Ding, Ding, Ding, The Last Round Ring

Before I delve into the excitement of this week, let me bore you with all the events that happened since my last post.

Once again, I was shutout at hockey last Thursday. I had some really good chances but could not sink one. I was on the black side this time (usually on whites) so I had to fit in a bit. Also, my two line mates were very fast and skilled so I mostly sat back to take pictures of their amazing goals.

This weekend was the annual LaBelle Chalet fishing derby. For the past nine years I have been coming down to the Murphy’s (Liane, Chantal, Denis) cottage for this tournament. Richard and Denis run the event where a bunch of friends decend on innocent Lake Bernard to drink beer, eat chips, fart and play cards. Luckily Denis’ steaks are great so that keeps us coming back for more. The women folk have their own gathering at the Bottos’ (Richard) cottage, a convenient 20 min car ride away, on a different lake (thank god!)

I made my way up to the chalet with Denis. He had a few work errands to run along the way so he repaid my patience with lunch. He really did not have to as I was more than willing to pick up the tab since he was driving. We got to the chalet early afternoon. I got set up and took an early nap, knowing full well it was going to be a long evening but a short night. After my nap, more guests started to arrive. We were expecting about 13 guys for fishing. I was resting in the man room when the skies opened up. It started to thunder and lightning with both heavy rain and almost grape sized hail. This storm highlighted a few things for us: 1) the gutters needed to be cleaned out, 2) we should tie down all the boats before a storm. Richard and Aaron waited for a break in the storm to find the boat that got away.  They were able to find it and get into it just as the rain started again. Unfortunalely neither boat had a cover so they got soaked. Once back, Richard cleaned out the gutters while the rain continued. Shortly after the rain stopped, Richard got a call from Li informing us that the road to the Bottos’s cottage was closed because a tree fell and knocked out the power. As a result, we had double the people for dinner. Luckily, Denis was prepared for this event and had enough steaks for everyone.

With dinner done, we started playing some euchre. The women folk got the call that the road was reopened and the power was up at the cottage so they slowly trickled over to set up camp and sleep for the night. Before Chantal left though, she wanted me to partake in a best wishes ceremony. She lit a white candle and asked me to think good thoughts and on what I wanted to achieve. Once I was spiritually centered I needed to blow out the candle. I did so and did not think much of it for the rest of the night. Now that we had the place to ourselves again, the Texas Holdem started. Most years, I am usually good to make it to the money rounds, often winning or splitting the pot but not this year. I got out early this year which, for me, meant I could go to bed earlier 1:30 AM instead of past 3:00 AM.

The day of the derby, we were up surprisingly early. Most of us were up by 6:00 AM and in boats by 7:00, our earliest start yet. Before I get to how the day went for me, I should probably brush you up on my past record. In the last 8 years, I have been lucky to catch any fish. We are only looking for small mouth bass but will bring anything into the boat for pictures. I am very good at catching salad, not so good with the fish. To change my luck, one year I brought frozen fish sticks to ensure there was enough “fish” to feed my family. I do usually win a prize but it is usually the last place trophy.

This year though was going to be different. I have been brushing up on my fishing shows and techniques (see earlier comments in May), did not jinx it by bringing fish sticks, lost at poker and had my spirits aligned – even though I had wished to win the $50 Mil. Lotto Max and not the derby (sorry Chantal need money not fish 🙂 ). This year was going to have to be different. I was in Richard’s fishing boat with his friend Andrew, a new guy at the derby this year. We got to our first fishing hole and on the first cast, Andrew caught a bass (little did we know at the time it would be his last for the day). As he brought it near the boat, Richard was waiting for it to get close while I had the net. I scooped it up and hoisted it into the boat where Richard took it off the line and put it into the live well. It was not big but it was the first so we needed it to gauge the future keepers.

