Zack Miller from Bellingham Washington wins Westview Marina Derby with 43-2/3 lb Chinook

Zack Miller (right) from Bellingham Washington shows off the 43-2/3 pound Chinook that won him the Westview Marina Derby and $1000 Canadian

Zack Miller from Bellingham Washington and Shawn Langley from Lynden Washington were fishing 10 miles out from Tatchu on the 'Quick Fish', a 27 foot Orca. Zack decided to pull in his lines, put the rod down and was leaning over the side with the lines in his hand when suddenly he saw the water boil 3 feet away as the monster King hit the hook! Zack grabbed the rod and played the Chinook for 15 minutes till his friend Shawn Langley of Lynden Washington netted the fish.

Zack was thrilled to win the derby, and at the awards party generously donated $200 towards the Tahsis Salmon Enhancement Society.

Musical Coffee House on Friday August 27th, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Debra Conibear sings for Coffee House

Sacred Grounds Coffee House will be holding another musical Coffee House on Friday August 20th, the Friday of the Westview Marina Fishing Derby.

The Coffee House will be from 5:00 Pm to 10:00 PM and will feature Conibear, local musician Roy DuLong, and an Open Mic for local and visiting musicians.


Local Tahsis Musicians Roy DuLong and Debra Conibear


Map showing route from Westview Marina to Sacred Grounds Coffee House

Weekly flight now connects Tahsis with Seattle

Brad Pattison pilots the re-inaugural flight of Sound Flight to Tahsis from Seattle

Pilot Brad Pattison visits Tahsis, signalling the return of weekly direct air service between Seattle and Tahsis by Sound Flight of Renton Washington after a hiatus of 2 years. Previously to that, Sound Flight made hundreds of flights to Tahsis with a daily service.

Brad said:
"I'm glad I was picked for the 're-inaugural' flight, as this is my first time to Tahsis. The natural setting here is breathtaking.It's outdoors all around you. Really different from Seattle.. I love it up here... that's why we're here."

Brad went on to say:
"I am very impressed by the airplane dock here in Tahsis, obviously a lot of work has gone in to the dock to make it an important part of the Tahsis tranport system."

Brad went on to explain that Sound Flight is the only US airline to specialize in flights to the west coast of Vancouver Island, and his company gives their pilots specialized training and experienced instructors--such as Mark Schoening, who has flown the west coast of Vancouver Island for 15 to 20 years--to train on the weather and geography of West Vancouver Island's rugged coast.

"This is the way to stay in business--keep your customers happy and safe"

More information about Sound Flight can be found at their website:
www.soundflight.net


After a short visit, pilot Brad Pattison heads off to the next stop

A great family day on the water!

Brett shows off a 22 lb Chinook

Brett Cornelius from Redwater Alberta shows off the 22 lb Chinook he caught all by himself (well, maybe a little help from Dad and guide Jim Pook).


Carmen, Brett and Paul Cornelius from Redwater Alberta

The Cornelius family from Redwater Alberta caught 6 Chinook 13 to 22 lb and 1-9 lb Coho on their fishing day with guide Jim Pook. Paul said they saw a grey whale, three friendly Sea Otters who came quite close to the boat, and several eagles. A great family outing!

Build it and they will come: First Tall Ships in 100 years dock in Tahsis

Cathy Daynes of Westview Marina stands on her new Tall Ship dock, built this summer to accommodate the first Tall Ships to visit Tahsis in 100 years. In the background is the second Tall Ship to arrive, the HMCS Oriole from Victoria

Cathy Daynes and staff built the new Tall Ship Dock just in time for the SSV Robert C. Seamans' visit from July 25th to July 28th. Now the HMCS Oriole from Victoria is docked at the marina until 0600 hours on Thursday August 6th, when they are off to Tofina, Port Alberni, then back to Victoria their home base.


The HMCS Oriole at the Tall Ship dock at Westview Marina, Tahsis

Cathy talked to Captain Steve Tarrant of the SSV Robert C. Seamans on the morning of the 28th before they left.

"He said regardless of if he would be on board the next time the ship came up the coast, he would highly recommend that they make the the trip to Tahsis. They had a great time!"

At 1800 hours the HMCS Oriole received a visit from a delegation of 2 from the Tahsis Art Society... Director Alice Thompson and musician Willdeve. Following the tradition established by Chief Maquinna in 1778 who greeted the first Tall Ship to visit the West Coast of North America with hospitality and song,Willdeve greeted Captain Lieutenant Commander Gary Davis and crew with her original songs "The Swans of Tahsis".


Willdeve performs her original song, "The Swans of Tahsis" for (right to left) Josiane DesAutels of Saint-Hyathince Quebec, Captain Gary Davis of Victoria, Eric Flanagan of Winnipeg, Alan Douchette from Newfoundland and Carlos Flores from Victoria

Willdeve went on to play her ballad on the meeting of the Mowachat band and the crew of the Resolution in 1778, and favorites such as "Bobby McGee" and "House of the Rising Sun". The Captain brought out his banjo, and joined Willdeve in an enthusiastic playing of 'I want to go Home'.. something of a theme song for their ship, which is used to train new recruits, officers and non-commisioned officers for the Canadian Navy. More crew members joined in with improvised instruments from the ship's mess, and small instruments supplied by Willdeve.


