Autumn Work, Fish, Travel... HUNT??!!

[Moosebunk]

WORK, FISH, TRAVEL... HUNT??!!

There is that one constant which we all most likely share, and it is work.

Nursing is my work. I am a Nurse. Snicker if you will, pass judgement, but know that this skin is purdy darned thickened to much after 20 years.

Yet on Canada Day I quit my permanent job. Not wanting to fully settle into just ER medicine alone, nor accept and adapt to some current hospital scheduling practices and policies, after five years of trial it was apparent that walking away to roll the dice would be easier than continuing in a game I didn't really want to play anymore.

The perfect reset was to take July and visit Great Slave with my wife and then afterwards pull a solo run to Nipigon. Once returning home in early August to my two employers as only a casual "free agent," the phone started ringing and just wouldn't stop. The month ended up one of the busiest in the past few years leaving but merely one day to fish. Yet thinking drought often follows flood, the days ahead I began to prepare for.

Late August, my 2000 to 2010 James Bay employer under a new name and authority re-hired me on as a casual and I secured work for a 17-day contract (locum) come end of September into October. With jobs falling into place, it was decided last minute that time could be afforded for some fishing with my friend Len up on Lake Athabasca, before being shipped off to Northern Ontario for the locum.

Everyday while north and taking just one full day off, I plugged away at the Nursing which has always been enjoyed most. By condensing all shifts too, and with a better rate on return, the 2.5 weeks figured the equivalent of about triple at home. This meant several things to me, I would be fine and my decision would work out, and this Autumn report would begin in Attawapiskat...

It's like having a second home, or actually... even a third. Sometimes struggle with a few names but most know me and it's a rare thing I forget a face. Welcomed by many with open arms, even a number of new folks were quick to introduce themselves. It's a good place in this regard, and seeing many inlaws during my stay made Attawapiskat even better. Many times over I chuckled with old friends too, when they pointed out how fat I've become. (inside I was crying)

First night there and the WIFI in the trailer crapped out, but I didn't care. Had a good book to read, "The Orenda," by Joseph Boyden and, also wanted to piece together the Athabasca report which could only at that time be hand written. CBC Radio and Wawatay are pretty well the only stations which can be tuned into Skat. Listening to either one takes my thoughts back to Moose Factory, and especially to driving on the ice road in the mornings and evenings to and from work in Moosonee. On local cable TV are the community channels as well, and it's watching those one can catch up on almost everything that is going on around the community.

Many things about this kind of life around me cause changes. Instantly I begin to eat better, as it's all home-cooked meals and proper timed and balanced breakfasts. I sleep better, as it's quiet and closer to sea level, and with richer air. I move a little better, feeling less sluggish and stiff after sleep and manage to work through days with less tire. I think better, feeling more creative and motivated to especially read and write nearly every day. And I laugh more... probably because many people there seem to laugh more, or just want to laugh more in general. It's a close knit and quite social community, yet... while there I do miss my girls every single day, which makes staying any great length rather difficult.

When time permitted during this past locum I'd go for a walk or drive in the hospital truck to explore and photograph the scenery around the outskirts of town. If only treated better, Attawapiskat would not be the third-world-like community which our National News often portrays it as. The land all around is pristine and incredible, and the town could be the crown jewel of it all, if only it adopted a higher respect and responsibility.

A few short days available for those perfect autumn colors, the season was luckily captured in full glory. The old road to the Healing Lodge I once regularly walked in 2000 had been pretty well raped in recent years, excavated for dirt I am guessing to build the new school. The scenery has been destroyed, but beyond the Healing Lodge a new and long road out of town heading north is being built. Driving it in the future should take folks deep into the wilderness heading towards the Ekwan River. What was already established and new to me on this trip though, was a 12 kilometer road which stretched from town to the mouth of the Attawapiskat River, almost right to the James Bay shore. Along this route are many new sites to take in, and a couple of times I thoroughly enjoyed driving it's distance while stopping now and again to take photographs along the river.

Coming off a Saturday night shift on-call, my brother-in-law Joe kindly offered to have me along with his boys for a Sunday afternoon goose hunt. I had only once been along with Joe in 2006 for some fall fishing and moose hunting, but I wasn't the hunter really, simply a passenger. Yet the chance opportunity to experience anything like this can still not be passed up, especially when it's with family I regretfully don't share enough time with. Excited I was to tag along on my first goose hunt.