Shortly after dealing with Andrew’s fish, Richard snagged a nice bass. It was putting up a good fight. I was not paying attention to Richard’s fight as I had my back to him. Something told me though that I should. When I turned around, I see Richard pulling in his line by tooth and nail, litterally. Shortly after hooking his line, he started to reel it in but his rod broke and all he could see what his line stretching out further. His instincts kicked in and he grabbed the line with his free hand. Now he had a delemna: one hand is on the line and one is on the rod, there are no hands left to pull the line. Richard grabbed the line with his teeth and pulled in the slack as he switched his hand and teeth positions. He did this repeatedly until the bass was close to the boat. At this point, I am ready with the net to catch this fish. Having just practiced with a smaller one I felt confident in my abilities to bring this in. Well the fish had other ideas. Somehow, there was a hole in the net that was larger than the others and the fish slipped through the net, still attached to the line that is still between Richard’s teeth. Needless to say, we did finally get it into the boat using one of Richard’s other free hands, grabbing the fish by its jaw. It was a nice one, probably about 3 lbs. For my part, I caught a little sunfish. Another typical start for my derby.

But all that ended when we went to a new spot. Richard showed me a different way to bait my hook and its seemed to make all the difference. It took a few casts but then I snagged a 1.0 lbs bass. I successfully brought that into the boat and into the live well and no sooner than my next cast, there was another on the line. In the span of 1/2 h I had caught 4 bass where one was wothy of staying in the boat. We trolled a few other areas with some success. Though, at this point, I was winning on volume of fish, Richard still had the biggest and with each new fish, they were getting bigger. We were slowing working our way back when we came upon a shallow in the bay where the chalet resides. Richard knew that they typically only bite here in the afternoon so we were playing the odds. Well, I had a field day there. I pulled up another 4 bass with one of them being  4.5 lbs, my biggest yet. On one of my last casts, I snagged a pike. It was an unusual one as it fought more like a bass than a pike typically does. This one was thrashing all over the place and even breaking water. We had gotten it close to the boat but, without a net, we needed to lift it in and as we raised it out of the water, it snapped my line. We did not want it anyway but it would have taken a nice photo. We figure it was 3.5-4 ft and about 7 lbs. We finally pulled into shore around 3:30 PM. Normally, we would have stopped once to fill coffees and grab a bite but I guess we were having too much fun.

It is hard to get a sense of the size but I believe mine is the one one top. The other is Richard’s. Our boat brought in the most fish as well, enough to feed the large crowd that was there, now that the women were back. And, for the first time, I won with the biggest fish! My name will be on the good trophy for a change. We stayed at the Chalet until about 10:30 PM and then went to the Bottos’s cottage for the night. Below are some photos of all the gang for fish dinner and the awarding of my 1st place prize.

Sunday was spent lounging, eating and then packing up. I did not do much as I had done more than usual the previous two days. I had some energy Monday so I made dinner for that night and Tuesday, for after chemo.  Then, I had a late ball game where we did not do so well. We were coming back in the last inning when I stepped up to the plate with two outs and only a few runs behind.  But, just before the pitch came the lights went out so we stopped there. No glory for me this game.

I am glad I checked my phone before bed as there was a note that our Tuesday hockey game was cancelled this week. Good thing I did not get up early for nothing. Probably was good for me as Tuesday was going to be a long one. This was the last chemo day, 6 session of 6! I survived all my sessions and was able to ring the bell afterwards.

Video of me ringing the bell

It was hard at the time to fully appreciate it but it will be a lasting memory. Now the waiting game begins again. My CT scan is scheduled in two weeks and I see my Besty about 2-3 weeks afterwards where I finally hear how I have done. I will not be partying just yet, but soon, very soon I will.

This coming week I have hockey tonight, which I believe I will make it again. Friday night is the comedy club with my work colleagues. Saturday there is a pool party and barbecue with some of MA’s soccer friends (last time she said she was having a party with her soccer friends it ended up being a surprise party, hum?) The kids all leave Sunday for their girl guide camp to New Brunswick. We then have a full week, without the kids! Our plan is to spend some time at Richard’s cottage again while I recover some more. As such, this may be my last post for a little while as the cell service is not the best up there, just the way I like it!