this location, we decided to go to the West Carson River, South of the Pickett's Junction.

We got to our destination and were excited to see no vehicles parking nearby.  As we scouted the area, we were surprised to find three fishermen already fishing.  Since they occupied two corners of the river, we took up the other two empty spots.  Within five minutes, the father and sons team left with some trout and Team United had the entire place.  JU was very adamant in trying out his new fly fishing setup.  For twenty minutes, he tried dry flies and wet flies, but was not successful in hooking any fish, although he could see fish chasing his flies and sucking and spitting out his flies too :-(  Setting the hook was not an easy task.  At the end of the twenty minutes, JU scored ZERO!  The Wiz and the Miracle Squad, on the other hand were getting a fish as soon as the bait hit the water.  We started fishing around 10 AM and by 10:20 AM, we already got a stringer of 8 good size rainbow and releasing a bunch of little guys.  But since this was a location we already knew, it was time to pack up.

Here fishy, fishy...

At least the view is awesome :-)

Even a four-year-old can catch fish

We proceeded further South on Highway 88.  We pulled over to a spot that we had not fished before just as the same father/sons team we met earlier picked up with a bag full of trout.  The father told us to go down to the deep pool.  Team United found a nice shaded area and spread out three mats for a picnic.  Wiz and JU went up and down looking for the deep pool, but could not find it.  JU hiked about a quarter of a mile of river bend, but found no sign of fish.  Coming back to the picnic site, JU told Wiz to just drop the line directly in front.  The water was brownish and murky; it was difficult to see to the bottom.  Five minutes and no fish?  We started questioning if the father gave us false intel, may be he was a student of Mr. Pickle (inside joke).  Anyway, JU went opposite to the river and started to cast out the Genuine Silver Plate Thomas Thunderbolt.  BAM.  Fish on!  It was a 12-inch keeper.  We took back all the bad things we said about the father giving us the wrong intel.  Once JU found out where the fish pooled up, it was back to the fly fishing.  Once again, the same result for JU :-(  Also, the same result for Wiz and the Miracle Squad.  All in all it was a fantastic day among fantastic company: mission accomplished!
 

Catch me if you can.

Great cast, no hookup :-(

Fresh water is good for my hair

I'm four.

Right there boys, see 'em?

Where's your fly fishing pole, dad?

Mission accomplished!

New location.

FAT 2013 in Idaho

Five years ago, we decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary by taking our children along for an entire week of retreat.  We called these trips our Fun Anniversary Trip (FAT)!

FAT 2009 - Burney Falls, CA

FAT 2010 - Big Sur, CA

FAT 2011 - Crater Lake, OR

FAT 2012 - Lake Davis, CA

This year's trip began in Northern California to Southern Idaho, a twelve hour drive with breaks included.  We traversed through the States of Nevada and Oregon before arriving at our destination: Boise, Idaho.  We lost an hour due to the Mountain Central time zone change around the State of Oregon.  Thank God for an added driver.  In Nevada, JU got a little needed rest while Miss Mystic took over.  She maneuvered us through a rough construction zone stretch where we had to drive on top of the rumble strips.  Yikes!  We finally arrived in Boise, Idaho, around 10:30 pm, Sunday, 7/28.

Neat rock formation along the way.

Lots of canyons.

Only a couple of hours to go...

I've had a nice nap, so give me a tour mommie.

Monday, 7/29.  JU found out that Cabela's was practically around the corner from the Hampton Inn where he was staying.  What fisherman would pass up a chance for a visit?  So, a visit to Cabela's was made.  Then onto the famous Snake River.  First, we viewed the river from an overlook.  JU saw some people fishing in the river.  Thus, the family managed to find a way down to ground zero to see the river up close and personal.  We talked with a family fishing and asked permission to take a picture of their daughter holding the catch.  Dropping night crawlers in the river was the trick of the day, except keepers must be 12-inch or bigger.

It's a good thing Mrs. M. is the Financial Officer.

Five happy kids.

And a happy couple.

I think there's someone fishing down there...  Take a tour.

Snake River at ground zero.

Darn, JU didn't purchase an Idaho fishing license for the day.

A fish every cast, but 12-inch or bigger are hard to come by.

A clean, maintained park all to ourselves.

At night time, the children enjoyed a swim in an indoor swimming pool in the hotel.

I'm having so much fun.

Tuesday, 7/30.  We enjoyed a trip through the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.  This round trip was roughly 350 miles.  We saw the area known as the America Alps where famous people such as Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and members of the Kennedy family frequented in the past.  During this trip, Miss Z2da3rd earned a new name.  We saw a tree on the side of a hill with a steep slope and said that whoever got to the tree first would win $10.  No one dared attempt the feat except for Miss Z2da3rd.  We woke a sleeping giant!  She did it so effortlessly, that we had to give her a new name: Miss Mountain Climber or Miss MC!  The view was very breathtaking.  What stood out the most was that there were very few tourists, unlike popular places in California.

Unfortunately, we didn't see Ash (Pokemon) here :-(

Click here for more info.

No traffic - love it!

Picnic in the middle of the forest.