A strong north-wind on a grey day would be ideal to keep the birds moving through the area. From Attawapiskat we boated in Joe’s 24-foot freighter down river to the very tip of the river mouth where it meets the James Bay ocean. The tide low, the grasses along the bay were flat and moist, and with hip waders we could easily walk the mud and puddled fields. Small flocks were flying regularly while many were laid down on the land. Other hunters about, this actually helped lift some birds from their rest to often get them flying over our heads. Our being there did the same for others.

Joe had been sicker than a dog all week and was hacking away to no end. His energy even sick and at 50 still astounds though, as to me he is like two men when hunting or traveling on the land and rivers. When I claimed that I may be a little useless to him out on a hunt because I don't hunt, he replied, "you fish don't you? So then you hunt!" I'll admit that made me smile.

With Akimiski Island visible in the distance it was an absolute pleasure to spend the afternoon with Joe and my quiet nephews Nathan and Seth. Four snow geese and a Canada, plus two whitefish Seth found trapped in puddles after the last tide, the short hunt was a successful one and I learned much from Joe. On the way home with the tide coming in, we boated nearby back channels in search of signs for moose, but instead only saw a cruising beluga whale, maybe a dozen seals and numerous bald eagles soaring overhead.

I'll let the pictures illustrate the afternoon.

In about the time it takes me to drill two ice holes, set up the pop-up, get it cozy inside and start fishing, Joe found a split log which he laid on the grass parallel to a foot wide but hip deep irrigation channel running through the land. Gathering a number of twigs he shoved them into the ground then tied grass in bows onto those sticks. Sitting drier up on the log, feet dangling into the ditch, we were about the same height as the makeshift blind. The boys could easily shoot from sitting or by just stand up in the trench. I thought it was pretty cool.

Niska.

Tide coming in signals the end of the hunt. Can't sit in the water so off we went. The ride home was great too.

Some of my hunting buddies tell me I'm pretty lucky to have experienced a goose hunt on James Bay. They're not kidding. Meegwetch Joe, Nathan & Seth, it was a very memorable day.

I left Attawapiskat a happy man in more ways than one. To combine work with travel and have just enough time to squeeze in a few days out on the land to explore and live such moments is rather friggin' awesome.

Continued...

Edited November 23, 2014 by Moosebunk

[Moosebunk]

When arriving back home early October the wheels were still spinning. After a couple days of online research and questioning a few friends, I picked up the phone and called a Nursing agency based in Manitoba. A few weeks later I was hired... but the process for contracting through an agency to nurse in the Arctic requires plenty paperwork, time and some study, all which are still in the works. Regardless, some 2015 contracts will lead me away from home for periods of two to six weeks, though the trade off will be the majority of the year completely work-free while at home. With four employers I believe that will make for a solid monopoly. Nunavut & Northern Ontario will be the bulk, although when home I will work casually and when convenient. Quite stoked honestly to begin this chapter but, nervous at the same time. Bren and the girls may be able to join me for a trip or two a year but there will be times away without them. That's a hard thing to think about actually, but hopefully the healthy balance of outpost northern nursing with some southern ER shifts will make for work worth keeping.

My fishing buddy Lenny got married last month. He and his new wife Sara finally tied the knot. Although Len and I have not been friends for too long in life, in recent years we've shared some great trips and many times out fishing together. When he asked while up in northern Saskatchewan if I'd be his best man , I was honored. He will likely read this so again my friend, congratulations!

One other thing also had to change this fall... Something that some weeks ago I wrote a little about the night before old became new.

Old Blue's Eulogy.

I put her through Hell some days but she wanted it that way. Fifteen years through muck and mire, snow and ice, there were times she'd mow down forests, snowdrifts and animals just to get me places. An untamed child barely broken when she first came to us, old and battered now she's gonna take some rest.

I'll remember the good times and the bad. How I'd never plug her in at minus 50C and although she'd whine, she'd wake and run. Those commutes I drove her hard in 4-wheel drive at 100km/hr across the northern ice roads, and she'd hold her grip great on the slick... most times. Replacing differentials came later. Doubt that any other truck though, could pull my boat through the night at 150km/hr and dodge moonlit foxes with such razor road precision.

