Early Morning Rises with Dad.

Hello Baylifer’s! I’m Barry, the first (or second) half of BayLife Apparel. I’ve decided to write my first blog entry tonight after a long day of fixing up our basement, and a karate tournament with Grayson, our oldest son.

My wife insisted that I share some of my favourite memories as a child growing up in Sandringham, NL. I have so many great memories that I don’t even know where to start. However, there’s nothing more precious to me than the memories I have with my father.

Dad is almost 85 years old, older than many of my friends fathers. He was a hard working man back in his day. Worked in several places across Canada to support himself as a young man. He didn’t settle down until he was into his 30’s and then I came along when he was the ripe age of 44.

He had many jobs when I was growing up. When I was very young he used to travel back and forth to Alberta to work and was gone for 6-8 months at a time. When he would come home I didn’t even know who he was. This was a reality for many people in rural areas of Newfoundland, it still is to this day. A sacrifice that many make to be able to live and enjoy the lifestyle that places around the bay have to offer. As I grew older he started fishing with some men from the area and was home most of the time.

There’s an amazing bond that forms between a father and a son. You grow together as a family and learn from each other over the years. I’m grateful that I have a father that would share his lifestyle and teach me the ways of hard work, honesty, and how to live off the land.

Some of the best memories I have are when I would go hunting and fishing with my dad. To this day, everytime that I smell that fall air it brings me back to moose hunting in the woods with dad. At the crack of dawn, he would take me in the woods hunting, we’d have boil ups and walk for miles. The first time that we killed a moose together is still fresh in my mind. I helped him clean the animal and skin it. We had to wait for my uncle to come in and help us lug it out to the shed. I was too little to carry the quarters, but I did carry the backpack!

When we would go fishing in South West Arm in Sandringham, I’d have my lifejacket on, but just in case, Dad would tie a rope around me in the event that I would fall overboard. If I fell in, he would have to jump in after me and he couldn’t swim, so this was fail proof! We would catch Cod fish, Lump, Skate, and a scattered Red fish. Some of it was used as bait for crab fishing when Dad would go out with the long liners.

I remember we had a 12 Elan Ski-doo that I wanted to drive, but Mom said I was too small. Well, Dad let me try it, and boy did I go! I stuck my thumb down on that throttle and went!! Just about took the side out of the shed! Needless to say, I haven’t been able to slow down after that! Those of you that know me can attest to that!

However we all grew up, we all treasure fond memories of how we lived. That is a part of BayLife, remembering the good times. We are very lucky that we can go home whenever we want, we aren’t too far away. There are many people who can’t do that and we want to be able to share the traditions and love of the communities that you come from thru BayLife.

Barry