Re: Dying to go boating!!
It's been a windy winter. Wednesday morning, a break fcast in weather; a few calls & submit for 2 d AL; dep. 21:00 ~150 miles to Charleston, Bonavista Bay, bunk out ~ 01:30 & up at 04:30, away from wharf by 06:00. My friend has shifted his boat, 17' glass with 15 & 6 hp round in preparation, having to break ~ 2" of ice to be ready. We still have to punch about a mile of bay ice to get to clear water, but we've got decoys set 14 miles E. by ~ 08:00, A blue bird day & little action except a flock of Long-tailed ducks that blow by where/when we're not looking & settle not 1/2 mile to feed & watch us through 12:30, so it's off for a run to Little Denier I & round the bay. Land again at 18:30 after another punch, but less this time as ice has made in -14 C morning, though it warmed to -4 or so through the day. Tie off and return to house, pick a few birds, drink rum, chat, laugh, make plans, watch light rain turn off to 4" of snow & check fcast repeatedly, praying that the drift ice will come in to ice will come in to close off the bay. Up at 08:30 & launch again 12:00; the harbour ice we broke out last night hasn't filled in again; another run, this time closer to Chance Hr. Gull Rock E ~ mile off Long Island looking, for, hoping for ice but only seeing mist & fog and a swell that tells us it isn't going to be & the 6 now is not well & we haven't time or fuel to run off to Wester Head so back up the bay; sea goes flat and fog sets in thick as cotton; a few birds & slow but pleasant run back to Sweet Bay, losing sight of the Gull Rock in fog & darkso that the wharf head light is a welcome sight; tie off thinking about tommorrow, but tommorrow is Valentine's Day, and regardless of blessing from a loved one to stay on, off I go for a slow drive back to town. Saturday, picking up 3 doors to install later this Spring; tonight heavy with turkey & a warm fire. Word (e-mail) from Charleston 'Tell Kate you have to come back for your glasses .. ice is coming in and it'll be civil for a few hours in the morning" (dateline : Friday night). This is Sunday & sure enough a few boats left Foxtrap this morning but the wind now at Bonavista, and here gusts to 30 kt N'ly by afternoon. Oh yes, tommorrow is a work day too .. but surely the ice has pushed in to the Cape now - groan.
Yes, I'm addicted :- )
