Friday August 18, 2017

A bit of a lazy morning and the wind is up. After a while all 3 of us went out to check the prawn traps. There were about 20 (probably more) red rock crabs in each of the 2 Canadian style prawn traps, and not a single prawn. But we did see remnants of a prawn! It seems that the larger openings on these traps let the crabs in as well, and they just eat the bait and the waiting prawns! We also pulled up our US style prawn trap and it had 16 large spot prawns in it and only 1 very small crab. Byron pulled his up as well and, no prawns, just lots of crabs. Unfortunately, he managed to drop 1 of his prawn traps overboard while he was in the midst of changing the bait! And it wasn't attached to anything. So the plan is to just put them back in for a few hours and then pull them again so the crabs don't have a chance to "setup" in the traps. We gave Byron one of our traps so that he had a 2nd on his line and we only needed to put out 1 line instead of 2.

Also picked up the crab traps and Byron had 1 Dungeness and 1 Red Rock. Sue cooked them up for crab cakes! We picked up our crab traps and we also had 1 and 1. So Sue cooked those up as well for more crab cakes later.

Back to Spellbound for coffee and lunch. Apparently Byron and Sue are getting a Telus signal on their iPad, and we're getting nada where we are on our iPad, so we headed over to EG with iPad and laptop in hand. Of course *our* iPad could not get any signal while their's did, so I used theirs. Even so, there was just too much data to move around the link was just too fragile so it didn't work out well. Mac's are just not that great with slow data links. Byron and Greg checked and pulled in the prawn traps again, and we got another 60 odd prawns. Sue and I started cleaning the crab that she had already cooked. Then they returned with a few more very large red rock crabs to add to the bounty. So Sue cooked up those as well. Then we all sat around the table and cleaned mucho crab. We made a *huge* mess, but fortunately it was all contained on the table. The wind was up and blowing the boats around for most of the day, but it wasn't too too bad.

We went back to SB to feed and water the dog and get some supplies for dinner, then back to EG where Sue made crab cakes, I made a salad, and we each had a huge crab cocktail appetizer. Dinner was wonderful. We looked at some Haida Gwai photos and by the time we returned back to Spellbound, it was really dark. I don't know why, but it's still surprising.

Thursday August 17, 2017 - Happy Birthday Mom!

We got underway around 9:30 to head for the slack at Stuart Narrows at 11:00. We allowed extra time so that we could hang out in Wells Passage and get the Telus signal. I needed to make a phone call and we thought that we would download email while there. But there was no Telus signal to be found! Weirdly we had AT&T and Rogers, so I was able to call Mom and wish her a Happy Birthday, but there was no Telus so no data. At least for us! Turns out EG had had data for awhile and so they went ahead and started through a bit early.



As we then started up Drury Inlet, we ended up having to go behind a boat that was apparently not paying attention, or didn't care. And it was slower than us.

We decided to go on the south side of the Muirheads instead of in the nook. That way, we would be closer to EG and have a greater possibility of Telus (or so we remember). It was a lovely flat calm day with no wind. As it turns out, again no Telus for us, but EG was able to pull it in intermittently. But when it did come in, it didn't really work well.

We all had some lunch on EG. The rest of the day was spent putting out prawn traps and crab traps. We all went for a dinghy ride around the Muirheads to make sure it all looked the same and to scout out crab trap locations. There was a commercial crab boat putting traps out where we thought we would put them, so we kept looking. There was a very young eagle standing on the edge of the eagles nest that's on the far eastern islet. It has been there ever since we have been coming here. No sign of any parents though. Byron and Sue went back for their "Boaters Net" call and we headed up to put out our crab traps where the commercial guy was cause we couldn't find any better place. As we were putting them down, we saw first one and then a second black bear on the beach. The first disappeared before we could get closer, but the second one stayed around and kept a wary eye on us. He too started to leave as we got "too close" so we headed back.




Back to SB to feed the dog and make some salsa for an appetizer. Great dinner on EG and a pretty early evening.

Wednesday August 16, 2017

Had some rain last night and this morning and it was low clouds around the bay. Greg went out (in rain pants) to check the prawn traps, while EG had a late and lazy morning. We got more prawns! Again, the "Washington" trap (i.e.: Washington legal which means bigger holes) had way more than the others. Greg back to pick up Byron and they went out to check Byron's traps. Not many but a few more. I had a shower and actually worked on the computer for something completely different!

