Sailing - Part 1

Shiver me timbers.

Started up the sailing lessons this weekend. Went really well ,despite the rain and choppy waters. I did get a little queazy from all the pitching and rolling but didn't hurl. Two full days on the water and I'd say I've learned to sail, just need more practice. Had lots of fun on the second day when it was less instruction and more following orders from our skipper, Neil. Next weekend is the second and last part of the course then I write the exam.
That spectacular vessel you see above is the ship I'm learning on, it's a Tanzer 22. She's a real beauty ain't she! After this course I'll be able to take a boat up to 30 feet in moderate winds. Can't wait til next week!

Gear up!

Ok, all bases covered. A few additions to my equipment and now I'm ready for anything. Gotta have all your gear and it has to be ready to go at all times. Picked up a new tent, some paddles, some hunting clothes (I'm putting these to the test this week. I'll be video taping the effectiveness of high quality camoflauge, hehehe. Check in later this week for video.) binoculars(for bird watching of course) and a bunch of odds and ends.

Also I picked up a can of boat paint so I'll be giving the canoe a fresh painting this week. It's the least I can do, the canoe is on loan for the summer. Thanks Becks! By the way, why is that stuff so expensive?!

On my to-do this week is riding lessons. I've been on a horse before but lessons are the best way to improve skills quicker. So I got riding boots on stand-by and my cowboy hat, although they might make me wear a helmet in the beginning(also on stand-by) Place is in Pickering called Stone Ridge Farm. I'll let you all know how it is.

And Monday morning I'm stopping in Whitby to sign up for sailing lessons. It's 2 weekends, full days, total learn to sail but in a smallish boat in moderate weather. Gotta wait til fall to take my coastal navigation but I've learned how to navigate fairly well already. Charts people! There's a reason these things are made.

I've asked just about everyone if they want to go riding or sailing and it's no's all around so this will be solo. And as far as camping goes the job I'm doing will be finished this week so I'm marking myself 'unavailable' next week and I'm off to Massasauga for a few days. Looks like it'll be just me and everyone's favorite wildlife.

The most dangerous animal on the planet.
She likes camping, killing things, and chasing balls!

Sunfest and sunshine

What are you planning to do with that thumb dude?!

Can you believe it. First time out and he catches the biggest bass!! Well, arguably he stole that one from George. This is Lake Scugog. Joel and I headed out early and got a boat while George was sleeping or something, slacker. Nice thing about Scugog is that Port Perry is right on the lake. George called when he got into town and we simply drove the boat right up to shore behind the Tim Hortons. Lots of public access all over the lake, funny thing is it seems impossible to find from shore. Hmmm. We got some bass, only Joel's are worthy of mention though, a bunch of sunfish and some perch. Damn those muskie, I'll get one eventually.



London Sunfest. Uhhhh what's with the band?

Have to do it. Visit some of the festivals I spent so much time at in the past but was working to much to appreciate.
BACKGROUND: Used to import stuff from Thailand and spent most of my summer weekends working at festivals trying to sell it. Great job but would have been nice to have time to check out the festivals.
So here I am at London's Sunfest 2010. A 4 day fetival of something that begins this year on July 9th. It's a nice park set in downtown London. Not a great photo but I needed one for the record. Checked out some of the talent, stopped by to visit friends, and get a snack. Then POW, stupid phone rings and I gotta get back to Toronto to meet a client. Rain was starting up anyways.
Might hit London's Home County Fair this week, not sure yet.

Mush

Something for the whole family.
You'll need a slide, cut the ladder off, get a heavy duty rope, and a truck. I recommend grassy area for this as it reduces friction.
Steve, you're a champ!

MUSH, you lousy, flea bitten vermin, I say MUSH!

Family trip

I'll skip the first trip to Woods Bay, just summerize. Dark, cold, wet.

But we did go back a couple weeks later in the day, near the end of June, bass season! This was a family trip made up of cousin Ted, George and myself. Went out to Woods Bay, checked a few marinas and finally found one who had a boat available to rent for the day. One of us had his PCOC (we all know who that is, the responsible one), we got a little aluminum boat with a motor and headed out. Instead of staying in Woods Bay (having the luxury of speed and power our 12', 30hp boat gave us) we headed up to Blackstone Harbour in search of muskie...

Ok no muskie today but not a disappointment. We all caught bass that day. Ted was especially happy because he said it was the first 'real' fish he'd ever caught. We moved around on the lake a few times, George caught some perch which I had hooked up as bait for a muskie (still no luck), then headed back. Bit of a short trip as we all got up a little late. We'll go out for a whole day or two next time.

NOTE: If you really, really want to go fishing in the morning don't stay up until 4am playing video games, even if it's online Halo!

I'd prefer if you called me 'Captain' but sir will do!

This is George, the guy on the right with the arm.

That's one sexy fish Captain.



Look at that smile. Mama's gonna be so proud.

No bones about it, Ted caught the biggest fish that day. Congradulations Ted, the championship belt is yours...for now.

Break time

No, it's not some exotic island patio/cafe.

Breaks are an important part of my day. They ensure I'm always late and that adds to my sense of importance or demonstrates the high demand for my skills. Of course I tell clients I'm in a meeting or on an emergency call or got held up in negotiations or something like that. You'd be surprised how well it works if you don't push too far.
Special shout out to Steve, who I've known 24 or 25 years. He and George are with me at Mr. Greeks for lunch. Recently had a discussion with Steve and concluded that if I didn't go out for lunch or dinner with him I'd almost never go out. That's because the rest of you %^$&ers work too much or have to go home to other responsibilities or something lame like that. We usually hook up several times a week and occasionally drive to some small town for lunch, that's pretty interesting.

Only complaint is that there are no good cafes in Scarborough or Markham. Any suggestions?

Back on the Rouge

I don't recommend the Rouge for a serious fishing trip, but as it's close by it's a great spot to kill time on a nice day when you don't want to go too far. Don't think I'll eat anything that comes out of there despite what the Ministry of Environment says. Good variety of fish though. I go to the mouth of the Rouge and fish from shore or sometimes take my Voyaguer 500 into the marsh area.



Smelly fish, smelly fish... Caught this carp at night, lots of carp.



And this catfish was caught with a net.
Don't mind the hair, I was going through a monk phase.


Some dude pulled up a pike one time, yes I saw it. And there's trout in there but god knows where. A I'm sure a few more species of pan fish. Again, not too sure about the 'pan' thing.