June 8: Are we in for a blustery summer?

It was blowing hard again today. When we got back from town, the anemometer said 27.8 MPH and Jeff's hair told us it was coming from the southwest - my favorite wind. It seems to bring the fish... and when it's as strong as this, it is very hard to deliver those fish to the beach without swamping the boat. I'll try not to start worrying about that yet.

It's time to ramp back up the process of getting ready. We went to town today to work on the New Boat and to wash a bag of dirty clothes I found yesterday while tackling things that haven't been touched for a while in the crew cabin. Eeuw. I saw the coat Rohan wore last year in that bag so I'm suspicious of his involvement.

After helping us with the New Boat (and staying for mug up!) Carbon started his new job today. He is a good worker and eager to learn, so I hope this one works out better. He hasn't taken down his signs yet and he told us that he is getting about 4 calls a day from people looking for a deckhand. Wow!

I think I should say a little about mug up. My crew loves being at the cannery at 10 am and 3 pm because of the free food that's available then. It is such a treat and I think it is a generous tradition at all the processing plants around here - maybe everywhere. Today at 3 they put out about a dozen cheeseburgers and maybe 16 or so hot dogs, in addition to trays of different cookies and cakes. We never know what will be on offer and have been very excited to see protein as well as the baked treats. When more people arrive, the protein snacks may wane, but for now, we are all happy at mug up.

The first Problem of the Day was when we discovered that the Ambi's steering cable we thought had been ordered and sent from Seattle on Friday, the cable that is standing in the way of the Ambi being ready to fish, wasn't sent after all. Now it's Monday and the clock is ticking, so we thought it would be quicker for Sarah to pick it up and give it to Jake who has a long layover in Seattle and will fly up here on Wednesday. Surer and quicker.

I also sent an emergency plea to AJ and his family in DC for D-cell batteries. AJ started his trip to King Salmon from DC on Monday evening and he will arrive in King Salmon Tuesday afternoon - with 24 batteries. It is a grueling trip. I wonder if the reason Roger decided to move from Baltimore to Seattle is so that he wouldn't have to brave that trip any more.

After we returned from town, Roger took the lead in finishing setting up the wash down system. It's about 400' out to the lake behind the cabin and we have a pipe that leads to a 55 gallon barrel at the top of the cliff, with a hose that leads from the bottom of the barrel down the cliff to the muddy ranger and crew members. The first step in preparing the system is repairing the pipe. There were many sections that just shattered over the winter. Roger and Jeff did that in the first few days we were here. The next step is to put the pump back out into the lake and set up the barrel at the other end. Then use the generator to run the pump... and then find the other leaks. This is how I know it's 400' from the crew cabin to the lake: it takes 4 heavy gauge extension cords to cover the distance between the generator and the pump. Finally, tonight, we were able to fill the barrel and at least for now, the system is keeping its prime. Yay!!

Because of the strength of the wind, we decided that it would be important to move the Bathtub out onto the flatter part of the mud flats. When a skiff is on the hard sand, and certainly when it is in the rocks in weather this rough, it is very likely to swamp. That is not how we want to start the season.

So Jeff, Roger, and I went out as the tide was coming in to move the Bathtub out as soon as it would float. For a reason I don't understand considering how hard the wind was blowing, the tide was coming in slowly. I thought we would have 15 (cold) minutes to wait, but it was an hour before the water reached the boat and they were able to move it. So we had time for some photos. Jeff and Roger are pictured here early in the wait and ready for anything (except rough weather) including, in Jeff's case, ready for another person to join him in his waders.

Looking down the beach we noticed three eagles flying a complicated pattern. I think these are juvenile bald eagles, though some say that they are so large, maybe they are golden eagles.

It's easy to think that when it isn't raining, a raincoat isn't needed, but a raincoat is a great defense against wind as well, and when we're in the water on a windy day, those waves will sometimes break over our heads. Then it's kind of like it's raining buckets. So my policy is to always wear a raincoat because at some time during any activity it is very likely to rain or rain buckets. Roger and Jeff have not yet internalized this policy. Since I was wearing a raincoat, I took the anchor end, thinking I could get out deeper while staying dry, despite the waves breaking over my head. As soon as the Bathtub could float, Roger and Jeff pushed it out deeper in the water and I backed out ahead of them until I thought the skiff was out far enough to reduce the risk of swamping, but not so deep that we won't be able to reach it in the morning at 9 am when it's time to set the nets.

It all worked fine. It is now high water (almost 1 AM on Tuesday) and I went out to look over the cliff to make sure the Bathtub is riding well. I am always surprised this time of year that it is light enough at 1 in the morning for me to tell that the Bathtub is riding well. But Jeff and Roger were pretty darned wet by the time we were done moving the boat. A raincoat can also help fend off water that splashes against the boat... and pour buckets over the head of anyone standing on the up-wind side if it.

Roger shot this photo just after we finished moving the boat. It gives an idea of the roughness of the weather. Roger ended up with a wet sweatshirt, and Jeff said his waders were so big the wave just jumped straight down without touching his shirt, but soaking his sweatpants. Wet, cold... it was still fun.

If we were going to be out fishing after this adventure, I'd want them both to go in to change first because they would just get colder and colder. Sweats are really great for fishing in: warm, easy to move it, and if the shirt has a hood, something to wipe a runny nose on. They are ideal... unless you get wet. Then they are cold and heavy, and they stay that way until you can take them off and dry them. So I'm partial to poly pro and fleece. As my beloved nephew Joe was fond of exclaiming as a youth, "They wick the moisture away!"