Greg's Wanderings

Author: Greg H

  • Return to the Prawn Traps

    Return to the Prawn Traps

    April 4 – After returning the previous day, Sean had decided that it would make sense to have the smaller boat ready for a rescue mission if needed.  He got it all set up and we rode with him down to the boat launch at the end of the inlet.  He then drove the boat back up to the marina at the end of the street near their house.  The plan was to take the Bayliner again, but this time have the other ready for a quicker rescue if needed.

    Pam, Sean & I set out again and arrived at the first set of traps.  We pulled them up from the depths to find a very unimpressive catch.  The first trap had three very strange-looking crustaceans and one smallish female crab.  All went straight back into the water.  The second trap (connected to the first) had only slightly better results:  eight prawns and a few dozen of the weird creatures that we later learned were Four-spine Squat Lobsters.  We kept the prawns in hopes the second location would have a greater yield to add.

    Four-spined Squat Lobster. Most have been 40 of them in one of the traps.

    We drove up about 200 yards to the second float and pulled the traps up.  These two were a complete skunk.  Not a single living creature in either.  To add to the disappointment, just as we went to idle by the second float, the engine died again.

    After securing our floats, line and traps, we decided to appeal to the water gods and offer our meager catch as tribute to getting the engine to start again.  We snapped a few photos to prove our catch and then set the prawns free.  And with that, the engine fired up and we headed for home.

    After returning to the house, Pam, Karen and I wandered out to a local farm & Cidery called Bricker’s Cider. Unlike yesterday, Saturday was beautiful and sunny and all of the outdoor picnic tables were occupied.  We ordered some samplers of their cider, a pizza and a charcuterie board. It was yummy.

    On our way back to the house, we picked up Karen’s grandkids who had been swimming at the local aquatic centre and took them back to the house.  We dropped off the kids and picked up Roland and drove to the other side of the Island to hike in a forested park and then walk along the beach at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park.

    As I’m writing this note on the balcony, I’m listening to the honks of Canada Geese, the buzz of hummingbirds enjoying the feeders, and the screeches of Bald Eagles as they fly between the pines onshore and Poise Island a couple hundred yards in front of me.  This really is a magical place and so glad to have been invited along on this trip.

    Pam and cousin Sean. Last photo of Pam’s ball cap from Fields Station before lost to the sea.
    Eight prawns does not make a meal for a group of eight people, so these guys were let loose.
    Sean & Pam showing off the massive catch.
    Karen, Roland & Pam in the Hidden Forest.
    Pam finds a tiny crab at low tide.
    Pam and Roland on the beach at Porpoise Bay.
  • The Prawning Adventure

    The Prawning Adventure

    Friday, April 3 – After a lazy morning featuring a French Toast breakfast, Pam & I headed off with her cousin, Sean to set some prawn traps.  The plan was to go about seven miles up the inlet to an area that had been very fruitful last season.  The day was overcast with a hint of rain.  Wind made the ride a little choppy but in about 30 minutes, we reached out destination.  The depth finder was acting up, but began working just as we reached our target area.  Prawn trapping is best in about 250 feet of depth, so we patrolled around until we found optimal conditions.  We baited the traps and put two traps on a line about 10 feet apart and then lowered them into the water.  About halfway through the third spool of 100’ rope, we hit bottom and declared victory.  The spot was marked with a couple of floats to facilitate recovery later in the evening.

    Sean baits the traps with a combination of shrimp bait, herring gel and cat food.

    As we went to move to a second spot, the engine died.  We tried a few times to get it started again and then decided to get the second set of traps dropped before trying again.  The challenge was, that we didn’t have the depth finder and the tide was pulling us into shallower water.  We grabbed two wooden oars and began paddling the 18’ Bayliner to deeper water – not an easy task given her size, the wind and current.  Eventually, we got far enough out and using marine navigation apps on a phone, we felt we were close to deep enough.  Two-plus spools of line confirmed the depth.

    First two traps in the water.
    Pam on paddle duty as we try to move out to deeper water.

    Once the traps were all set, we turned our attention to getting the engine started again.  We likely spent another 30-plus minutes fidgeting with the carburetor and trying to turn the engine over.  As the rains started and winds picked up, we decided it might be time to get help on stand-by.  Cell service was limited, but we were able to text message back to the house to get the smaller boat in the garage ready for a potential rescue mission.  Just after getting the confirming text that our message had been received, the engine cranked over and we were able to call off our rescue.  Good thing too, as the smaller boat had not been readied for spring use and would have taken 2-3 hours minimum to prepare, launch and make its way up to our location.

