tacos al pastor December 1, 2008
Posted by saltcastings in Family.Tags: tacos al pastor
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Took a stab last night at one of my favorite mexican dishes, tacos al pastor. Don, Becky, Uncle Beefer, Erin and Kate joined us for dinner. I used this recipe and love the way they turned out. Next time I’m going to grill up some pineapple and add it to the chopped pork just before serving. A friend of mine also suggested rubbing dry mustard on the roast before adding the marinade. Good stuff.
Noah’s first sea-run! November 30, 2008
Posted by saltcastings in Family, Fishing.Tags: Carkeek, mini-ceiver, pink comet, sea run cutthroat
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Noah and I tested the boys’ first pair of waders this morning at Carkeek. John, the old guy from Patrick’s, was just coming off the water after a shutout as we were gearing up in the parking lot. After he identified
my mystery fly as a pink comet, we scampered across the bridge. My plan was to do the casting and let Noah start getting the feel for managing the rod and stripping in the fly. I tied on a trusty pink and white mini-ceiver on my 4-5wt with a floating line and leader. The first cast and retrieve was rough. The second was a little better. My third cast was a bomb, the kind when you wish you had another five feet of line pooled at your feet. Noah stripped it a few times then bam, a little sea run cutthroat hit. He held the rod while I pulled it in. It was hard to say who was more excited – me or him – though I think I was the one doing most of the hollering. Bright fish, about eight inches, but the poor thing was covered in sea lice.
We worked down the bank a few more yards and saw a fish roll within range but couldn’t get it to rise. A couple of casts later we had another fish follow the fly in and make a pass just at the surface before spooking at the sight of us. Couldn’t tell how big but loved the sight of the bow wake.
Noah decided after that he wanted to play with some other kids on the beach, so I picked up my rod and gave the pink comet a bath. Got one solid hit but that was all.
Eglon road trip November 16, 2008
Posted by saltcastings in Family, Fishing.Tags: Eglon
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The boys and I jumped on the Kingston ferry this morning, javanated when we landed and used the power of Google Navigator to wind our way up the coast and down to the beach at Eglon. Great little saltwater park with a covered eating area and fire pit. I was pleasantly surprised to find it had a public boat launch, though the lot was small enough to make you realize it could easily turn into a pre-dawn rodeo of tail lights and fisticuffs on a busy summer morning.
I waded in just north of the launch in the outgoing tide, working my way over to a small gravel bar, then out as far as I could go before heading up the beach. Just after I switched out a pink mini-ceiver to a pink candy/clouser I hooked a decent fish, probably in the 14-inch range. Guessing it was a local salmon given the fact it was very silver and it didn’t immediately come out of the water like most of the sea runs I’ve caught. Regardless, he spit the hook as I was taking in the slack and making my way back to shore so Noah could muscle him in. My long-distance release skills seem to be improving, unfortunately.
Saw two other nice fish jump within casting range but couldn’t get either to take a fly. Our plan was to motor north to Point No Point but certain crew mates got hungry so we turned back to Kingston for burritos at Salsa – one of our faves.
3-and-oh-my-goodness November 16, 2008
Posted by saltcastings in Family.Tags: Hillwood Spiders, soccer
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Jack’s U8 Hillwood Spiders finished another [nearly] perfect season this fall. I say nearly because they had their first tie in three years. Hard to believe they haven’t lost a single game since the team came together. I ended up coaching more games than I expected as Coach Bill got short-sheeted on the schedule and had to juggle his other sons’ games most Saturdays, but it worked out fine in the end. From L: me, Cameron, Issac, Kristoffer, Theo, Timmy, Jack, Jack, Caleb, Coach Bill. GO SPIDERS!
For Sale: 1961 98cc Ducati Bronco November 5, 2008
Posted by saltcastings in All-purpose.Tags: Ducati Bronco, vintage Ducati
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Finally coming to terms with the fact that I just don’t have the time or energy to dive into the Bronco project. I listed her on Craigslist and Adventurerider.com this week and got a surprising number of responses – two local guys are coming to take a look and a guy from San Fran is calculating shipping charges. Update: SOLD!.
Missing school October 29, 2008
Posted by saltcastings in Family.1 comment so far
You don’t have to go to missing school, Jack. You already know how to miss real good.
–Noah to Jack after the ball Jack threw across the living room whizzed past his head.
LuLu gotsa toofer! October 27, 2008
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Lucy cut her first tooth this weekend. Dawn noticed it while feeding her in the car on the way to John Jones’ annual pumpkin carving bash in Greenlake. I may be biased, but it’s one of the cutest little teeth I’ve ever seen.
Shutout on the Stilly October 21, 2008
Posted by saltcastings in Family, Fishing.Tags: sea run cutthroat, Stillaguamish, Stilly
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The boys and I headed north on Sunday to fish for sea run cutthroat on the Stillaguamish. We met Gary K. at the Denny’s just outside Arlington, and after a quick map consult and a cuppa, decided to try our luck around where the river intersects the town of Silvana.
Our first attempt at gaining river acess came up short when the friendly caretaker of the town’s nicest trailer park reminded us we were on private property. And that we had also been driving over the park’s posted speed limit. Apparently the cordless phone he was waving around also doubles as a radar gun.
We found some legal ground just north of where Larson Rd. crosses the river and dropped in to fish a long sweeping hole. Beautiful water, semi-clear, perfect temp. I was carrying both rods set up to fish different depths while the boys were armed with a Zebco and Mepps spinner.
Thirty minutes after we hit the water, the boys had given up on fishing. A while later I could see them badgering Gary at the far end of the hole, then they slipped out of sight. When I caught up with them about a half hour later, they were covered in wet sand, shoes off, hurtling themselves off a sand cliff and tumbling to the bottom. Thank god I’d brought changes of clothes for the trip home.
In the meantime, I threw everything but the fly box to no avail. Muddler, yellow spider, reverse spider and even an egg pattern in frustration. Made some great casts, too, and even made a game out of hitting the eddys on the far side of the river. Gary picked up a steelhead smolt and a decent sized cutt from a hole down the way, though he had to cover a bit of water for both of them.
Fantastic day on the river. Can’t wait to go back.
