Spring Escape was cool. Friday morning the temperature was around 50F (12C) The fishing was slow, but when you are in a big boat with heat, food, and good company it doesn’t matter. Big Dog was anchored at the west end of Crow Rock Island. Russ and Al fished off the back of the boat while socializing with the wives. About 2:000 pm. Rolf and Glen pulled up in Rolf’s fishing boat. It was a little windy and cool. Rolf was wearing a light shirt, pants and no shoes. When it is June you wear summer cloths!!! Russ got in his boat and they were off to fish along the shore. A few walleyes were caught. There was enough for a fish fry.
Rolf had anchored All or Nothin in Queen Island in the north east corner next to a nice camp site with a fire pit earlier. We quit fishing about 5:00 pm. and headed to Queen Island to anchor along side of “All or Nothin” and “Not enuf Time” Glen McKnight’s 32’ Bayliner.
Glen is rich, single, good looking, and of course owns a 32’ Bayliner boat. Single ladies might find this information interesting.
Barb and Stan Newman arrived to join us for supper. They brought a huge salmon fillet that Stan caught on a fishing trip north of Vancouver Island and some really good wine. It was very good. Patti and I brought two gallons of beans and red potatoes. We had a feast. We decided to cook on the boats as the temperature was dropping and the wind was still blowing. Campfire wood will be saved for Summer Escape and Sanderson Bay anchorage on Thursday evening weather permitting.
Saturday morning it was 37F (3C). Boat heaters and coffee were on. Norm Miller and Syver kolden arrived about 10:00 am. on Syver’s fishing boat ready to catch the long one. They were armed with fishing license and bait.
We all went back out fishing around 11:00 am. Fishing was better on Saturday. Syver and Norm caught the most fish, Russ caught the biggest walleye at 21” and Rolf caught the smallest walleye and 13”. Everyone caught some nice walleye’s.
At 3:00 pm we headed into Crow Rock for cocktail hour and conversation. Dave and Diane Holmstrom showed up around that time with Alain Mathieu and Susan Desjardine on board Lady DI. Alain has a 1994 Silverton 41’ he purchased late last fall that he planned on cruising to Spring Escape but, a starter on one of the engines gave out at the last moment before leaving Northern Harbour. We will have to wait for Summer Escape to see his new boat. Alain has been cleaning, fixing, modifying, and adding new state of the art electronics since purchasing the boat last fall. It will be interesting to see Alain’s boat at Summer Escape
Dinner at Crow Rock Resort was wonderful as it always is. Before dinner there was a surprises party for the commodores 70th birthday. I thought someone might sing happy birthday, but as you will see on the web site for Spring Escape 2009 pictures Escape members really know how to treat the commodore on his birthday complete with a piñata shaped like Big Dog with many little liquor bottles inside. I was touched. A very talented man in Winnipeg made the pinata,
Before dinner trophies were awarded for the winners of the Semi Serious Big Boat Fishing Contests. For the second year in a row Russ Warne won the trophy for the longest walleye caught at 21”. Rolf Gretschman replaced Al Halfaker as the winner of the shortest walleye caught at 13”
Sunday after breakfast everyone headed to their home port.
Your commodores,
Al & Patti Halfaker
