LOBSTERMAN

Thursday of this week was another special day, and in more way than one. While some of our other ‘experience’ days had introduced Ben to things he had never before done I had myself done them all. But Thursday was a first for me too, lobster fishing! Yes we headed out on a real lobster boat and hauled traps for lobster and crab.

After learning just now that today has been yet another day of terrible rainstorms back home I hardly like to mention that yesterday dawned yet another perfect day out here on PEI. We headed to see our captain and board. We had been down to the slip the previous evening in order to scope out the boarding hurdles for Ben and it was pretty good steps - good enough that Ben was able to get into Top Knot completely unaided; he was rightfully pleased with himself. The lobster boat was a traditional downeaster of good size and had a full bimini to keep that blazing sun at bay. Not too many of us on the early morning tour group and off we went into the smooth water off of Charlottetown.

Captain Mark took us first to a crab trap and pulled it in. We all learned about the crabs caught here, their sustainability and their life cycle. Good stuff. Then came the time for handling the crabs themselves. I offered one to Ben for inspection but he seemed rather uninterested. This is not normal Ben behaviour when faced with any living creature he is normally fascinated. Maybe the crab looked a little scary…..

The perfect conditions continued throughout the 90 minute expedition and we brought in lobster and then a real giant weighing in at 24 pounds. He is considered a ‘pet’ and is fed regularly and is set to be released at the end of the summer. Lucky chap.

After an afternoon nap we headed out to a chowder house for dinner. Nestled at the end of a long promontory we sat out on the deck and watch as the sun set, magical. And then the cooling breeze gave way to a swarm of biting flies that had us decamp to the great indoors in double quick time! Even paradise has an expiry date!