Left off somewhere around here… about the time I finished a stand-off with a bull moose, a double fun catch of sturgeon, a final camp on the North French, and a last catch searun gem sealing my northern fishing life with a chipped tooth…
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So it has been a whole summer gone by and it’s almost November now. Pretty much everyday since June 14th I’ve thought about and missed many of my old ways in the Moose, but a whole big whirlwind, life altering, exhausting, crazy and important summer has past by in the meantime. I will admit that a re-invention of family and self has always been in the cards for us… the time for one chapter needed to be closed, as the other just simply arrived as it had always meant too.
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First thing first, I left to find a new home mid June. The mission was to narrow a number of choices down to a few, so that when Bren came to the valley for the final approval, she would have time to make an easier choice. It was stressful to say the least, and all the homes I first viewed were in one way or another just not quite the perfect fit with all pieces needing to be considered. In the final day though, a new house came up on the market and it was in the perfect location. Bren came down to see it with me, the kids and my parents, and we all loved it right away. A new 3-year old countryside home, school bus pick-up and mail to the end of the driveway, 3.5 acres of manicured lawn to cut, great road access, and an immaculately fully finished interior. Bren found full-time Monday to Friday work 12 minutes down the road too. It was first week of July and I made sure the deal was sealed, it would be ours second week of August. So far, everything according to plan.
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While this was all going on my only stress relief came from good buddies along the way, and any off chances I had to escape in the float tube. Thanks go to many! Some solid fun was had on new and old waters from Ottawa valley to Temagami to Larder Lake and the Abitibi.
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Put a tonne of klicks on the 99 Chev, so many I finally turned over 100,000. Poor old beast was so used to ice roads and potholes that once out on the highways its rear diff beatings finally caught up with it. Lots of engine left I couldn’t get rid of her and so had it replaced. The final straw was Iroquios Falls to Little Abitibi… the 50k of washboard at highspeed didn’t help matters.
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Mid July we packed up house and home in Moose Factory. The process is something I would rather never repeat. Bren and I having lived in hospital housing since 2000 had no furniture of our own, so I guess that was a good thing. Belongings having to go from house to truck onto barge then offload onto rail freight car then offload again into trucks… well, that was the process. A home gym, my boat, trailer and skidoo were the only real big things to move, the rest was boxes of everything else. Late June we were at my folks place while the goods were stored in an Uncle’s old cattle barn. For the two weeks before moving in Bren and I shopped tediously almost every day in order to furnish our new home. What I dreamed for many years of being fun, was actually quite not.
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Finally, the day arrived and we turned the key in our door.
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Over the next two weeks Bren, myself and my parents worked daily to get the house how we wanted it. Nine different deliveries needed to be received and that in of itself was the greatest nightmare of the summer. Leon’s, Future Shop and The Brick were the worst for screw ups, while Lazy-Boy, Bedz-z-z and some smaller retailers seemed to have their act together. Deliveries, then re-deliveries, and poor service representatives were some of the headaches, but the biggest loser of all was Leon’s when for no good reason other than not wanting too, they wouldn’t accept Bren’s Status. Turned out to be their big loss, but what would they care… they’re a huge chain that acts like a huge chain. Actually, The Brick’s delivery guys put a hole in our basement roof… that left a little impression with me as well.
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By the time the two weeks ended, God bless my loving wife she let me go fishing… and not just fishing, but fishing for a week in speckle land.
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See… The SPECKLED TROUT REDEMPTION>
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So, with Nipigon behind me and September arriving I had to get a job. Back to back successful job interviews landed me two casual work gigs that for the next six weeks would provide full-time work. Afterwards, I’d have to settle and see how many hours could continue to come my way. The fall was a busy time.
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When not in training I stayed busy around the house playing with new toys and working away at modifying the old one…
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3.5 acres kept me riding this guy a fair bit.
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And to keep the riding mower and Bravo company, BIG RED (Renegade 600) was transformed into BIG RED (Outlander 500) and brought home to join the gang.
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Lastly the WarCanoe required some new upgrades for southern style fishing. A carpeted casting platform, trolling motor and beefy console were added.
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Amidst all the work, the past month or so has finally allowed for some play and sampling of new waters, a few old waters and plenty scenic ATV tour time. Along the way I’ve had the chance as well to fish and ride with old friends, and even get the chance at some first time outings with internet souls who have been along with me during the Moosebunk journies for several years. Sure hope to fish with many more.
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Southern livin’ might just be alright for Moosebunk, his girls and the WarCanoe.
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Ti’ll next time,
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Bunk