The Anyhow Lives Again...

[Capt Josh]

I can only imagine what my old girl "Anyhow" thought in the cold darkness for five years. Silent, peaceful hibernation up in Prince Rupert while her man galavanted around the globe on sexier steeds. I wonder if she dreamed of seeing me again, if she hated me for leaving her behind, if, perhaps, she even missed me while i was gone.

It's funny how things come around full circle, and old sweethearts tend to crop up after a lengthy hiatus on the shelf. Sure, she may have been dusty, yeah, she had a few more wrinkles carved in her hull by the fingers of time. The years, after all, had not ceased to pass her by. But deep down, where it counts, when the sunshine finally illuminated her regal lines after five long years of isolation she still had that seemingly inextinguishable fire in her belly, and a thirst to taste the sweet, cool waters of the North Pacific once more.

After some time with the plastic surgeon, where Ben and I gave her a complete Garmin electronics upgrade, new downriggers, and some state of the art bells and whistles thanks to some truly generous sponsorship contributions the Anyhow was ready to ride again. Amazingly, the Yamaha's were just as i left them, and fired up with meaning on the very first crank. God bless Japanese engineers and the patron saints of reliable outboard power.

We splashed the old girl, and promptly went fishing. Ben and I had a hard time trying to figure out how to rig 25# salmon gear after a veritable lifetime of big game tinkering between us. It's not easy retraining your hands to delicately tie anchovy leaders after working with crimps and three hundred pound leader I assure you.

The kids all joined us for our first voyage, and it wasn't long before we had half of our little league team yanking on the long rods as fifteen to twenty pound salmon leapt astern.

"MARLIN!!!" Ben and I kept screaming when the fish would erupt.

"OH! Wait...." and then we'd start laughing.

It's hard to keep track of this chit after a while. Clarion to Canada to Panama to PV, it's all becoming a blurrrrr of boats, babes, beers, and bros going bananas on fish of all shapes and sizes. Even i have trouble managing the madness in any kind of respectable order. But does it really matter?

No. Not really.

From week to week we just keep on trucking, and hope like HELL that this beast never runs out of gas.

Mark and Sarah joined us from LA this week for some fun in the Tofino sun. I told Mark and Sarah that when they got up here we'd all be going on a seafood diet.

"Huh???" Mark said.

"Yeah Mark, you see food, you eat it!"

And that's precisely what we did.

All you can eat crab, salmon, and oysters picked on the beach while the fire crackled. There's something about harvesting seafood and eating it not ten minutes later, it just doesn't get any fresher than this. With long days of Canadian daylight to play with, we went hard from dawn till dusk. Fishing, hiking, surfing, beach combing, bear and cub stalking, hot springs soaking, and feasting, feasting and FEASTING coupled with some serious wilderness drinking around bonfires that burned long into the night.

There are some very beautiful places in this world, and I would have to say Tofino is right up there with the best of them.

Which brings me to wonder why in the hell am I leaving??? Alas, Mexico calls and I'm off to PV now for a week on the Maximo.

Don't worry Anyhow, I'll miss you too, and I'll be back soon.

[Hard Core]

Awesome, Anyhow looks ready to roll. Beautiful purple/chrome fish, awesome weather, and epic pics as usual!

Sounds like quite the bounty of seafood, I know that feeling, and you're right it doesn't get any better than that...

Let us all know how it goes in PV.

Barnes

[Wound Up James]

hope you pay Ben extra for fishing in long pants and a jacket....

Your recent reports and photos are out of this world.

Congrats........you are living the life......

[squirtis]

Nice JT!

The 5D makes a huge difference in my opinion...what a camera!! Great fricken pics..

Tell Solielle the jeans look great..LOL

Have a blast in PV!

[Robja]

Nice read and report JT. It just seems strange to see you post pictures with long pants and coats. I am so used to seeing bikinis, shorts and T shirts.

[CaptAnthony]

Awesome change of pace! There is no place like home.

Looks like everyone had a great time in god's country....great read once again. Anyhow looks like she has many many great years still ahead of her. Have fun on the next leg of your neverending journey.

[Capt Josh]

Nice JT!

The 5D makes a huge difference in my opinion...what a camera!! Great fricken pics..

Tell Solielle the jeans look great..LOL

Have a blast in PV!

HA! Man i forgot about the mall frenzy day until you just mentioned that!

I'll call you tomorrow when i get settled in PV, things are looking good in Panama.

[Capt Josh]

Thanks boys, sitting here in Phoenix waiting for my flight to PV. There's a couple of storms that are threatening to screw with our fishing plans this weekend, but what can you do. This may turn into a drinking weekend with a little fishing or golfing mixed in.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo_epac.shtml

[gringofrijolero]

[QUOTE=Wound Up James;1513858]hope you pay Ben extra for fishing in long pants and a jacket....

So far Ive gotten payed in crab, salmon steaks and lots and lots of oysters. Im addicted to the things, theres hundreds on the beach right below the cabin Im staying in at Cats parents place. I just bought some cocktail sauce and some lemons. Then theres the salmon berries, rasberries, thimbleberries and all sorts of other treats all there for the pickin. I just might become a hippie and stay up here. Now if I can just find a little mountain vixen....

[team_A_II]

Couldnt agree more about the Yamaha's Josh, they are well built..... no arguments there