Who's a Fat Bastard - Nothing Freudian about that.

             September 20, 2014

     I woke this morning to the sounds of a prize winning pig calling for breakfast. Wyndham, Deb and Spences son, is 13 and has been growing pigs for the 4H Club for the last couple of years. This year his pig was Grand Champion. 

Great for Wyndham, not so much for the pig. So now the pig is on death row. He got a Governors reprieve last Monday when they couldn`t get him into the trailer. They only slaughter Mondays before noon. They got there late. So the pig lives another week. 

The brown pig is the champ...the other one just bacon!

If he doesn`t stop squealing he might not make it till monday!

     We sat and drank coffee on the deck enjoying the early morning sun, or should I say, lack thereof. 

I was quite concerned because we were going to Sproat Lake to say goodbye to Stu Scott. Nice weather would be preferable. If the weather didn`t start out nice at least the company was. Deb and Spence open their home and their hearts to us whenever we get to the Island. Like Alida the night before, the hospitality was great. I don`t know many places where you can show up with three dogs on two hours notice and still be welcomed with open arms. Mac and the two giant Labs were good friends now. Elvis and Nutmeg just watched with bemusement as Mac took on the two labs as only a puppy can. 

Like a Spaz!

 Miles was good with him from the start, Murphy wanted to crunch him for about the first eight hours he knew Mac. We said our goodbyes and made it out onto the Island Highway. I think it`s the only road I have ever been on in Canada with a 120 kph posted speed limit! When we got to the Port Alberni turnoff, about ten kilometers, I realised I hadn`t packed the camera case with the charger and spare batteries. Back we went to recover our belongings and off to Port Alberni we go. 
     You can't possibly go to PA without stopping at Coombs to see the goats on the roof and buy some wonderful cheese and produce.

It was about 26 degrees, too hot to sit in the car, so the pack and I waited outside while Lisa shopped. 

At least there were goats!

     I got a text from Ruby saying they were running late. They would meet us at PA Timmy Ho's at around 4pm. 
We drove past Cameron Lake and into Cathedral Grove.

Tall Trees in Cathedral Grove

     When we got to the Timmy's in  PA, Stu's brothers, Jarvis and Owen, where already there with their Step mother Sallie. I couldn't be trusted to sit in a Timmy Ho's. surrounded by donuts and the smell of coffee. So I got coffee for Lisa and I and told them we would be at the park alongside the river by the Petrocan. I had eaten nothing but a few pork rinds today and I was famished. Ham and cheese lettuce wraps with Toni tomatoes. 

We were there for about a half hour when I got the call that the caravan was complete. We launched Seans boat at Pete's and headed to the cabin we were staying at. The dogs and girls went by car while Sean, Calem and myself took the boat over to the dock where we were staying.

Getting wet

 It was a beautiful cottage owned by one of Ruby's clients. I feel bad because I don't even know their names. Being able to spend the night at the lake made the day so much easier on everyone. I would like to thank them for their kind and generous contribution to Stu's last trip to the lake.

The cabin

We had a swim and enjoyed the lake while we waited for Pete to join us after work with his boat.

Underwater Owen

While the girls made themselves at home.

Princess Lisa and Queen Sallie give us the royal wave!

     When Pete arrived we split into the two boats and motored over to the front of Stu's old cabin and had a small ceremony as we all took turns spreading Stu over the lake.

from the left Calem, Owen, Jarvis, Sean, the top of Rubys head and me.

Participating in the spreading of Stu's ashes were his children, Sean and Ruby, his brothers Owen and Jarvis, Owens son Calem , Stu's step-mother Sallie, Pete and his wife Cathy , long time residents of Sproat and friends of the family and Lisa and I.

I sang a song I wrote a few years back when I lost three friends in a six month period. It's called It Didn't Rain. It was all I could do to get through it. This is the line in the song that broke me down. 

I guess God needed an Angel, so he ended all your pain. 

In return for taking you, Well, at least it didn't rain.

 It was certainly appropriate on this day! It was amazing!

Then we toasted Stu, all out of the same bottle. He would have liked that.

Root beer toast

     Pete was the last and said I know the new owners really well. They would like you all to come up to the cabin. Jarvis had suggested that we spread some Stu on the beach as well and the new owners, John and Linda, could not have been nicer or more accommodating. This was Stu's favourite place on earth. It was very kind of them to allow it. 

Part of the beach forever

The new owners have done all the things that Stu talked about doing but the core of cabin is essentially the same.

We stayed till dark, reminiscing about the times we shared in this place that meant so much to Stu, and all of us as well. 

We said our goodbyes and piled into the two boats. Only one of which had running lights. 

No lights, what else, it used to be Stu's boat!

     It was 9:30 by the time the BBQ was served and I was glad we snuck off for the Lettuce wraps in the park. Burgers and sausage and a couple of salads it was all put together by Sallie and grilled by Sean and Calem. 

     We sat around and played guitar and sang till midnight. Then emotionally and phsically exhausted we fell into bed.... Bunk Beds?

Me and the three dogs on the bottom, and Lisa on top. Nothing Freudian about that!

     We have one more Stu thing to do. Tomorrow night at 6 pm at the Fernwood Inn in Victoria, we will be waking Stu Scott. He will now spend eternity in the place. He so loved. 

The circle is complete. I leave you with a Sproat Lake sunset over the bottle we toasted Stu with, and a word of advice.

Live every day like it's your last, because one day it will be!

That's all I got.

Till next time.

Peace Out Y'all

©2014 Dave Squatch Ward