Lunch back on SB, then Byron and Greg went out fishing. I finished up the work on the computer and then did some reading. It had stopped raining and warmed up a bit, but not exactly sunny. They didn't catch any salmon, but caught more small rockfish. Back to the boats for EG's 4:30 "Boaters Net" Ham Radio call. Greg went out to pull in the crab traps and got a very large red rock crab - big enough to warrant eating. We immediately cleaned and cooking it for an appetizer. Then Greg and Byron headed out to pull in the prawn traps again for the last time. Still more prawns! In the end, we had enough for a 2nd dinner tonight, and 2 packages of 48 prawns, 1 for each boats freezer.

Prawn taco's with lime cilantro crema and coleslaw on SB for dinner! It took a while to pull it all together and everything created a bunch of dishes. By the time we ate and cleaned up, there wasn't much time left for anything. It's noticeable now how early it's getting dark.

Tuesday August 15, 2017

It was high clouds this morning and a little chilly, but not too bad. We talked to EG and all decided that it was better to go touring around this morning while it was closer to high tide, than it was to go at low tide this afternoon. Since we had all had a lazy morning, it was closer to 10:30 by the time we headed out. We cruised over and took a closer look at the petroglyphs along the way, we can get much closer in the dinghies. Then to the head of Grappler Sound and took a look at the reversing rapids there. We had done a "crazy ivan" there in Spellbound on the way in as we waited for a supply barge to come through the narrow channel there, but it was fun to see the reversing rapid there up close. Lot's of rocks showing already.



Then we headed up into ????? Lagoon to take a look around. It was calm and peaceful but we didn't see too much wildlife. It did look like a perfect bear place though, we're sure there must have been one around there somewhere. Then back towards Turnbull and did the obligatory cruise by "Roaring Hole". It's another reversing rapid near the entrance to Turnbull. Went quite far in and then rode the ride back out again!

Back to the boats for lunch and Greg put together our 3rd prawn trap to take out. Byron and Greg dropped the "new" trap and went out fishing for a few hours. Nothing caught that way. But we did get some prawns! Byron's traps were filled with crabs and squat lobster parts and several other sundry sea creatures, but no prawns. Greg's first 2 traps had a small number of prawns in them, but the 3rd "Washington" trap that had only been down for a short while was loaded with them. Go figure. So they moved everything closer to where that trap was.

The afternoon got warm and sunny so I was happy. Was able to put on a short sleeved shirt and shorts! Bella and I spent a lot of time just hanging out in the sun and reading and soaking up the rays.

We feasted on prawns for dinner, and Sue made a salad accompaniment and we BBQ'd some zucchini and had a great warm evening.

Monday August 14, 2017

We did all our morning errands of going to the bank (some/enough funds released), getting more loonies for future laundry, going to see Carol the Bead Lady, and a last minute run through the IGA (they had re-stocked with some fresh produce since yesterday). It was a lovely morning of light winds. We said our "see you later's" to Steve and Jess and got some photos of Stu-y and Harley. Stuart is looking pretty old these days and certainly has some bad hips, but he seems very happy. Harley is only 2 or 3 now and a going concern but still oh so mellow. And beautiful coloring.





We left at 11:00 and left EG to do a few more things at the dock and headed out around the corner into Broughton Straight to try some fishing around Malcolm Island. Byron ran into Chris from Sullivan Bay at the bank and so we found out about their food schedule. They're doing meals 3 nights a week, and Monday's are Indonesian night. (Other nights are the popular beef and pork nights). So Sue emailed and made reservations with Debbie for the following Monday.

At first we tried "buck tailing" which is just leaving the line and lure on the surface and trolling along behind you. Coho will apparently come to the surface at speed to grab it. (Sure they do). Then we used the diving thingy and put the line down deeper. We had only one engine in gear which meant we were going 3.7 to 4.0 kts which is also apparently not too fast for Coho. (OK, sure). EG caught up with us as we neared the northern point of Malcolm, Pulteney Point. We then went around to the other side of the island where we fished with Chris from Sullivan Bay two years ago. We put the lines in for a short while there, but we also watched the couple of small fish boats there to see what they were doing. And they all appeared to be packing it in, bring their lines in and taking off. We also had the fish finder on and saw no fish. Not signs of a good place to fish. So we bagged it and caught up with EG for the crossing. Queen Charlotte Straight continued to be "like glass" and it was a lovely day.

Up Wells Passage and continued up into Grappler Sound and then into Turnbull Cove. Beautiful and quiet and calm and glassy and comfortable as usual. Kinda like coming home. We anchored up next to EG and then went and put the prawn traps out. Bella and I went along for the dingy ride.