There were a few near incidents when she was stopped dead in her tracks snapping suddenly through thin ice on the way to work. Dangling her feet in the river, tough as a bugger, I'd pop her into all four and giggling she'd crawl up and away no worse for wear. On the Detour 652 one afternoon there was a ditch crossing I thought was right for her... but turned out it wasn't. Just too narrow for a truck, we were touring a little quick, and missing the bridge made for a rather hard landing when she sailed off the side, jumping the ditch and driving down into the forest. An 18-point turn got her 180'd though, before approaching that bridge again with just the right angle that'd keep three tires on it at a time for the incline out. We made our escape. Crisis averted! Not a couple days later we found a spruce needled road through some sand eskers. Never lost, but temporarily turned around, the maze of narrowing trails closed us in. This became the first time her front bumper gently clear-cut through some forest while branches clawed at every bit of her body. She'd do anything for me.

She didn't see a vacuum much, nor a hose and wax but, there is truly less salt in all the ocean tides of James Bay than there are on our southern roads nowadays, and days eating mud just made her tough and naturally beautiful underneath. Honest truth is, rust and rattle never settled much into her, for a long time she happily ate that kinda sh!t for breakfast. She was beautiful.

Outside of Mattawa I chipped her windshield following a transport, twice. Make no mistake the shocks and brakes never let me down though, except once when they did. Ball joints? Well they were no match for Moo-ki-jun-i-beg Street in Moose Factory, so every now and then I'd treat her to some new shiny balls. Shackling her down to a rail-car dozens of times over the years so she could go five hours south and back on the Polar Bear Express must have hurt her feelings some. The torturous jarring of the rail-cars pulling at her muscular frame. Though once there, it was down in Timmins all alone she'd check into the garage to get lubed and loved. I worried sick about her when she went away.

Several times her windows just fell off the tracks over the past decade, her heater died and the new treads blew too. Alignment was never much of an issue, more often it was the balance, and come lately this gnawing noise with some nervous shaking in 4wd. CD player works most of the time but the passenger side speaker has been fuzzing a few years now. Gas gauge, what gas guage? Ya fill'er up, set the trip odometer then refill at 500k, and that's how you figure when she needs her next drink. A branch took a chunk out of both sides of the chip guard across the hood, but it simply added a kinda rugged character ya know? This past winter the only door to the backseat done busted, and it ain't ever gonna be fixed. Good thing it's broke closed and not open, and my kids are small enough to just climb over the center console. Tailgate-tailshhhmate really, won't even get into it but, she’s still got two outta four hubcaps on those rims. There's the crack in the drivers side mirror, although for ages both loose side mirrors have been holding on strong with a little velcro-tape. The odometer reads 253,000 now, but the second engine I had put in her has at least 10,000 klicks less than that. I'd bet she’ll go to 400,000 if I ask her nice. Can't believe the eighth cylinder lasted like it did, with a hairline crack which leaked poison coolant right into her beating heart. An army of mechanics for five years couldn’t ever figure out why her thermo-juice would go missing, yet we could easily always find her engine warning light on telling us something was ill. Someone tried to steal her away once, and one time someone just stole some loose change, but that’s only because the locks don't always work in the winter too good. She's too trusting, what can I say? Long time gone is her air conditioner, and I'm thinking maybe so right back to around that hot summer of 2006. But, I didn't give two wet sharts about freezing or sweating with her, not as long as Blue kept humming under my arse and taking me from A to B with as much care as only she can. My Chev, my Rock, my Blue...

Tough northern roads she crushed 'em! Highways to ice roads from Ottawa to Thunder Bay and Attawapiskat to Windsor she rode 'em! Different neighbor’s defunct Dodges and fallen Fords crumbled before her, all outlived. That said, she is actually a bit of cyborg nowadays but still going strong dammit! One fella at the Jiffy coating her underbelly recently said, "maaaan, they sure put alotta steel into these old trucks, don’t make 'em like they used to that's fer sure." Well... if it's true, if they're all just plastic disposable trucks these days, then I figure I'm pretty well gonna be fiznuckered with any one of them.

