The Mud Smears on Meares

October 24

Beach shot of the day……..Dad teaching his son.

I am determined to fix this awning, so I run down to the local Co-op Hardware store and pick up a set of ratchet tie-downs….strength, 5,000 lbs., They’ll straighten that puppy.  Figured, seeing as the site next door is empty, I could pull in the truck and use it an an anchor, then let the ratchet straps do their work.

 
We have a hike on Meares Island today which involves a water taxi from town.  Aptly called the “Big Tree Trail”, it is a walk through untouched forest, with some amazing old giants, and more amazing were the ancient nurse trees with full growth +50ft trees growing out of them.  The trail began with an interesting walk on a cedar boardwalk……not the most even and consistent boardwalk in the world, and then we were off on a natural forest trail that was wet, MUDDY, root infested, and pretty hazardous if you weren’t watching out.  Did I say MUDDY. Gorgeous trees, great walk. 
Tried to hit Tacofino on the way home but it was lined up forever, so we waited a short time at WildSide Grill and grabbed a couple of fish tacos there……..also stopped at the fish market and picked up some ling cod for din din…………dropping little balls of mud all the way……we are filthy.

 
Back at the ranch…….we now have new neighbours so no way to use the truck as an anchor…..crap…….but Jutta and I figured if we used the picnic table as an anchor, and we sat on it while applying the straps, that this could be a solution (brilliant)…….rigged it up……cranked those straps tiiiiiiiight………and nothing happened……..try again, new angle, sure to have positive results……….tiiiiiiight……….nothing happened.  Just then our neighbour Jason arrived……aussie guy from Rossland, and I noticed he had an engineers ring on……wow am I in luck.  But he actually buys into our scheme, and we give it a go with him and I on the table, and Jutta went to make tea!  At the end of the day, we are not going to get this pipe straight, so we figure the best thing to do is make the rig roadworthy……..we cut out the tarp portion and folded up the frame back to its original position, strap it in place, and we will be good to go.  Jason thinks we could get it fixed on the way home in Langley……..we’ll work on that.

Dinner was fab…….pan fried the ling cod, and BBQ’d a basket of veg/potatoes…….Quails Gate Chardonnay. Now it’s time for a movie.