Back to Spellbound for Spaghetti Quattro dinner and we introduced Byron and Sue to Chelsea Handler. It was officially dark when they headed back to EG which was almost new now. The days are certainly shorter as the season has progressed, and as we've headed south.

Sunday August 13, 2017

Errand day here. Did laundry in the morning after Sue, then back to the boats. We can't figure exactly how, but I know that I have been to Gus's Pub before and Greg swears that he hasn't been there. So Greg suggests Gus's for lunch. It was sunny enough that we sat outside. Initially. Of course it started to sprinkle and we moved inside. Also, it turns out you don't go to Gus's if you are in a hurry. Probably the slowest lunch imaginable.

Straight from Gus's to the IGA to do some provisioning. Checking out, I overheard a cashier say that a big boat had come into the store yesterday and provisioned and she had rung up $6,000 worth of groceries by herself! We

Saturday August 12, 2017

The main task today is to move the boats over to North Island Marina. But Steve has to clear out a space for us first. He had boats moored at the fuel dock overnight (Venture) and even ended up moving Bruce's boat to a tiny spot on the outside. We knew we weren't going anywhere until after checkout at 11:00, so we prepared to head up to Mugz. Danny stopped by to say "see you later" and Susan and Lowla too, and she mentioned there was a farmer's market at the top of the dock! Yay!

There were fresh veggies and jam's etc, but the most popular booth with a lineup was the baker! We all got scones, nanaimo bar's, cinnamon twists, and we bought a berry pie … mmmmm. I also bought some Garlic Jam which I have to figure out how to use, but just sounded enticing. And I also bought some fresh picked very ripe raspberries. They'll probably be the only ones I'll get this summer. They came on a plate and we all just ate them right away - they were wonderful and felt a bit like summer after all. Up to Mugz to sit and have coffee and eat our treats. It wasn't warm, but it was clear and blue skies which was nice.

We called Steve around 11:30 and he said to listen to 66A and it would be just a couple of minutes. And it was. He squeezed us on C dock between two larger vessels. He put EG on the end of D dock with her bow sticking out about 10'. But it was good to be back and nicely tucked away. It looks like he had many boats there for extended stays, including La Perouse who was in front of us.

We needed to fuel and one of the benefits of North Island Marina is that they can fuel boats while they are in their moorage spots. One of the boats behind us was already fueling and so we thought we would just wait and fuel when they were done. But then someone else needed to go ahead of us, so we waited for them to finish. Then someone else fueled. So we did the squeaky wheel thing (well, *I* did) and then we were able to fuel. But it was close to late afternoon by the time that happened. Greg did the math and it worked out to around $3.40 USD per gallon, which of course is not great by our standards, but not that terrible either. Because tomorrow is Sunday, B&S and I headed up to the liquor store to grab supplies since they weren't going to be open tomorrow. We then headed back to the boats to drop it off, and then picked up Greg and headed back to the "Shoprite", the fishing supply store. We picked up a fish cutting board that we had seen before and decided was too expensive, but now realize that it was the right answer. Byron picked up some "Carlyle Cat Food", the preferred bait for prawns according to some, and a "diving thingy" for salmon fishing. Lot's of things to look at there.

Byron and Sue had found out about a new restaurant just outside of town that Steve recommended and said was the only one around town that was good! So we made a reservation for 5:15 as it was the only time available! And we reserved a taxi for 5:00 to take us there. So we were up at the top of the ramp before 5:00, and waited (in the rain I might add) for a while. Taxi was late and didn't get there until 5:15. We called ahead to the restaurant to say we were still coming and not to give our table away. When he dropped us off, he said he'd be back in 1.5 hours. I thought this might not be long enough.

It's about a 10-15min ride up the coast and on First Nations land, and part of this large campground resort. Lot's of trailers around. The restaurant is right on a nice beach overlooking Broughton Straight. It's quite fancy and a little expensive, but they are certainly going for high end and seem to have pulled it off. We all had beet salad which had the most wonderful dressing, and then the 3 of us had Chicken and Fig pasta with Gorganzola sauce! YUM! Greg had Linguini Vongole. All very good. And everyone else had a nice dessert of Tiramisu (Greg) and Chocolate Mousse (B&S).

It turns out that the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license yet, but you can bring your own wine. We didn't know this (or forgot), so it was a "dry" meal for us too. We suspect that since it's on First Nations land, it will never have a liquor license, but we don't know this for sure. But without "libation" so slow us down, and the restaurant being extremely quick bringing our order, we were finished the main meal by about 6:10!! But we dragged out dessert and tea until just before 7:00 in time for the taxi (which was exactly on time). Back to the boats. Can't remember what we did after that.