Janeen A Clear Cold Day

'Looks like it's blowing northeast gale force today. Why don't we go for a hike around the island in front of Skidegate Village. It should be fairly calm waters there. Tides falling so we should be able to circumnavigate the island.' Charlie says after peering at the barometer.

'OK' I nod. 'It's pretty cold though so we better bundle up. Josh go get that parka we found at the Thirft Store. It's old fashion warm with wool and a fuzzy lining. We can tie up the hood to keep you warm. Grab your rain pants too.'

Josh is only four years old. I give him alot of responsibility for his well fare. I like how the Inuit give mini tools to the kids so they grow up with real life skills.

'I'll pack a thermos of tea and make some sandwiches. Josh grab a a toy, we could be gone a few hours.'

Our deep 'V' hard top speed boat took us where ever we needed to go. We lived on a tiny island in Skidegate Inlet so laundry, work, groceries, fishing was all done with the eighteen foot vessel.

Our closest neighbors were a flock of Cormorants that returned from a day of fishing to a rock out front of our moorage. They made a garble sound all night like a bunch of gossiping old hens.

'OK let's get going before the tide turns' Captain Charlie flings open the cabin door.

We all head down to the water's edge. The boat is moored out on the clothes line system. We scamper aboard. The last person has to push the bow off the beach and leap aboard. The engine is lowered and all hundred and twenty horse power are fired up and off we go. As fast as loading the car and backing out of drive way we are mobile.

We don't get far before Charlie rigs up the rod and herring plug. 'Never know there could be a winter spring salmon lurking around'.Charlie let's out six fathoms of line.

The throttle is pulled back to a slow trolling speed. We head over to the destination passing very close to all the kelp beds to see if we can lure out a fish hiding in the kelp beds. Charlie watches the waters surface for air bubbles the fish create. He rummaged in the side compartment and pulls out a bottle of Contreau , takes a swig and tucks it back away.

'Just dollop to keep the chill at bay'

Josh is huddled in the box compartment curled up playing with his 'Hot Wheels' car.

Pass me sandwich Charlie says as he maneuvers the boat around a dead head log. It's like an iceberg, mostly hidden away.

Tea and snacks all around, then we arrive at our hiking spot.

'Let's moor the boat out so we don't let it dry up as the tide is still falling. This technique involves a rock tied the the bow line and placed on the tip of the bow. Pushing the boat out to sea and when it reaches a suitable depth the bow line is pulled from shore to make the rock tumble into the sea. Then it is tied off to a tree or log on shore.

The hike starts off on a smooth sandy beach. We head northeast and come upon some tidal pools filled with tiny sea creatures.

'Hey, look I found a big China Hat Limpet.' Josh squeals head down mesmerized by the tiny community contained in the Rocky pool.

'Ya, that's a big one for sure.' I acknowledge his find. 'You better keep up or Charlie will get too far ahead of us.

Charlie is six foot four inches tall and raised on these beaches. He is abit of a living legend on Haida Gwaii for his bush skills. Coming from a family of twelve they were sent to the beach to food forage. Eating seaweeds and small crustaceans.

We were about and hour into the hike. By now we were on the southwest side, two thirds of the way around.

Charlie checked out the deep crevice we came upon. It was too steep to climb up and around it. We were too far along to go back. Charlie spies an old beached plank. He props it in the rocks, a make shift bridge.

He manages to traverse the crevice with one graceful gazelle type a leap. I put Josh on my back and thought I'll mimic his move.

I study the swells and make my move on a low surge into the crevice. I go down like a elephant on a straw mat.

The next swell pushes us in the crevice and starts to pull us out to sea.

The super cold salt water flushes into every part of my being. The surprise takes my breath away.

I sense the weight of Josh lifting off my back as I plunge deeper down. I turn and manage to grab the hood that had been forced off his head by the water. I pull him to the front of me and shove him towards the shore. Charlie turns in time to grab the little tike and I follow him to the rocky shore.

We are both in a state of shock, not sure how to react. The cold is throughout our being.

I quickly start to undress Josh. ' we are okay Josh, wet and cold but we are okay. I'm going to wring the salt water out of your clothes. We will head back to the boat real fast. We are okay, I keep reassuring him. Charlie rushes ahead, pulls the boat in from the anchor and swings around and picks us up. Josh is not saying much and my teeth starting to chatter from the coĺd.

Once on board Charlie pulls an old W.W II aviation parka jump suit out from the bow. I strip down and crawl into the relic.

We race home with all hundred and twenty horse power. Within a few minutes we are huddled beside the wood stove drinking more not tea.