Outpost Week 30 ~ Everyday There's Something New

Late one afternoon this week enjoying a glass of wine, watching the ever changing sky we were commenting on how much different the weather has been this year when I decided to look back to the blog I had posted this time last year. Funny how we forget things, for that post could have been written this week it was so similar. Rain, hail, some sun and even waves that caught my attention were all mentioned as to what was happening here a year ago.

Sunday morning, April 1^st and look who's decided to take in the scenery from the vantage point of the front deck.


 

Snow, hail, some rain and even the sun...all at once.
  

Now that the sun is out, it's game time.

I was standing at the counter in the kitchen, Monday, putting some lunch together when I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I hollared out to Mike, “Look out the window!” We can kinda judge what is happening beyond our sight in the ocean by the size of waves or swells that we see roll by out at the furthermost island but this was something different.

These giant waves continued all day but something else that was rather strange was our bay was calm and showed no signs of what was going on just on the far side of Port Louis.

I'd say it finally looks like the rains have past and nicer weather is on the way, but I don't want to jinx it so I'll just say I took advantage of the nice day and went exploring through the woods to see what has changed over the winter, surpriselying nothing much but we did get lucky and have one perfect size tree (not too big, not too small) fall which we can cut up and at least have a small stack of wood for the summer guests.

Who pulled the plug?

We had company Thursday morning. We'd just caught sight of the Coast Guard vessel making her way into the bay beside us but we knew that within an hour or so we'd be welcoming someone down at the docks. I popped some cookies into the oven and got a pot of coffee ready to switch on just as we saw the dinghy heading our way. Sadly the visit was brief as they had work to do but even 10 minutes of chit chat is nice.

It was around 5 pm that Thursday afternoon and I was just reading through my blog, one more time, when I spotted another vessel coming into our bay. More company!! We immediately recognize the 'Silver Dawn' and rush down the dock to greet her crew. My first thoughts are of what can I fix for dinner should they take me up on my invitation of spending the evening up at the lodge. It's as if we're all old friends, the conversation picks up from where we left off a couple of weeks ago....they have lots to tell. We were disappointed to hear that they were only going to be here for a couple of hours to harvest some more kelp and than be on their way. Well we had about 45 minutes of catching up waiting for the tide to recede a bit more and than they had to get out on the water. Most likely this will be their last trip into Port Louis for the year if all goes well but there is a slight possibility we might see them again. Mike and I would certainly enjoy their company for another evening.

I remember lovely evenings like this last year, indeed spring must be here

Till next week,
Heather & Mike

Outpost Week 29 - Restless

Maybe we are feeling a bit antsy due to the fact that the weather has gotten warmer ( about time) and we want to get out and traipse through the forest and do some more exploring by water but those April showers that bring May flowers have arrived here a week early in full force. I know we could suit up in a full set of foul weather gear and I have on occasion when I just have to get out and at least walk the beach but we'd rather do it in the sunshine.

Maybe we're feeling fidgety because we've gone through all our movies and have now resorted to watching older ones. This week we have been having a “Bond” marathon, from “ Dr. No” to “ Quantum of Solace”. I have an urge for a martini.

Maybe we're feeling a bit discontent because the the repertoire of the cook has become uninspired. What we wouldn't give for some chinese take-out, an extra large pizza with the works or even a spicy chicken sandwich and a frosty from Wendy's.

I wonder if the office would mind the delivery charge?

Maybe we're feeling anxious as the end of our 9 month stint at the OP is in sight. More often we are talking and making plans of what we want to do this summer and just becoming reacquainted with civilization has us a bit giddy.

This uneasiness has even crept into my sleep. Waking up at 4 am is not my normal

'internal clock' but wide awake I am. Having come prepared this year for being able to roam around in the dark I don my little headlamp, grab my eReader and head into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, little to early to be turning the genny on just yet so I can't make coffee. I read for a couple of hours than find myself finally drifting off to sleep on the very comfy couch in the living room.

Restlessness is not without it's upside. Jobs that I would tackle a month from now in preparation for the incoming crew are getting my attention, this way when the fabulous weather does arrive I will be spending all of my time out doors.

This doesn't look like a rainy day.....give it a minute...... OK an hour.

By the time we have finished our morning coffees, plans for the day have changed.

The smell of spring in the air has Fat Cat venturing out for the first time this year but

she will not wander any further than the doormat for she's a 'fair weather' feline.

Other things are also making an appearance. The first of these bugs was found on Mike's shoulder, YIKES!!!! and several others have had their lives cut short while scurrying across the carpet right in front of us.

Even when the sun does shine for brief moments the rains never stop.

Almost temping enough to dip a toe in.

Quite often the day will end as beautiful as it began.

Till next week,
Heather & Mike

Outpost Week 28 ~ Spring?

March 16^th was circled in red and given a gold star in my calendar this past week.

