June 27 2016: We continue to wait

Another update this morning telling us to listen again tomorrow at 9 AM.

Last night, the crew passed some time absorbing the sunset and the eerie fog that sometimes settles over the tundra after sunset.

Here are two of our Davids hiking out to the lake behind the cabins, in the increasingly chilling fog.

And here is the lake they are looking at as they walk out. It's not very deep, but it is a pretty wide and long depression in the tundra.

Patrick and David L finished off the roofing project today. Patrick especially has been working diligently on it. He's sort of a stealth worker. The first indication that the rest of the crew has that he's over there is hearing the banging away on the tin. I am so relieved that they were able to do this. And I wouldn't even say that it's ugly. There were some holes in the tin so there will be some leaking, but that's minor, compared with the problems it had before... and would have probably developed with the next strong wind.

The crew found many constructive pursuits, and a few that were just for fun. We have many guitar players, so there was much guitar playing, practicing, and learning from each other. Additionally, we had knot tying clinic (I'm still trying to remember how to tie a one-handed bowline.) Here is Jeff, getting the crew up to speed with the main knots we use: the bowline, the clove hitch, and what we used to call a net knot - other people know as a rolling clove hitch. It's good for tying a line to a taut line without slippage.

We also had net-mending clinic. Jeff, Oksanna, and Jeremiah worked on learning how to mend a net. Jeremiah is a friend of Jeff's that we met last year after an intense misadventure in Anchorage that started with the loss of his wallet as he slept in the airport awaiting his flight. No wallet, no flight. Net mending clinic went well. I think ending up with five-sided diamonds and king gear in the middle of the net is part of the learning process. And even a five-sided diamond is better than a gaping hole. So this is one of those cases where a little bit of knowledge and a willing hand is a helpful thing.

The weather has been warm so David N instigated a swimming event out front. This wouldn't be such a good idea if fishing had been going on - then the water can be pretty icky with a wide range of organic material from a wide range of processes. But now, it shouldn't be that bad. However, it is cold.

They used the anchored Cockroach as a diving platform. David said that after he'd been in the water for a while, he started not to be able to move. When he did come back in, he brought the life ring with him, just in case he couldn't walk. A few wise souls (notably the ones from Hawaii, the old one, the females, the one without a change of clothes, and maybe the one with good sense) declined the swimming event.

David D probably became everyone's favorite crew member because while the others were lowering their body temperatures, David was getting a fire going. That must have been a welcome surprise!

There is something about boys and rocks on a beach. They have to throw rocks. I think it's in the genes.