May Long Weekend

Our first May long weekend in many years we have not gone to Princeton with C&D: miss you guys :) ... I wonder how our little cabin is doing: did it make it through the winter? how is the roof holding up? windows? are there critters squatting inside? was there still snow on the ground this year?

The boys had no school on Friday so we packed up the truck and headed to Cape Fife via North Beach Dr. to Rose Spit lane to East Beach Blvd. Our neighbours R&E were our travel guides to get there; even saw a beached fin whale just past Carpenters Rd. Pretty cool (but also kinda sad) to see a whale up close.
The cabin was vacant so we moved our stuff in and not a moment too soon as the wind picked up and the rain came down over night. The kids didn't care it was cold.... they explored around the tidal lake, found a bunch of old net buoys, and played in the 'sinking sand'.

Inside the cabin were 2 of these bunk beds, a big picnic table and a wood stove.

Tonnes-o-logs on the beach.

Off the East coast of the island is where the Naikoon Wind project is proposed. There is a test tower about 6miles off shore and we could just see it.

It was so windy that all my pics were a bit blurry. Had to be the wind, not the photographer :)

Saturday morning we packed up after breakfast and headed back to town for Harbour Days. B had a noon softball game in a gentle rain shower followed by a late afternoon game in a torrential rain storm. No such thing as a rain-out here. They were slipping in the outfield, splashing in the mud at home plate and sat huddled under the roof between innings. But the highlight was the dog that snuck in and grabbed a glove and then took off out of the park... I think the guy got his glove back but it was pretty funny.

Sunday morning was a lazy day with pancakes at home instead of at the festival pancake breakfast. Then off to the flea market and the boys stayed there with some buddies selling caramel apples. Ben and I headed to softball for the afternoon and the boys hung out in town. (above pics are from Sunday; with the cloudy weather there were fans in the stands) I got regular phone calls with their whereabouts; we are at the roller-rink, we had a burger for lunch, we are on the fire truck, we are in the parade, we are at Atwells getting balloons for a water fight, I lost my money; I had $8 in my pocket and now it is gone. Finally back home for dinner and a movie followed by fireworks at the rec. centre field. good times :)

Monday morning was sunny and the motorcycle was calling B's name so he headed off for a ride to Port Clements. The boys and I headed over to the Hospital to watch the raising of the Haida Medicine Story Pole carved by Christian White. It was very cool to see it go vertical and a little bit scary when the pole did a bit of a sway as it reached the top... Ben met us there and found a place holding the rope. I required lots of strong arms to move into place and hold the lines tight.

Carver, Christian White in the dark cedar hat and white T-Shirt

The fellow in the grey t-shirt with his back to the pic (sorry, I don't know his name) was the conductor of the pole raising orchestra. He would yell directions and the crew did exactally what they were told. He got total silence when he gave the order to pull the ropes; "more tension on this side, pull tighter over there"... a fantastic community effort!All in an exciting weekend here on Haida Gwaii :)

There are a couple more poles being raised around town in the next couple months and there is a 40th anniversary celebration of a pole carved by Robert Davidson happening this summer. I will find out when it is... maybe when my parents are here to visit :)