Captain Gary Davis of Victoria plays his banjo in an impromptu jam session


Jamming on the HMCS Oriole... Willdeve on Guitar, Alan Douchette (partly hidden) on mess hall spoons, Carlos Flores and Eric Flanagan on shakers and Captain Gary Davis on banjo


Willdeve performs her Ballad of the meeting of Captain Cook and the Chief Maquinna in 1778

The HMCS Oriole is the oldest commisioned ship in the Navy at 83 years, commissioned in 1952. There is actually a book about the HMCS Oriole called "The People's Boat HMCS Oriole: Ship of a Thousand Dreams" by author Shirley Hewett. See the website on the book for more information about this ship's fascinating history before and after it was commandeered for service in the Canadian Navy during WWII.

http://www.heritagehouse.ca/press_releases/peoplesboat2003.htm

More Information about the Oriole can also be found on the official Navy website: http://www.navy.gc.ca/oriole/

This voyage of the HMCS Oriole is an outreach voyage to recruit young people to the Canadian Navy, and to visit all the small communities up and down the coast of BC, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.

Captain Lieutenant Commander Gary Davis said they have had many memorable adventures on this voyage, and some of the most memorable was a 4 to 5 day visit to Haida community on Haida Gwaii, and a feast put on for them at Prince Rupert by the family of a crew member.. though the captain remarked that "Smoked Sea Lion is an acquired taste".

4:45 AM Deer Rescue

I was making eggs for Jim at 4:30 AM or so in the morning, while he went to the front door to see if our cat Spike wanted to come in. He then called for me to get my camera, as a deer was caught in the basketball court across the street.

I got my digital camera and went across the street, and sure enough a panicked deer was jumping repeatedly at the wire fence trying to get out of the public basketball court.


Panicked deer in basketball court

It was jumping at the fence at the opposite end from the open door. So I stayed halfway up the court near the fence while Jim went to the far end of the court so the deer would run towards the open door. I took several pictures, but with the limitations of a digital camera, only one had a legible image of the deer.

With Jim at the far end of the court, the deer circled around to put the maximum distance from Jim and myself, and circled around to the open door and went through it and bounded off to the woods.

Jim came back in, ate his eggs and headed off to his charter down at Westview Marina, with an interesting story to tell his charter customer!

Jim Pook and friends with Chinook 23 to 28 lbs

Jim Pook (left to right), Rob O'sullivan (Vancouver) and Rinje VanderHeide(Langley) hold up Chinook ranging from 23 to 28 lbs.

Jim, a local guide, took a personal fishing day on Saturday July 31st with 2 friends and came back after a half day with their limit in Chinook. See more fish photos at Jim's webstite:
www.jimfishing.com

Tahsis Radar Trap

If it's red, octagonal and has big white letters saying 'STOP'... well, that means STOP!

Yes folks, Tahsis does have traffic laws, that apply even if you are towing a boat!

Yesterday evening Sargent Andre Bagi and Auxillary Mike Mountain staked out the 'Tahsis Radar Trap'.. the small side street entrance to the old Doman's Mill property.. and waited for the predictable number of Tahsis locals and visitors to breeze right by the stop sign, or to perform the infamous Tahsis "rolling stop". Yours truly almost got caught, but I always virtuously follow the traffic laws, especially when I spot a black and white car through the trees just ahead.


Sargent Andre Bagi (right) and Auxillary Mike Mountain say hi

I caught up with Andre and Mike just after they gave out their last ticket of the evening. Andre is from Gold River, and he reminds everyone local or tourist:

"Traffic laws will be strictly enforced, and most of all to remember to be safe"

I forgot to ask him if they have caught and warned the boaters recently who speeded past Westview Marina the other day, and gave everyone on the deck and barge a little bouncing. I would hate to be a cook in the kitchen at the Cantina Marina when the waves hit! Talk about Mexican Jumping Beans....

Westview Marina has their own blog now, with marina events and 'Catch of the Day' fish photos. Check it out at their website, it's the FISH PHOTOS & LINKS page: www.westviewmarina.com

Musical Mariners entertain Westview deck crowd

Teniya Morelli (left) and Steve Starkey entertain crowd on Westview Marina dock

Shirley & Bruce Morelli have been coming up from Spokane Washington to fish for years, so when Shirley mentioned to Cathy Daynes that her son Teniya and friend steve Starkey were with them with their sound equipment, it was only natural that Cathy put them to work entertaining her customers.


The Musical Mariner's performing alternative country at the Westview Marina in Tahsis

Steve and Teniya are the "Musical Mariners" performing alternative country music, and they were very much enjoyed by the crowd out on the deck. Steve and Teniya played from 6 to 9 both Friday and Saturday, and were so well received, that Marina staff had to pull most the tables & chairs out of the Marina Cantina restaurant out to the deck, so dining patrons could listen to them!