    We arrived safe and sound back at the marina and decided to put off checking the traps until the next day.

    While we had been out floating hopelessly on the water, Sean’s wife had cooked a turkey; their son, Spencer had baked a pumpkin pie; and Karen had made all the other fixings for an early Easter dinner.  By the time we reached the house, it smelled heavenly!


  • Two-Ferry Trip

    Two-Ferry Trip

    April 2 – Thursday morning we got up early to start a travel day that would include two ferry crossings and one international border transit.  Our objective was to rendezvous with Pam’s cousin, Karen and her husband, Roland at their home in White Rock, BC.  We would then load our stuff into their car and drive north to catch a second ferry, eventually reaching their vacation home on the Sechelt Inlet.

    Traveling around Puget Sound and the Salish Sea means taking the long way around.  When we arrived at Karen & Roland’s house in White Rock, we could look across the water and see Turtlehead Mountain – where we started our morning – about 27 miles away.  But getting there meant driving 20 minutes across the island to get in line for the 8:55 ferry and waiting an hour to board. Then a ferry ride of just over an hour back to Anacortes and then a then a 90 minute dash up I-5.  We were asked to be to their home by noon so we had time to leave for the next ferry.  As we got off the boat in Anacortes, GPS said our arrival would be 11:50. 

    Busy morning in the San Juans as two other ferries cross near us.

    Our travel was smooth sailing until just south of Bellingham, where we encountered warning signs that I-5 was closed ahead.  We took a detour that added another six minutes to our route.  Fortunately, there were only a couple cars ahead of us at the border crossing and we passed through without incident.

    Our official greeter at the Canadian border

    We quickly moved our bags to Roland’s car and added in the lunch Karen had packed of us.  Then it was a 90 minute drive north through Vancouver to the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay.  The BC Ferries are much newer (and nicer) than the Washington State Ferries.  We had a pleasant ride around Bowen Island and across the bay to Gibsons, where we disembarked.  Another 30 minutes up the coastline and we arrived at a beautiful home in Sechelt.  The town of Sechelt is on the Sunshine Coast of BC.  Their house, however is on the inlet that is only accessed from way further north.

    After an Indian curry dinner in town, we went back to the house where Karen & Roland’s son and his family had joined us.


  • Orcas Island – Day 2

    Orcas Island – Day 2

    March 31 – Tuesday morning, we awoke to another beautiful blue sky. It was cloudy overnight, so the temperature was a little warmer than the previous morning.

    After a hearty breakfast, we headed out into the garden for another morning of earning our keep as Ellen’s house guests.

    I ran the rototiller while Pam helped lay out more of the garden. This is the fourth year that Pam has helped with the organization of the garden and her efforts over the years have turned it into a beautiful work of art that also produces lots of food.

    Pam adds wood ash before planting the shallots.
    After tilling, the potato boxes are put in place and eyes are planted. The adjacent wire fencing will having beans planted once the soil warms a bit more.

    We spent the morning in the garden and then ventured up to the marina where we met up with Pam‘s friend Linda; and Ross, who is Pam‘s partner in the ownership of the Island Gypsy.  

    We left Deer Harbor and headed out to Spieden Island, which is an uninhabited nature preserve. Back in the 1970s there was a failed attempt to introduce it as a wild game hunting preserve and to this day several non-native species roam the island.

    Our next stop was a sheltered channel on Stuart Island, where we docked and had a lovely picnic lunch. We’re just a couple miles from the Canadian border and our cell phones keep welcoming us to Canada as our signal catches  closest cell tower across the border on Pender Island.  

    Island Gypsy
    Pam and Greg on a cruise on the Island Gypsy.
    Moufon sheep at rest on Speiden Island
    Stellar sea loins basking in the sun.
    Juvenile bald eagle on Speiden Island.
    Having a picnic lunch on Stuart Island with Pam’s friends Linda & Ross.

    Once we got back ashore, we rushed over to Pam’s former nextdoor neighbors for a dinner party. Great food and conversation with two lovely couples. Our hostess, Sheila is an artist and made the sculpture below to share her feelings.

    Our dinner host created this sculpture. It was part of the No Kings Day event on Orcas.