Time keeps flying by, we're already at the official start of summer as the May 24th holiday weekend is here! I started the weekend right with a cold snack on a Friday evening!

Saturday morning I loaded up Project Foreman and headed out to the St. John's Rod and Gun Club to first take care of some equipment maintenance that I continue to look after.

Maintenance for the lawnmower came to a halt when I discovered the dealer gave me the wrong oil filter for the new zero turn machine purchased last summer.

I carried on and got a full service done on the generator, replacing oil, oil filter, both fuel filters and air filter. This will keep the unit running well again this summer.

With my work complete I unloaded Project Foreman and headed into the country behind the club property for some scouting and trouting.

I've explored this ATV trail only a little over the years having never travelled in as far as I did today.

The weather was great with clear sunny skies, cool temps and a decent breeze. While the wind made casting a little tricky it worked wonders to keep the flies away!

I fished a couple gullies on the way in, my final destination today was Velvet Horn pond which was a decent ride along a very rough at times ATV trail. The path is slow going over large rocks and has a few tangly deep mud holes filled with slippery logs to contend with.

Sitka Hudson jacket came in clutch today! I also still love my Patagonia Vest Front Sling pack, it keeps everything in easy reach while not being too bulky.

My Loop Q series set up is still holding up great. It's my regular go to rig for trouting and a backup in case I break/damage my primary G•Loomis NRX+ salmon fishing set up.

On the way out, I stopped at the new pond side clearing at the club. We took on finishing this project last fall, it was one that had been started decades ago. Now we have a beautiful dry area from where members can trout and teach casting techniques.

The area worked great with plenty space to prevent snags on the back cast.

I loaded up early (by trouting standards) and headed home for a barbeque steak dinner with Sandra. The best trouting time is usually coming on dark, but dinner called  me home this day!

Barbeque prime rib steak, baked potato and a few mussels.

Sunday evening after a long day of running around town, Costco, etc I fired up the Pitboss Austin XL to cook another delicious Beer Can Chicken. I used Frank's hot sauce as a binder and seasoned with Meat Church Holy Cow which was as good on 'Cluck' as it is on 'Moo'.

Meater+ Probe still just working great!

Sandra also threw on a Costco Lasagna as she isn't fussy on beer can spicy chicken.

Monday morning we started out our holiday with breakfast on the Blackstone. On the menu today was fried onion/hash browns, bacon and eggs.

I was torn between spending the afternoon at a Billiards Tournament down at Westside, or being responsible and getting stuff done around the house. The later choice prevailed, I picked up the lawn tractor from storage, got the grass cut, cut down some alders outside the back fence, Argo tracks strapped and stored for summer and the yard tidied up.

All in all it was a great weekend with beautiful weather and we were glad to have gotten out and taken advantage of it!

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2025 Michael Smith