Stories of the sea have been around since the invention of the boat.
The classic The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway still hold up as a great novel.
Encapsulating Hemingway’s favorite themes of physical and moral challenge, this is the story of an old Cuban fisherman struggling to overpower a beastly marlin. Our rendition would be The Old Woman and the sea. A Canadian fisher woman attempting to overpower the Halibut. Could there be similarities?
We head out into Queen Charlotte Sound to Georges Bank- halibut pole, octopus candy (squid) and our spear.
First day Nothing!
As tornadoes do, whirlpools wander on wayward and arbitrary tracks that make them seem full of inscrutable purpose. A whirlpool might suddenly lunge sideways to snatch at a boat, emphasis on caution, respect, due preparation and keeping both hands on the wheel always a must. The passes require planning and diligence. This will be the pathway to our elusive halibut. ( I thought I would attempt to write like my high school English days) Must have too much time on my hands!
The last blog found us at Heriot Bay. Since then we traveled North to Octopus Island Marine Park. Here we prawned and were rewarded with about 200 prawns six inches in size (heads on). Three Dungeness crabs about 8 inches across and 2 females we had to throw back.
We were requested by our future boss to try and intercept two boats that were headed to Greenway Sound as the owners were going to be delayed. As luck would have it they anchored in Octopus Islands with us. The owners of The Cheryl Lynn are a retired firefighter from Seattle and a retired Junior High Entertainer (teacher). The owners of the Dream Catcher a retired pharmacist and his wife who co-owned several Hallmark stores. Very nice couples.
We would continue on catching more prawns and crab.
We headed to Alert Bay where we stayed for the weekend as Gale force winds were blowing in Johnstone and Queen Charlottes Straits. While we were in Alert Bay we befriended a native named Ben. Four sockeye salmon were now ours. The easiest fishing we have done.
Such a treat having fresh clams, prawns, crab, oysters and salmon, and not having to worry about paying for an expensive tab at the end! Our freezer is already getting full.
We headed across the Strait to spend the evening at Booker’s Lagoon then will meet the float plane for 1400 hr with our bosses aboard. The vacation stops our new jobs begin. Not hard to take when your back yard is full of eagles soaring and playing.
We left Booker Lagoon at 0700 hr as fog was engulfing the lagoon. We needed to get through Booker Passage while we still had visibility. Booker Passage is a very short narrow passage with rocks strewed throughout. Unbeknownst to us we were also passing through on a 6 kn. Ebb. It was too late no going back. We increased the speed and went through the eddies and overfalls. Ahead I could see what looked like a sea otter or something in the water. Maybe a log. As we got closer it was apparent it was a black bear fishing the back eddies. Under these conditions one must keep control of the boat even if it meant pushing the bear. The bear made a slow turn to swim towards shore. The excellent skipper managed to pass the bear unscaved. No pictures. Too much excitement! Just prior to this the excellent skipper said bears wouldn’t be here!
Time on the boat is a continuous surprise. Discovering Ken and faucets of myself I have never suspected were there.
I have always been astonished at Ken’s talents electrician, shipwright, mechanic, meteorologist to name but just a few things.
I marvel at the mountains around us, the water, the boat, the sun, the wind, stars and especially the wildlife. I saw a mink out the galley window on the rocks at low tide.
New pictures available. Until the next writings …….. continuing the Halibut search. I have caught them but can’t seem to get them on the boat. Honest!
I will post this then the pictures. Sorry about the delay. We have been busy retired!
