14 Sep 21

Mouse Chronicles - ultimate chapter. I was awakened at 05:30 by Stewart rooting around in the galley. I leapt out to do battle but he had disappeared by the time I got a light on. We were planning a 06:00 departure to get to Malibu Rapids for LW slack at 06:40, so we both just got up. It was dark, well before sunrise with heavy, low overcast and a light rain falling. But we felt our way to the rapids and waited for the rapids to calm down. About half way along to the entry to the rapids, Stewart ran out on the starboard deck right behind the Admiral headed forward. I gave chase to try and trap him on the foredeck but the little blighter was too fast for me once again and made good his escape down the port side deck to the transom and presumably back into the lazarette. We were thru Malibu by 06:50 and motored south and west back down Jervis Inlet towards Egmont. When we got back under cell service I called the Bathgate General Store in Egmont to enquire about mouse traps. But they were out, so we decided to push on to Pender Harbour. We made it into Madeira Park by 12:25, although “Massilia” did not arrive until nearly 14:00. I immediately went up to the IGA and bought a couple of mouse traps and set them as soon as I got back to the boat. Some time later, I heard a noise down in the cabin and went down to find the trap sprung, but no mouse. I spotted him a few seconds later cowering under the main table and not looking too chipper; I conclude that he got injured when the trap sprung. It took another couple of minutes, but I was finally able to catch up with him and dispatch him. Sorry, Stewart, but I gave you every opportunity to quit the boat and it was either you or the Admiral that was going to stay. We had a celebratory dinner aboard and an evening of dominoes. 

49-37.411’N, 124-01.512’W; Log = 40.6, Sum (2021) = 733.6; Eng hrs = 6.5, Sum = 2861.9.