Interview with Barry Pickard 2018
[After local news and
before call-ins]
ROY: Well, boaters, I know a lot of you,
especially those who have been coming for years to our world-famous waters,
have been disappointed this summer in the quantity and quality of blueberries
on the islands. It was a late spring,
and the lack of rain has not helped either. But there is hope: I have with me today
a fellow boater from Newfoundland who tells me he has found blueberries all
over the North Channel and he is here to share some of his secrets with
us. Good morning, Mr. Pickard!
BARRY: Please call
me Barry (he pronounces it ‘Berry’),
Roy. Right glad to be here, fer sure.
ROY: So tell me,
Barry, how is it you can find
blueberries when so many of us are struggling this year?
BARRY: Well, Roy,
what it really comes down to is strategy and tac-tics. That’s what I calls it. Strategy
and tac-tics.
ROY: Oh? OK, so
let’s take strategy first. What does your strategy involve?
BARRY: First, you
have to think like a blueberry. Like, we know that this year has been hot and
dry, right? If you were a blueberry,
what do you suppose you would be thinking of every minute of every hot sunny
day?
ROY: Water?
BARRY: Right
on! And rain water runs off yer rocky
islands, except for crevices and bowls under trees where it collects. So that’s
where blueberries will survive when the ones on rocky ledges and ridges get
burned to a crisp. Do a bit of scoutin’ from yer dinghy to find the likely
spots to go ashore.
ROY: So Barry,
that’s all there is to it? Sounds simple and straightforward…
BARRY: (breaking in) Well, now, I wish it was
that easy Roy. But that’s where the tac-tics come in.
ROY: Oh, right.
Tactics.
BARRY: Yes, Roy—you
have to be ready to go after these survivors no matter where they are. And that
means proper preparation, mental, physical and above all use the right gear.
ROY: Gear? Gee,
most of us just hop in the dinghy and go ashore with a pail…
BARRY: (breaking in again) Big mistake, Roy. Think
about it. Succulent berries don’t get to be succulent and good sized if they
are easy to pick. They hides under
low tree branches, up nasty crevices that don’t invite yer casual stroller,
under prickly bushes. That means
clothing and gear suited to the job: long pants, good ankle-length walking
boots, bug repellant, bear spray and bear bells…
ROY: Oh, wait a
minute—bears?
BARRY: Oh, yes,
bears. Now I’m not saying many people run into bears while berry picking, Roy, but
it has happened, and you needs to be
prepared. The last thing you need is to be bending under a prickly bush
stripping a mother lode of berries you have uncovered and then hear a snort
behind you. It can ruin your afternoon. Best to have the bear bells attached to
your wrist or ankle and make sure they can hear you and stay clear. Of course,
bear spray is the ultimate weapon.
ROY: Are there
other dangers, Barry, or things to look out for?
BARRY: Well, yes,
Roy—back home in Newfoundland we are wary of dense fog – “black t’ick of fog”
we calls it – but here we have to worry about black-legged ticks, those insects that make bulls eyes as they dig into your
skin. They can cause a serious illness in humans – Lemon disease.
ROY: I think
that’s ‘Lyme’ disease, isn’t it?
BARRY: Oh, right.
Lime. The missus says I gets them mixed up all the time. So the final tac-tic
after getting your berries back to your boat is to strip down and check for
ticks. The long pants, socks and boots help, but nothing beats a good visual
inspection. And don’t forget to check your dog if it has been scrambling along
with you!
ROY: Well, thank
you, Barry Pickard, for these thoughts on berry picking. There should be no
excuses now if we don’t have more blueberry pie this season!
The Little Current Cruiser’s net broadcasts each day during
July and August… (to call-ins)
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