Now do you believe, JU was cut by the scales of a radio-active monster fish?

I'm no longer Miss Z2da3rd - I'm Now Miss MC (Mountain Climber)!

Idaho Rainbow trout

At Redfish Lake

Redfish Lake

Empty camp grounds with white sandy beach.

Beautiful forest surrounding.

Wednesday, 7/31.  We visited Bruneau Dunes State Park, reportedly the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America, 470 feet high above small lakes. Borrowed words from Wikipedia: "The dunes at Bruneau Dunes State Park are unique in the Western Hemisphere.  Other dunes in the Americas form at the edge of a natural basin.  The Bruneau dunes form near the center.  The basin has acted as a natural trap for over 12,000 years."  Mrs. Miracles and the Miracles Squad (more on this at the end of the article) gave up after climbing a third of the way to the peak.  JU persisted all the way to the top of the dune.  Near the top, the slope was roughly 80% and JU had to use his super power to get to the very top!  Actually, digging fingers and crawled and struggled to the top :-)  The view was fantastic from the top; unfortunately, JU had no camera while at the top.  Once again, we practically had the park to ourselves.

Featured in Idaho, the Movie DVD.

Checking out the history.

We are blessed!

Yeah!  We made it to Idaho.

Am I there yet?

On top of the dune.

Another beautiful picnic.

Thursday, 8/1.  Our last sightseeing day in Idaho, we were blessed to visit Niagara Springs State Park, Shoshone Falls, Dierkes Lake, and the City of Twin Falls.

At Niagara Springs, we were surrounded by many springs with water gushing out the sides of the mountain with tremendous fury.  It was a very peaceful and awesome place to be.  At the bottom of one of the springs was Crystal Lake.  The water in Crystal Lake was so clear that we saw fishes at the very bottom; however, they didn't like what we had to offer (power eggs and lures).  Should have brought the fishing license for the day before.

Thousand springs are located in this area.

Cool flower.

Supposedly a thousand springs like these are in the area.

Private Park

They do not like power eggs :-(

Shoshone Falls, sometimes called Niagara of the West, boasted a 212 feet drop or 45 feet higher than Niagara Falls.  JU was able to capture a beautiful rainbow at the bottom Shoshone Falls.  Once again, there were hardly any tourists as compared to popular places in California.  Click on the "Shoshone Falls" caption below to see a video clip.

Snake River downstream from Shoshone Falls.

Shoshone Falls.

Beautiful day.

Having a great time.

Can use this as a post card.

In the same vicinity, we visited Dierkes Lake.  The locals turned this lake into a paradise for families to play, swim, or fish.  Many jumped off a cliff into the lake.  Miss MC could not pass up the opportunity.  She jumped off a 15 - 20 feet cliff into the lake to cool off.

This is why I'm now Miss Mountain Climber!

Take me to the play grounds, daddy.

Swimming pool by the side of the mountain.

Finally, the family decided to get some grubs at Wendy's in the nearby City of Twin Falls before heading back to Boise.  On the way to the restaurant, the children spotted Sportsman's Warehouse?!?  (You know JU has got to make a stop.)  Therefore, after dinner, we looked for the Sportsman Warehouse that we passed.  When we parked the van in the parking lot, we were in for a fantastic treat!  It turned out that at that location was a beautiful bridge connecting the canyons of the Snake River and provided another spectacular view overlooking the Snake River.  In addition, people parachuted off the bridge to the bottom of the river!  We saw two people did this.  It was stupendous.  Miss MC and JU were just craving to do the same thing.  Maybe next time :-(

Habadabada.....  Can I go in now?

Getty up.

Faster!

Amazing Civil Engineer work!

People parachuted off this bridge.

Great concept - Shopping mall with a view.

I am Miss MC!

It's a long way down.

Another spring feeding the Snake River.

Afterwards we realized that we were short on drinking water.  Thus, we went to a nearby Walmart to buy a case of water.  One of JU's favorite thing to do at Walmart or any other stores that carry fishing supply was to look over the fishing equipment section.  It was a good thing, and JU hit a jack pot!  JU grabbed a bunch of fly fishing equipment at 75% reduction from the clearance prices.  For example, JU was able to purchase a complete fly fishing package consisting of rod, reel, line, and fly box for roughly $10 EACH!!!  Unfortunately, now JU gotta pay for fly fishing lessons :-(

Johnny United, the Ultimate Shopper?  Nah....

Friday, 8/2.  The blessings continued.  On the way back to California, Scheels was on the way.  A quick stop was made to confirm what an excellent deal was made the night before, namely, the fly fishing sets were near A HUNDRED EACH, instead of TEN!  Finally, we had dinner at Denny's.  The significant was that around many moons ago, JU proposed to Mrs. M. at a Denny's.  From that humble beginning, the adventures start....

Another fisherman store?

I just like the lights and the fish tank inside Scheels.

Do you have a quarter?

We can't be poor, if we have each other.

At the conclusion of the ACT 2013 and FAT 2013, we traveled 2,700 miles!!!  The Miracle Kids graduated.  From this moment on, they are the Miracle Squad!

Thank You Lord for Your many blessings...