The return of Beatrice, Rosie, and Spinny

As experienced blog readers are aware, when the going gets tough, Beatrice and Rosie get going. Up to August 10th, the weather was not so terrible as to warrant the return of Beatrice and Rosie but on August 11th, that changed.

Heidi (on the evening of the 10th): "Mem, what do you think if we pack up most of this camp tonight and then have a bit of a sampling adventure tomorrow before we leave?" (Unrolls topo map).
Maril (looking at Heidi distrustfully and remembering previous "adventures" that involved dragging zodiacs through rapids and going on 20 mile boat rides through the Arctic ocean with an incomplete map): "What are you thinking?"
Heidi: "Well, DFO wanted me to sample a lake that's about a kilometre up the hill from here for landlocked charr. We'll need nets, a cooler, spinny, and floats."
Maril: "Spinny, eh? Did you patch the Chewy-induced holes from last year?"
Heidi: "Yup, Erik got me onto using bike tire patches. They work really well."
Maril: (Still looking skeptical) "Mmmmhmmmm. And how exactly are we going to get the gear up the lake?" (no wagons this year)
Heidi: "Well, you know my RIDICULOUS seal bag of death? It's 115 L. I should be able to put the cooler AND Spinny in there."
Maril: "Heidi, that's retarded. I'll drag the cooler with a harness made from webbing."
Heidi: "Great!"

And so, the next day dawned. We outfitted Mark with some waders from DFO so that he could cross the stream and join us. Unfortunately, they were a TITCH large. He stood in the back of the cabin holding them up to his neck, waiting for us to notice his goofy grin. We hoped he wouldn't have to use them much. We shouldered our packs and harnesses of death and proceeded up the hill in good spritis.



About halfway, Maril said, "I'm wet from the inside out."


Heidi: "I HATE being damp at 9 am. And I STINK."



Maril: "Rosie, I believe this is the EASIEST thing we have EVER done."
Beatrice: "Indeed."

After reaching the lake (longest kilometer EVER), we inflated spinny and set out. Turns out, the paddles we had weren't EXACTLY designed for paddling spinny and setting gill nets. The wind picked up, and it started to pour rain. As in monsoon. With thunder.

Heidi (yelling over the wind and rain after setting the second net): "Mem, do you think it would be: a) faster; or, b) slower to to get to shore and walk Spinny around the lake?"
Mem: "I'm not sure, but it would be: c) far less painful."

150 m of paddling has never been so painful in the history of the world. As we struggled out in another hour after eating soggy trail mix and soggy hummus that was over re-hydrated and then monsooned upon, our triceps burned and Spinny was spinning fiercely.

Beatrice: "Rosie, I believe this "boat" was intended for recreational use only. And we are NOT recreating."
Rosie: "I know, darling, I agree. But don't you think this is REALLY the easiest thing we've ever done ? Do you want another crumpet?"

We caught 4 charr. DFO wanted 50. Such is life.