She's been to Hell and back and she loved it. Her heart will never die. She was my Blue, my Rock, my Chev.

The next day I was over it. First brand new vehicle EVER!

Bren's car in just five years managed to rack up 250,000 klicks, more than my fifteen year old truck has, so she made herself happy as well. Now I really gotta get to work.

But Old Blue will stick around awhile yet. Engine still going strong, my oldest daughter turns 16 soon and there's enough steel not rotted out that she thinks having the truck for herself will be awesome.

Totally neglected through August and September were these two sad and sorry state of affairs.

October 6th through to November 15th was a total rat race around home but the coolest thing was having nothing but time between "gigs." Over the six weeks the weather has been some of the most miserable, windy, rainy, hodgy-podgy unpredictable crap, and honestly the WeatherNetwork and all others should be dismissed. Fishing was tougher than usual for sure, but there were some days which turned out quite alright.

Six outings over the span were spent on smallies, with one of those days it being largies and eyes instead. Pretty well weekly I'd check in somewhere to see how the season and bite was progressing. One Thursday in the backwoods they lit up like mad over the span of a few hours. They were off, turned on big time, then shut down again... and it seemed related to the sun and breeze. It was weird, but the timing had been so right to beat-up on many, many 3 to 4 1/2 pound smallies with the light gear. A real "throw-back Thursday," and I just loved it!!! But overall the smallie season was the biggest flop. The other days were quite hard with one even being a skunk, couple times too I just quit within hours. It sucked!

Five days the boat managed to get out on Quinte. Would have expected more fish in The Reach sooner this year but found that it was the complete opposite. This season there wasn't a day out when the water temps were ever below 50F. Everything in 50-59F. White bass galore, plenty sheepies, smaller resi-like eyes with fewer bigguns thrown in until the later trips, this fall the BOQ has been stingy. Normally I'm finished with even going there by mid-month, aiming for a usual number of six trips in before switching to a couple weeks steelheading and the odd late muskie jig. Always blown away by the constantly good fishing, this year the eye troll hasn't even really started yet, and because so the numbers caught were pretty well cut in half. 35 fish total. Again, bigguns much harder to come by overall yet some are there, but I sit here now happily still holding strong to not once ever being skunked in over 30 some outings since first fishing the BOQ in 2009.

Favorite thing about Quinte is the social aspect of fishing out there. Always such a pleasure to share the boat with friends or family, it's rare I take a rod anymore and reel one in. People always enjoy their day out, and that speaks volumes when those aboard range from my youngest daughter right up to the most serious of big fish anglers. This season some of the oldest buddies, Dan from Yellowknife with my youngest Leah along, and Paul from Lanark joined in for two different days out in the early going. Newbie to the Bay Steve from Ottawa, scored the last seat of the season. And lastly an interesting partnership formed as well when new friend Seth from Fargo North Dakota flew in for four days of testing local waters, with two of those being on the Bay.

Kindly willing to cover every and all costs Seth and I hit the road starting at Quinte, then gave Larry muskies a go in some gale force winds, before ending on a couple cold and nearly snowy highland back lakes; where he was able to knock splake off his lifetime list with a great 21-incher. Seth being an Arctic fishing nut who's had many trips north to Bear, Slave, Athabasca and other places like Gods, he and I had plenty to talk about. His trophy wall is incredible, and so from me what he hoped for is a new PB walleye more than anything. It felt like four days of guiding in many respects but, his personality is so kind and easy-going that any pressure there was came solely from me. We had about an hour and a half left on our second day on the BOQ when he reeled in his trophy. Seth enjoyed it on the lightest stick too when the inside right fired a clear RR. Thirty-six feet left on the counter and the fish was still straight down below the boat throwing head shakes. That doesn't happen too often with these ole wetsocks. The man who never smiles for any photos because fishing to him "is business," he instead let out a big whoop and high five after the net slid under his best biggun. That felt great for us both.

