Island Life - September 7, 2010 - The Gardener’s News Calling all iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads The Goat, Bull and Muskox Golf Results - Sept. 6 Fishing Report - Sept. 6 - August 31, 2010 - Softball skills clinic being organized Golf Results - Aug. 30 The Goat, Bull and Muskox - Toronto Fishing Report - Aug. 30 Opening Phase Is it a mouse, vole, shrew…what the heck is it?

Great news: I will be having a plant stand at my gate, with plants and produce available. «more»

If you have a new iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, GabMUG wants you! The Gabriola Mac Users Group (GabMUG) was started on the Island five years ago for the purpose of facilitating self-help on all things Apple. At that time, we all had computers and were helping each other with how to run them and do things easier. We established regular monthly meetings to talk about different Apple hardware and software, and how to improve our experience on Apple Mac computers. Now Apple has added all sorts of “other” devices, even though they are all still computers - just of many different shapes, sizes and uses! «more»

Gabriolans Scott and Wanda are on a mission to cross Canada this summer from Tofino to St. John’s aboard their BMW motorcycle. Every week, they send in dispatches from wherever they happen to end up. Visit transcanadianmuskox.com to catch up on previous entries and more photos. «more»

Here is the Men’s Day scores for Thursday, Sept 2. «more»

Chinook fishing slowed again this week. There was the occasional good catch off Thrasher, and Neck Point is still worthwhile, but in general it’s pretty hohum. It was sure nice seeing John and Yvonne Cox out fishing! John was one of the great fishers that quit when the coho exited the Gulf, but has started fishing locally again. They were having a good day off Thrasher on the chinook. What do you use for coho repellent, John? Also talked to Randy Hastings on the radio, who’s fished here since the 70s. He was fishing the gap at Orlebar, and having a nice day. Fishing Thrasher or Grande to Whalebone depths range 120 to 160. Fishing Neck Point, depths range 60 to 80 in 100 to 120 feet of water. Lures remain the same: Rhys Davis teasers in clear green scale, Coyotes in glow green/silver or Kitchen Sink, or the green spackleback hoochie. The immature coho have become a tremendous nuisance at Thrasher and the Grande. I, literally, peeled 45 or more coho off my lines on back to back charters last weekend. Even 6 and 8 inch plugs didn’t keep these 10 to 12 inch fish off the lines. Hope they stay in the Gulf this year. It would be a tremendous fishery! «more»

Plans are underway for a half-day Softball Skills Clinic for players and coaches, to be held at Rollo McClay field on Sunday, Sept. 12. Players can improve their skills at hitting, fielding, catching and throwing. Meanwhile coaches can observe how a “master” imparts the tricks of the trade. The master is George Kelly, sports educator at Vancouver Island University. George is a great coach, who is equally knowledgeable at baseball skills and how to impart them. The clinic is for players 9 years and older, on into adulthood. It will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (followed by a coach’s lunch and discussion, upstairs at Roberts’ Restaurant). Suggested donation: for kids and teens $15, for adults $30. Please register early (so we know we have the interest to go ahead). To register, or for more information, contact Bob Bossin, bob@bossin.com, 250-247-7476. «more»

Men’s day scores for Thursday Aug. 26. It was a windy day with a bunch of our senior players missing. They were in a Mid Island Seniors competition in Nanaimo. The high handicap low gross was won by John Cox with a 87 and Jim Wightman winning low net with a 76. The high handicappers played much better with Vic Whitney’s 87 winning low gross and Jamie McKellar net 63 winning that category. K.P. was won by Vic Whitney. «more»

Gabriolans Scott and Wanda are on a mission to cross Canada this summer from Tofino to St. John’s aboard their BMW motorcycle. Every week, they send in dispatches from wherever they happen to end up. Visit transcanadianmuskox.com to catch up on previous entries and more photos. «more»

Chinook fishing lit up this week, with some great catches coming into the dock. Keith and Mike Flatla had their best session of the season off the green can, with two 17s and a 19 in a 45 minute time span. Graeme Ireland caught a 23 and 25 pound chinook off the Grande on the evening of the 26. We had eight chinook on off Thrasher to 18 pounds the same evening. Regen and Sylvie had a fish in the mid twenties on Aug. 23. Fishing the Grande, depths range from 140 to 200. Thrasher to green can, depths range 120 to 140. Lures remain the same: Rhys Davis teasers in chartreuse glow stripe, Coyotes in glow green/silver, or Kitchen Sink, or the green spackleback hoochie. Small coho (8 to 10 inches) are in abundance in some areas, and are quite a nuisance. Check the gear every 15 minutes, and release them very gently! There have been some nice chinook taken on jigs off Thrasher. My all time favourite “old school” jigging lure is the Perkins, but MacDeeps and Zingers work very well, also. Let’s hope these fish stick around for a while! «more»

By the end of June 1940, the final remnants of the British Army had been evacuated from France. The war in France was over and it seemed that the troops had lost the volition to continue the fight. At the time a strange inertia settled over England. The word “invasion” was on everybody’s lips as the people pondered how long it would be before the Germans crossed the English Channel and the sound of jackboots would be heard in the villages and towns of Southeast England. Not since William the Conqueror (1066) had another army landed on British shores. «more»

Sometimes you will hear someone say, “Man that was a huge mouse my cat brought in! Maybe it was a rat!” «more»