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.
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.
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