“It’s not OK to steal someone’s boat,” were words uttered by Bird Nelson before contacting the Tyee Club, and leading the search for our Strikes 90 Tyee Class Rowboat in early August.
Club spokesman and Weigh Master, Bob Goodwin enlisted member, Megan Dougan to fire up Facebook and the club’s website, and the news spread quickly. Alistair Taylor of the Mirror and Quadra’s Discovery Islander posted pictures, and the search was on! Even Victoria’s CHEK News took up the story. A sincere thank you goes to these news organizations for playing a role in the return of our rowboat.
All the while - so many Campbell Riverites and Quadra Islanders reached out with gestures of caring and good will towards us. We were offered loaners AND even gifts of everything from a replacement rowboat to outboard motors to sets of oars and Tyee nets. We are very touched by these gestures of generosity, and it leaves us with lasting gratitude.
And then there is Bird. I am taken by his heart and moral compass – intending to make a difference. He contacted club anglers Dan Mulligan and Floyd Ross, and dodged midnight cruise ship traffic to tow our boat back to Campbell River. Motorless-Floyd (using his own oars) rowed the boat back to our slip the following morning. Over the next week - Bird made 2 more excursions to Quadra, and returned with our motor, gas tank, and oars. He even offered to take on woodworking repairs to offset the indiscriminate spray painting made by the thieves.
The words Thank You do not adequately cover our appreciation and gratitude to the so many persons that helped in this endeavour. We send our very best wishes to all …
Sharon and Scott Laird