October 9, 2022 Happy Thanksgiving

Sunshine bounced off Okanagan Lake like a light shining into a mirror. The gleam of the warm sun’s rays heated the water and warmed the air to record levels. It warmed the souls of the four friends as they glided across the silky waters.

Barrman, Kaydee, Cookster, and Crispie embraced the 25-degree temperatures on a beautiful Thanksgiving afternoon. Fishing the surface they cruised toward Hardy Creek south of Peachland in hopes of a jiggle on the end of their line. The day was amazing and the company was pretty good too. It was one of the best ways to spend a holiday Sunday. 

Barrman was happy to have his wife and friends along to share such a memorable day. The fall has been the warmest on record with many temperature highs exceeding anything that had come before. Cookster made some delicious wraps and the afternoon couldn’t have been more perfect. Well, if they’d caught an elusive lake lunker it would have been perfect. As it was Cookster felt a few tugs on his hook and even got one leaping for freedom. 

Cookster giggled with excitement as his rod bent with the tug of a fish, “fish on!”

The rest of his friends cheered him on and watched the rainbow trout leap into the air behind the boat. It broke the surface and the flash of silver twisted above the surface of the lake. 

“Come on fishy, come to papa.”

The rainbow’s flash came closer and Barrman grabbed the net. “You got this Cookster.”

“Come on hon, there it is, it’s jumping again.” Crispie grinned and pointed, only twenty feet off the back of the boat the rainbow trout leaped into the air and tail danced, “oh no!”

Barrman felt his stomach sink as he watched the fish spit the hook, turn and swim away. It seemed as if the fish laughed when it gained its freedom.

“The fish saw the boat and got scared. It was determined to make its escape,” Crispie shrugged, she still had a smile on her face as she tried to console Cookster.

“Damn, I shouldn’t have played it so much. Oh well, that was exciting.” Cookster sat down his shoulders sagged just a little.

“That’s what keeps bringing us back, eh Cookster?” Barrman gave Cookster a big smile as if to say he’d been there many times before.

They were almost to the creek when Barrman grabbed his rod and felt a tug on the end of the line. “Fish on!” he looked over at his buddies and started to reel in his line. The line tugged and Barrman reeled it in, “It’s not a big one but I think it will be a keeper.”

Kaydee grabbed the net and went to the back of the boat waiting for her husband to reel in his prize.

He landed it without too much trouble and the fish looked as if it was big enough to keep. It certainly was big enough for a decent meal for the two of them. The hook was pretty big for the size of fish and its mouth was torn.

“This guy won’t survive so we may as well eat it,” Barrman grabbed the bucket, filled it with water, and put his fish in.

They drifted for a minute and threw in the anchor in front of Hardy Creek in hopes of finding some fish feeding at the mouth. Earlier in the year, the flowing water turned red with spawning Kokanee. The highway crossed the small creek where it enters the lake and the friends sat and relaxed in the afternoon sun. Casting a line and hoping to catch a fish. The worst thing they could say about where they were floating was the traffic noise was bad.

It was another first-world problem. 

The solution was to turn up the music.

Alas, all good things must come to an end. The sun began its inevitable descent below the surrounding mountains and the friends went to The Blind Angler restaurant to enjoy an unconventional Thanksgiving dinner. One with great company and a view of an amazing harvest moon that popped up almost like magic above the horizon.

The day before, Barrman and Kaydee spent Thanksgiving Saturday with her family, It was the traditional dinner complete with turkey and all the fixings. This night was about connecting with the world and their friends. 

Canadians everywhere celebrated Thanksgiving weekend in their own way. This was one to remember for the four friends. A fish on the line, warm rays of sunshine, and good company.

No matter what the day brings it is good to be thankful for what we have. 

Crispie, Cookster, Kaydee, and Barrman sat together and raised their glasses in a toast, “Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.”