My New Rank

Today I was hanging out at the crab dock with Gill ( Tofino's pirate)

He 100% legit pirate. Lived on the water all his life. In trouble with the law.
He told me once if he was sick or in trouble to never call the coast guard, he was convinced they would just finish the job.
Gill has a friendly toothless grin, leathery face and can drive any boat to anywhere at any time.

Today he told me he once drove a little skif ( open boat with a motor on the back) from Ucluelet to Port Alberni in the DARK.
These boats will topple over at the slightly wind swell unless you are a PIRATE.

We got into Ryley's boat and he told me to start it.

I let out the choke, switched to neutral and went to rev the engine.
Imagine how hard a lawnmower is to start now times that by 50. That is how hard it is to start this engine.
I have practiced alot before I could get it. I have to use all my body weight while standing with a foot on the board.

Also the added pressure of doing this in front of Gill. Which made me nervous. I rev'd once .. nothing I rev'd twice nothing and the third time I put my whole body into it and let out a grunt. Boom that engine purred.

Gilly looked over at Ryley with a shocked toothless grin and proclaim :

"She is a Pirate. "

There are few times in my life that I have felt this sense of accomplishment.