I've been pondering for nearly two days how I should go about ending this thread for the year but failing to find anything original in my mind, this is it.
It's over.
Sadly, the season ended with a whimper as the last 11 days brought no Tyee and few unders, leading to a lot of effort and expertise being exercised to no avail,something we seem to be experiencing more often these days.
But on the positive side, there were eight new members rowed into the club this year, we had our first C&R Tyee registered and, although I lost my highly coveted King Of The Cabezon crown I was able to claim the Best Decorated Boat title this year, as I shall demonstrate soon.
In other news, I was sad that member paguy (Shannon) was unable to come visit this year, and felt the same about Troy Winslow not being here either. I had a nice chat with him the other day and he's doing fine but missed us too.
I met a couple of neat new rod-holders this year among whom was member Scar Tissue who turned out to be good companionship and generosity combined, and is welcome in my boat any time.
We hooked up our second night out but lost the fish boat-side, much to my chagrin as he wanted it for his In-laws as he was staying with them.
I thought about offering to pay for a few Filet-O-Fish sandwiches from MacDonalds, but didn't.
I was happy as could be to have Merv in my boat when we got the second strike of the season and ended up with a nice fat but short Chinook. It was the second time I'd had him out and we've got a fish both times.
He thinks I'm awesome. LOL
I mourned the fact that for the first time since I started rowing I didn't have Rob and Angela up from Comox. They are my longest suffering rod-holders but health problems kept them from being disappointed again this year. I missed them badly.
I was stoked that Ken Enns and Nathan Lagos got the biggest Tyee this year and in the classic old school manner too.
Dangling a spoon on the daytime flood tide doesn't provide a lot of fish to the annual tally, but they are often larger fish and some guys have that fishery wired. Ken does.
Good going Ken and Nathan.
Oh, here's the evidence proving I won the Best Decorated Boat title. As always, I try to balance things out, hence the blonde and the brunette duo.
We did think about trying for a pyrotechnics display as nobody else seemed to have anything on the go, but Diane poo-pooed our idea, and given it was a plan by Sharon and I to try to light our farts up simultaneously, she having had cabbage for lunch and I having had chili, perhaps she was right.
Didn't want to blow a hole in the boat on the last day.
Finally, thanks to all of you for the kind words throughout the season during my little self-indulgent exercise.
I truly appreciate them.
I enjoy making this annual contribution to our little group here and glad it seems to be popular.
Looking forward to next year when we can try it all again.
In the meantime, all the very best from me to all of you and thanks for reading along.
Next year, for sure.
Take care.