Under the Big Top

Pop decided to not go with us to the Pub for dinner tonight. He said it was too much trouble to change out of his work clothes and he was tired. Besides that he had left over roasted chicken, one cob of corn left to cook and half a left over potato.

We arrived at the pub to find a fair number of people, but no one we knew so we sat and watched the hockey game, drank a couple of beer and ordered dinner. By then there were half a dozen people we knew. As we were walking out, Kent stopped for a cigarette and a friend asked if we were going to Wally Silvey’s pig roast. We hadn’t been invited but our friend said it was open to everyone and people just showed up.

I went back inside for a dozen beer to go, thinking I could get Corona. Nope, Greg wouldn’t (couldn’t) sell me anything but canned beer and I hate drinking out of a can so I asked to borrow a glass. Nope, he couldn’t lend me a glass either but offered me a styro cup. Well, that’s worse than drinking out of a can, you know… While Greg’s back was turned, I just happened to spot a glass on the counter which was in use for something else and slipped it into my pocket. Bad me. I will return it!

Anyway, we went to the pig roast and it was fun talking to everyone. We knew quite a few people. Wally has a lovely piece of waterfront property just outside Secret Bay (Egmont) and has a big brick and stone firepit right on the water’s edge. The pig was cooked on a spit and everyone said it was delicious. I was still full from dinner so didn’t even try it.

Wally asked about Pop, said he sees him sometimes in Madeira at the IGA. We left just at dusk, while we could still our way up the narrow path and boardwalk to the road. I’m sure the party was just getting started and would have gone on for hours, but we were tired and ready to head home.

This morning Kent and I and Hugo went with Gus to dig clams and pick oysters at Killam Bay. We planned to get together for a seafood dinner with our friend Alec who is camping here now. Kent and Gus shucked the oysters when we arrived home and put the clams in a mesh bag hung from the float to spit out the sand.

While they were busy with the oysters, I made lunch then started a pasta salad. Kent also had time to do some weed wacking. We had big plans for the afternoon as lingcod season opened today. Pop and I went out in his boat and Kent and Gus went together in Gus’ boat. Of course Pop caught the biggest ling cod – just to show everyone even at nearly 95 he still has it!

We all got our limit and were back at the float within an hour and a half. Kent filleted our 3 then I deboned them.

I finished the salad while Kent started removing the old ragged, torn roofing off the ramp which goes to the float. Of course there were a thousand roofing nails which had to be removed so I went to help him with that then he laid the new roofing material. It makes such a big difference to have clean new roofing underfoot and it’s much safer, especially in the rainy weather – and it looks good for the party. Everything is about the party!

It was cloudy and cool so we started to set up the big tent – again in preparation for the party, but to use in the meantime as well. Gus came over to help and we had it up in about 45 minutes, then put a couple of tables under it, brought out chairs, tablecloth, propane burner and tank, clam pot, oysters, clams, cod and happy hour was underway.

Kent cooked the clams while I breaded the cod, then I fried the oysters while they ate the clams, then I fried the lingcod.

Our friend Alec is camping here and he made ‘Congee’ – a wonderful chinese fish based soup with lots of rice. Gus prepared his famous spicy seafood sauce and the five of us enjoyed a fabulous seafood dinner together under the big top.