REG GREEN’S HERITAGE

Reg Green didn’t just help start a herring saltery in Crippen Cove in 1907 and serve this coast with his tug “San Juan Prince”, he also made his mark on some fine people.

Aunt Chris Green is Reg’s daughter-in-law, and a pretty special person.
Chris is the last Green of her generation left in Prince Rupert. Right now she’s on her way to the scout jamboree in England. She has the Silver Wolf award, and rarely misses gatherings of scouts from around the world.

Every year we sail and picnic with Chris and her foster grandchildren. We’ve had adventures at Lucy Island, Crippen Cove, Pilsbury Cove, and Salt Lake. Here we are on Tugwell Island.

Picnic on Tugwell Island

Sailing with cousin Bill and Bobbie Crane

Lucy Island Salmon Bake

This sailing trip was a rediscovery journey. It’s been 20 years since cousins Bill and Thomas have seen each other. They kept discovering little things they have in common, and how much each was imprinted by going out on the troller "Earl Roy" with Grampa as teenage deck hands. They share an appreciation of wildlife, food gathering, quiet solitude, and a joy in solving puzzles – mechanical, navigational, whatever comes up.


Jo-Lynda Hill is Reg Green’s great granddaughter. When she’s not at her demanding job as wharfinger of the Prince Rupert Rowing and Yacht Club, with daughter and assistant Stephanie, we love to have Jo-Linda join us on La Sonrisa. Here’s Jo helping out at the Crippen cabin.

Somehow, Jo seems to be there in the challenges. She helped us make a trail through the salmonberry thickets on Lucy Island, we laughed together waiting for the tide to lift us off Devastation Island bar, remembering earlier escapades on Tugwell beach. We’ve enjoyed seafood feasts and beautiful coastal sunsets, and weathered some sad times. Niece Jo-Lynda Hill is a daughter of this coast, 100 years on the Green side, 1000’s of years on her Tsimpsean heritage side.

The waters around Prince Rupert have known many Greens. Cousin Rob and Sharon wave from their gillnetter Ganhada. Nephew Owen toots his horn on his way to the Khutzemateen as skipper of the tour boat Georgia Master. Uncle Bud’s ashes were spread in his favourite crabbing bay in Metlakatla Pass.

Thomas’ mom, Helen Harding, is Reg Green’s daughter. This summer is a special time of remembering Ken and Helen Harding. We will be spreading their ashes in Crippen Cove next month.

Chicks and Other Young

In one of the picnic baskets that came aboard for the picnic with Aunt Chris Green was Cody’s new puppy. Little Boots was a delight to everyone. Here they are on Tugwell Island, Cody’s feeding him milk from a bottle lid.

The picnic turned out to be something of a disaster. The new dinghy motor hit the bar while delivering passengers back to La Sonrisa and the damage made it unable to navigate the building sea. We had to drift back to Tugwell and use a cel phone to arrange a rescue by Jo-Lynda’s friend’s brother at Metlakatla. Little Boots slept through it all curled in his basket.

Years ago, my 5-year-old stepson Evan made a comment I’ve never forgotten. Walking by a cow pasture across from our cabin in Langley he exclaimed, “I know why baby animals are so cute. It’s so their mothers will love them!” (He had just passed the age of cute, and I think had some anxieties.)

How could anyone not love this baby!!

Newly hatched seagull chick

We visited some of the outer islands and rocks where gulls and other seabirds nest.

This seagull nest is well hidden from predators
Willy Pigeons/Pigeon Guillemot

The seagulls squawked at us, and so did Oyster Catchers and Willy Pigeons. One oyster catcher mom was very persistent, fussing at Thomas.

Oyster-Catcher eggs in a nest of shells

A worried Oyster-Catcher Mom
Thomas gets a scolding from Mama Oyster-Catcher

After delivering more Tom Cod to the eagle pair in Work Channel, and watching them carry their prey to the nest, I caught sight of a young-eagle-coloured something bob up and down beside its parent. It was a gift of pure delight and wonder. New life in that giant mass of sticks and whatall high up in a mighty cedar! We renamed the anchorage “Eagle’s Nest”.

Cousin Bobbie Crane discovered another eagle’s nest on Lucy Island. This one seems even larger, with a red elder bush growing on its side. Two parents were perched beside and above it this last time we visited, regal, completely devoted. Little ones make ordinary adults into something amazing.

Later Auguast additon: An older seagull chick looks out at us

Bobbie also observed a mother and baby seal in Quattoon Inlet. The baby kept trying to swim towards La Sonrisa and the mother kept swimming over top of him, pushing him under. It was as though she didn’t want him to see us, or us to see him. That’s the thing about babies, they are such a special sight.

Here’s another baby, who’s celebrating his 1st birthday this week:

Happy Birthday, Frankie - July 26, 2007

Quote from Frankie’s dad: “The thing about children is how totally amazing they are, and at the same time so perfectly ordinary!”

Chicks and babies remind us powerfully of the mystery and miracle of life. At the other side of the mystery is our beloved Cisco. Tamaya and Josh’s 12 year old rotweiller died on July 11, in Josh’s arms. He leaves us with deep sorrow and a great emptiness. But Cisco has a giant place in all our hearts.