Friday, July 29, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Fishing 101
Whew! That's all I have to say regarding the Surrey River harvest for 2011. It started on July 10 and ended the morning of July 19th and I was so happy when this weekend came as this is my time off. Department of Fisheries and Oceans (ironically from Winnipeg) sets our quotas and for Surrey River is was set at 20,000 lbs of Arctic char. Needless to say we met the quota. We also take the left pectoral fin from the first 100 fish for the biologist from DFO. Les, from Fisheries and Oceans and his team will be up mid-August until mid-September as they do research on Arctic char. The Arctic char from this harvest were all big and healthy looking fish which is a good sign. A little lesson on char, the females are always brighter than the males (sorry boys) and they are better for eating.
We shipped about 1,500 lbs of fresh char to Clean Fish in the United States, from the time we receive the fish it arrives about 3 days later in Boston. During our fall harvest we will be shipping to L.A. and San Francisco. We also shipped some fresh char to Ocean Odyssey in Edmonton, many locations in Yellowknife and the remaining of the char will be processed into hot & cold smoked, jerky, steaks, fillets and whole dressed. We have completed our spring harvest and it will start again mid-August when we do 3 more river systems. I am hoping to get up on the plane when it picks up some fish, it would be an experience of a lifetime.
Last weekend Sheila ordered some lobster from Ocean Odyssey and Craig, Marg, Jane and I were invited for the feast. We felt kinda bad as Jim was out of town working and missed the lobster, so we thought...(that's all I have to say about that. ha ha) We had some lobster left over so I made some char/lobster chowder and I must say it was good. First time I made chowder and I think I may have to do it again.
Even though I had been working alot I still made time to head out onto the land either by truck or Honda, not only to take pictures but to enjoy the beauty of this grand land. It is hard to explain what the tundra is, you really have to experience it. There is something new very time you go out. We invited Marg to join us for a ride on the quads, we headed towards Augustus Hills and then to Long Point. I had been to Augustus Hills last fall but the scenery looked different this time. It was my first time to Long Point and all I have to say is unbelievable. It was low tide so I picked some shells in the sandy beach, yes sea shells. We seen some icebergs, seals and tons of sea birds. I could of spent all night there.
The dogs are enjoying the Arctic summer too and in between us working, eating, sleeping and quading we find time to take them out for swims in some of the small ponds that are scattered on the land. Blitz decided to take a run for some birds, I don't mind him being free and chasing birds I worry about what is behind the hills that he runs over, it could be a big ole muskox and I am not sure what Blitz or the muskox would do.
I have posted a few pictures of the fish harvest from Surrey River and of Long Point.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Celebrations
Since I arrived back home my weeks have been filled with celebrations of many kinds. First on the list was July 1st, Canada Day. The weather didn't co-operate that day as it was cold & raining, actually the weather was crappy that whole week leading up to Canada Day. Craig did play baseball and his team took first place and each member took home a gift card for the Northern Store. Great prize!
The following week the skies opened and it has been beautiful ever since, even today it was cloudy and a bit raining but the temperature was good. So all last week we were in and out of the house enjoying the sunshine. I never thought that I would ever see shorts again until I head down south but alot of people have been wearing them including me. I think I am even getting a tan up here. Last week Jim, Sheila, Marg, Cat, Craig and myself headed out on to the land with our ATVs and I was the passenger in the Tom Car while Sheila drove. It was a great evening. We didn't get home until 10pm but it felt like 8pm as the sun was shining high in the sky.
On July 9th it was Nunavut Day and the weather couldn't of been better. There were many different games for the kids, a free barbque that included a hot dog, a bag of chips and a juice, prizes, and the list goes on. Most of the town was shut down today as Nunavut Day fell on Saturday so most businesses were closed today. We, Kitikmeot Foods Ltd. on the other hand was not closed as we started the annual Arctic char harvest yesterday and the fish do not take holidays. I will do a separate post on the fish harvest at a later date.
