The Life and Times of Captain Quantum: Shopping, Catapults and Fishing

This Monday (labour day) we decided that we would go shopping in Traverse City. Although I was initially sceptical that this would be significantly cheaper than in the UK. But after the long drive there I was amazed how wrong I was. Most of the items of clothing were already cheaper than the UK. But there was a 40% clearout across the store, meaning I had reason to do all my clothes shopping for the next year. Ideal given how much I hate shopping!

After which we went to a Walmart to buy a PS3 (cheap at $300 including PlayStation move) and some games from best buy. After which we had another fun place to eat - Buffalo Wild Wings, where I got to try a series of different flavoured wings sauces. If you haven't had them, Buffalo wings are deep fried chicken coated in some hot sauce. And I really like them, I'd love to know a place to get decent ones in Manchester, or a good recipe to create my own. After that we headed home. And chilled in the hot tub!

Omnomnomnomnom

Haircut, Burgers and Catapults

Today I needed a haircut, so I would look presentable for the big American wedding I'm going to on Saturday. So we embarked on the scary adventure that is getting your hair cut in a different country. But first lunch. We headed to a local cafe (Diane's) to get a burger. What's quite different about the US is that burgers are more like steak, in that you can get them cooked to order, and they tend to be nicer. Maybe its the cooking method. You can generally tell that there is a higher fat content though, they seem to sit that much heavier...

Downtown Gaylord. The sugarbowl seen in the middle is a lovely place to eat.

After the delicious lunch, we went in search of a hairdressers. Now I'm the kinda guy who goes into a hairdresser and says... shorter please. About 2 inches. And it is so. However I had to contend with both the awkward questioning from the barber, and a series of questions I'd never thought about. Like the position of my parting... I have a parting? and how I want my fringe combed? I just want it shorter? I manage to befuddle my way through... leaving with my hair shorter, but looking oddly flat. I get home and now it is time to build my catapult, complete with breeze blocks...

Completed Catapult. WOOP

However, after a few test fires this happened...

Sad Tom

The axle broke. It was too thin. However, like the resourceful scamp I am I fixed the axle with a new piece of wood. We lined it up, re attached counter weights and elastic, and fired once more! Unfortunately the range was quite limited... about 15ft. Never mind... at least it LOOKED spectacular. And broke in amazing fashion!

Relaxing, and We caught a monster

Most of the day we spent chillin out maxin' relaxin' all cool, as jen played Skyrim. I feel guilty in some ways for introducing her to Skyrim. Now we will no longer spend our evenings with romantic candle lit dinners, but instead slaying dragons in torch lit dungeons... but anyway in the late afternoon we decided to go fishing. This is the best time of day as this is when all the bugs come out and as a result so do the fish. We went to the nearby lake Elizabeth, a private lake (we went swimming here previously). Where Jen proceeded to show me the ropes...

Reflection s on the lake

Where we were fishing!

Although initially I found getting the flick of casting the line out tricky, soon enough we were both casting like pros. After a while of quietly fishing (and drinking beer. Always with the Beer) We even managed to see a beaver...

Can you spot the beaver amongst the foliage?

But then very shortly after I felt a tug on my rod... I had a bite! I quickly yelled to Jen, as I desperately tried to reel the fish in. The process might have broken the rod (oops) but I managed to lift it ashore...

Big mouth Bass I caught

Measuring a mighty 14'' it was a perfectly edible size of fish! Now we just had to kill it. Jen told me one way was to hit it over the head with the pliers. This left a rather large mess. But didn't kill the fish. It was at this point I revealed I had my hunting knife, to which Jen looked exasperated at me and proceeded to just stab it in the head. I was amazed I caught something.... So we took it home, prepared and ate it!

NOMNOMNOM

Tasty fish supper after fishing! Satisfying!!!

Packing

Today we spent most of the day relaxing and packing, although we did go over to Jens Grandparents, so here are some photos from their beautiful lake they live on...