Past few years muskies have been one fish I have come to really enjoy hunting in the fall. They can be one of the highest of highs or lowest of lows but they always seem worth the time. Over the six weeks I managed seven days out to chase the skis with friends Len and his pal Jay, Mikey, Seth and my oldest, Summer. There was no 56-incher this year sadly, and maybe because of that I didn't bother to measure any fish that were caught, but along the way the numbers tallied up to 6 for 7. All days were spent on the Larry but one. Some fish note notables were that Mike got his first tiger muskie and Summer reeled in a few good PB pike instead of skis on her day out. And although we couldn't find a ski for Seth, jigging one of my own hand-tied bucktails to finish out the season I managed a rather solid buzzer beater for myself. Muskies were OK this season and I wish there was more time with them to come.

That's the autumn season in one purdy big, long-winded, bloggy-like nutshell. Can't all be big trip reports but since Skat late September it sure as shart feels like it's been nothing but one big trip going on. Seems like there could be more but as for the fishing I'm done, and soon back to work awhile... Connecting online will be sporadic and more difficult in the coming months. Thanks for taking the time with this report and any others this year, and if I can't say it down the road, here's best wishes to you and yours over the coming Holiday Season too.

Bunk.

Edited November 22, 2014 by Moosebunk

[manitoubass2]

Sweet jesus!

 

I wanna be a nurse!

 

MB you are a master and deserve to be Paid to fish.

 

My son will enjoy this report later:)

 

(and I'll read it like 15 times!)

 

another epic report

[Joeytier]

Congrats on your new career avenues! Loved the goose hunting shots the most, but they're all good, of course!

 

Nice Chevy too. The new chevy front ends look nice but the front valences are way too low for my liking compared to previous generations. I installed a 2" level kit on my '13 and it made a huge difference.

[NewHips]

Great report....Thanks for sharing

[Rustic-Fisher]

A great read !!! Gotta convince the wife to be a Nurse practitioner up that way ...... I'd be living the dream lol.

[Basskicker]

Awesome pics and story as always and congrats and good luck on your new path in life.

[chris.brock]

I guess Chevy does run deep, and I'm sure you and your new friend will find plenty of new roads

 

good to hear you're still kicking butt Bunk

Edited November 21, 2014 by chris.brock

[ketchenany]

A truly great report as always Nursing is a noble profession, I have one in my family.

[outllaw]

moosebunk good karma to you and your family. we get to live thru your experiences you report. .moosebunk the nurse..father outdoorsman,photographer/story teller. once again thanks. im like a 12 year old kid reading your travels...thanks again.

[Moosebunk]

MB you are a master and deserve to be Paid to fish.

 

I think so too MB. lol. Thanks bud!

 

Nice Chevy too. The new chevy front ends look nice but the front valences are way too low for my liking compared to previous generations. I installed a 2" level kit on my '13 and it made a huge difference.

 

I hear ya Joey. Think the face of the truck is a beauty honestly, but clearance is lower there for sure. Arse end though sits up two inches higher at the trailer hitch than my 99 did. To level the boat trailer have to go with the 5" drop on the Reese hitch instead of my old 3". Side by side it's a bigger truck in appearance, but only time will tell if it's got the heart.

 

A great read !!! Gotta convince the wife to be a Nurse practitioner up that way ...... I'd be living the dream lol.

 

Meeee toooo. It is in "my" long term plans for "us" to work six month winters away up North and chill at home and our Nipigon trailer in the summers. Living the dream! lol.

 

moosebunk good karma to you and your family. we get to live thru your experiences you report. .moosebunk the nurse..father outdoorsman,photographer/story teller. once again thanks. im like a 12 year old kid reading your travels...thanks again.

 

Appreciated bud. Hope the muskies have been good to you this season.

 

A truly great report as always Nursing is a noble profession, I have one in my family.

 

A dirty noble profession. Man, buddies used to tease me for picking it... but I get 'em back nowadays. lol.

 

I guess Chevy does run deep, and I'm sure you and your new friend will find plenty of new roads

 

Sat in the new truck Chris and it felt just like the old one in many ways. Again, I've hammered on the last one and it's still going. Fixing it along the way was still cheaper than payments. The new one will see much easier roads and days, and the old one will stick around as long as it can for those times I need something to handle a beating.

 

Awesome pics and story as always and congrats and good luck on your new path in life.

 

Thanks Jay!

 

Great report....Thanks for sharing

 

Thanks Hips!

[GRINGO LOCO]

A great read and pictures on a cold November night!