Yesterday Craig and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversay. I can't believe it has been 18 years, I still remember our first date when Craig took me to the BDI (Bridge Drive-In) for the best ice cream treat in his mom and dad's old station wagon. You know the one with the wood panels, how cool was he? No wonder I fell for him. We spent most of our anniversay day on the land with Craig driving and me taking pictures. We seen three small herds of muskox and many birds and flowers. The day ended with a great dinner of steak, mussels and wine.
The dogs have been happy as we have been taking them out on these beautiful days for runs...finally. Blitz being 2 years old and a great little hunter is put on a 30 foot lead for about an hour and then he is free to run. He usually does well as we throw the ball for him and he brings it back. Well into this game a little birdie flew right in front of him just above the ground heading towards the icey cold waters. Shorthair + bird + water can not equal a good thing. Off Blitz goes, over the hill towards the water in hot pursuit of this little bird. Before Craig reached the hill Blitz was heading back towards us, I guess the bird flew over the water and the water is just too cold to swim in. We took Molly out with us one evening and we found the perfect spot with no birds or wildlife in sight, so we thought. She jumped out of the truck and headed straight to a long-tailed jaeger's nest. You could say that the birds were not happy with her, dive bombing her left and right. She finally heard our whistles and headed back to the truck with the jaegers following close behind. She made it to the truck without injury. Being 9 years old she can still run like the wind.
The mosquitos have been celebrating too. Coming from Manitoba you are used to the little blood suckers but the ones up are relentless. We made the mistake one day of going out with the dogs without any protection on, you could say we fed them well that day. The people in town tell me that this is just the beginning of the season, it gets worse! Taking pictures is a bit of a challenge and then once you get the shot you have to spend the rest of the day editing the mosquitos out of the picture. Can't wait until black fly season.....
I have taken many pictures of the flowers in and around Cambridge Bay but since I have about 20 pictures to share with you today I will keep those for another day.
Talk soon!
Yesterday Craig and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversay. I can't believe it has been 18 years, I still remember our first date when Craig took me to the BDI (Bridge Drive-In) for the best ice cream treat in his mom and dad's old station wagon. You know the one with the wood panels, how cool was he? No wonder I fell for him. We spent most of our anniversay day on the land with Craig driving and me taking pictures. We seen three small herds of muskox and many birds and flowers. The day ended with a great dinner of steak, mussels and wine.
The dogs have been happy as we have been taking them out on these beautiful days for runs...finally. Blitz being 2 years old and a great little hunter is put on a 30 foot lead for about an hour and then he is free to run. He usually does well as we throw the ball for him and he brings it back. Well into this game a little birdie flew right in front of him just above the ground heading towards the icey cold waters. Shorthair + bird + water can not equal a good thing. Off Blitz goes, over the hill towards the water in hot pursuit of this little bird. Before Craig reached the hill Blitz was heading back towards us, I guess the bird flew over the water and the water is just too cold to swim in. We took Molly out with us one evening and we found the perfect spot with no birds or wildlife in sight, so we thought. She jumped out of the truck and headed straight to a long-tailed jaeger's nest. You could say that the birds were not happy with her, dive bombing her left and right. She finally heard our whistles and headed back to the truck with the jaegers following close behind. She made it to the truck without injury. Being 9 years old she can still run like the wind.
The mosquitos have been celebrating too. Coming from Manitoba you are used to the little blood suckers but the ones up are relentless. We made the mistake one day of going out with the dogs without any protection on, you could say we fed them well that day. The people in town tell me that this is just the beginning of the season, it gets worse! Taking pictures is a bit of a challenge and then once you get the shot you have to spend the rest of the day editing the mosquitos out of the picture. Can't wait until black fly season.....
I have taken many pictures of the flowers in and around Cambridge Bay but since I have about 20 pictures to share with you today I will keep those for another day.
Talk soon!
Monday, July 11, 2011
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