What made this day so special, you ask. The pictures tell it all.

So spring has finally arrived at the Outpost, as it seems to have done in Ontario also.

Family and friends have all passed along pictures of flowers starting to bloom and being outdoors wearing t-shirts and sandals. It's only March... where is the snow and slush that is the normal weather for this part of the world? Well I'll tell you, it's here!

My one day of sun-bathing was thoroughly enjoyed and thoughts of morning coffee on the deck were foremost in my mind but it was not to be as the next day my sun spot looked like this.

Not having TV here we tend to be looking out the windows for our entertainment, watching the changing sky, the eagles, maybe an otter fishing out front so it's not surprising when we do manage to catch sight of a trawler heading into the bay beside us.

What we don't see often is the trawler leave since I imagine they get underway at the crack of dawn ( I'm still sawing logs at that hour) so it was something new to see them in the light of day. We watched as the smaller boat played out the net, than they

headed to the open ocean. We always wondered what the boat name was and finally getting a good shot of their transom we discovered she's called “Queens Reach”.

“There's a boat coming in” Mike says, although in a tone of 'nothing special'. I didn't react to much since it was just yesterday that we watched a trawler come in so I didn't give it much thought. When I did look out the window to the furthest island since that is where it would be, I didn't see anything, must be behind it right now. I than realized that Mike was gone and at that point I noticed that there was a boat coming in, into our BAY!

Mike was already on the radio hailing the vessel and after trying several channels he got a reply. They had been here several years ago and asked if it was 'banjo Pete' the caretaker at that time, whom he was talking with. They chatted for several minutes and asked if they could tie up to the heli pad for the night. Seems they had done this before so we gave the OK. We than headed down the dock to greet our visitors.

 

Meet Michel, captain of the “Silver Dawn”

 

Don, 1^st mate, chief cook and bottle washer. In my opinion the hardest job on board.

After the vessel was securely tied everyone headed out to collect kelp, which is why they were here. During low tide the scourge the shoreline looking for this plant to harvest, which is used for a popular product sold mainly in Japan – Herring Roe on Kelp.

Once collected in totes the kelp is taken to 'ponds' (an enclosure using nets) and suspended on lines using a clip and a weight. Herring are than released into a pond ( up to 80,000 lbs for a large pond) and will than spawn, their eggs adhering to the blades of kelp. Roughly a week later the crew returns to collect the kelp which is than put back into the totes with a brine mixture. After several processes of grading are undertaken, it is shipped to Japan where it is sold in restaurants and also given as gifts.

This has been a very simplified telling of the process but I hope it covered the basic idea.

Mike and the prized kelp.

By 8 o'clock their work was done and Mike and I headed down for a visit. The

conversation was lively and varied as we all had stories to tell and questions to ask. Both

Michele and Don are 'boaters' so of course we had that in common and talk of anything

that floats was discussed.

While they were out getting kelp, mussels and sea urchins were also tossed into the boat,

which Don cooked up (the mussels not the urchins) for a bit of a snack. I love mussels

and you certainly can't get any fresher than this. The sea eggs as Mike (my Mike)

referred to them was not something I'm accustomed to eating and the sight of the

'spines' moving as Don obvious enjoyed his snack was not my cup of tea.

Upon leaving close to 11pm a bag of goodies in the form of some apples, bananas,

oranges and eggs was given to us. I must have mentioned at sometime that these things

were long gone or maybe it was the way I way looking at the bowl of fruit on the table,

either way it was greatly appreciated.

With good-nights said and plans to see them around 9 am for coffee after they did their

morning collection, we headed back to the lodge.

Wanting to show my 'thanks' I decided to bake them some bread, and than I decided to throw together a pan of brownies and while these were in the oven I thought 'I bet the guys would like some cookies' and since we are going down for coffee in the morning wouldn't some scones hot out of the oven be nice. Four am found me just tidying up and heading to bed where I set the alarm for eight so I could finish the scones and pop them in the oven.

We could have sat for hours talking but after only 45 minutes they had to head off.

Emails exchanged we promised to keep in touch and possibly get together once we are out for the summer.

Lucky for us they saw our dilemma when it came to trying to get across to the next dock. If you noticed in the first picture of the vessel tied to the heli pad you will see that there is a board instead of a bridge between the 2 docks and now that board was in the water. Several days ago we found the 'bridge' floating upside down between the 2 docks, total mystery as to how this happened as there haven't been any storms and we had it tied with 2 lines. Our plan was to tow it out with our tinney and drag it ashore to remove the plywood and than we could manhandle it onto the dock and put it back in place.

The guys aboard 'Silver Dawn' didn't hesitate to come and lend a hand.

Thank-you everyone.

Jan and Richie ready to go.

Under blue skies and with calm seas they headed off.

One final word: Happy Birthday to Me!

Till next week,
Heather & Mike