[wormdunker]

Wow! Awesome report! Thanx for sharing. Your pix are fabulous. I'm a walleye guy. Those are some of the nicest eyes I've ever seen! Very healthy looking.

[spincast]

spectacular scenery there MB. As usual a great read - a notable narrative change compared to prior monologues. Very cool path you have chosen to walk for this stage of your personal history - I look forward to the stops along the way. Somehow I suspect one of the next ones may include ice and some greys? Speaking of which - great shot and nice pair of fatties in this shot.

[RickOnt]

Amazing Bunk A fantastic narrative and pics.

 

All the best, to you and your family, in your new endeavors.

 

Just another "life" experience.

 

Have fun

Cheers

Rick

[John]

Simply awesome Bunk! You live your life how most of us dream. The difference being you have the balls to turn dreams into reality getting off your arse and doing rather than wanting! Kudo's........J...

[woodenboater]

great write up and wonderful photos ! I could spend days at the mouth of the river just taking it all in, the marsh grass looks gorgeous that time of year. Looks like you've found the right work/ life balance and we all envy your determination to chart your own destiny as you choose.

Edited November 22, 2014 by woodenboater

[Moosebunk]

a notable narrative change compared to prior monologues. Very cool path you have chosen to walk.... Somehow I suspect one of the next ones may include ice and some greys?

 

Greys will likely be the only thing for this winter, but if ending up in Nunavut at all and someone has a 13-foot auger extension and takes some pity, maybe there will be some char?

 

Simply awesome Bunk! You live your life how most of us dream. The difference being you have the balls to turn dreams into reality getting off your arse and doing rather than wanting! Kudo's........J...

 

Appreciate reading these words John, I do. Thanks.

 

Work and fish to make for more working and fishing.

 

great write up and wonderful photos ! I could spend days at the mouth of the river just taking it all in, the marsh grass looks gorgeous that time of year. Looks like you've found the right work/ life balance and we all envy your determination too chart your own destiny as you choose.

 

We'll see how it goes with the work/travel gigs to some of the more north and remote communities of Nunavut. It'll be a big challenge and something to balance for sure.

 

I'll see in the coming weeks if I can snap some of the same Attawapiskat Autumn pics but during the winter snow and freeze up,

 

 

Thanks doods.

[woodenboater]

Just came back from Wabush, Labrador...that would be an interesting place to work. Everyone raves about the fishing and hunting there and if you love slinging flies, coastal Labrador is a short haul away. Also heard the Trans Labrador highway is pretty well all blacktop now, your truck would love a road trip methinks

[Dusky]

Its a pleasure reading your reports, you are an outstanding story teller!!

[misfish]

As per usual,I like to keep your reads for early morning sundays so I can take the time to full read and capture everything. No distraction.

 

I totally respect your first part of this one. Taking time to think of changing your life and how it will effect you and your family. From all reports about your family,you have much love and support, which makes it that so much easier.

 

All the best to you Andrew.

 

Great pictures and loved the hunting report.

 

Happy holidays to you and yours as well.

Edited November 23, 2014 by Brian B

[bigbuck]

Beauty!! Good for you Bunk!!

[lew]

Outstanding as always Drew !!

 

Thanks for taking us along.

[Bernie]

Thanks for the entertaining read Drew.
Hope I get the chance to ride the rivers up there someday.
Most likely be on the ice road this winter at least a few times.

[Moosebunk]

Just came back from Wabush, Labrador...that would be an interesting place to work. Everyone raves about the fishing and hunting there and if you love slinging flies, coastal Labrador is a short haul away. Also heard the Trans Labrador highway is pretty well all blacktop now, your truck would love a road trip methinks

 

That'd be an awesome area to check out. Still, probably take the old truck. lol. Would like to one day fish in Arctic Quebec... that'd probably be the first goal.

 

Most likely be on the ice road this winter at least a few times.

 

Pop in the hospital if you're through town Bernie and I'm around. Some awesome coffee just across the street, I'll buy.

 

Taking time to think of changing your life and how it will effect you and your family. From all reports about your family,you have much love and support, which makes it that so much easier.

 

They make all possible. With all the ways to stay connected, the relatively short stints away will be a little easier. Family travel plans for 2015 already booked to make up for some lost time.