July 10 2016: It's 4 PM and there's still more to report

So, it looks like the ranger isn't pulling the skiffs as well as I'd thought - maybe that's true only when it comes to blazing new trails. I wasn't out there, so I don't really know what was going wrong. I just know that the solution involved a long line and the hope of using the crane truck... except that it got stuck just at the bottom of the beach access road. The crew says there are big deep ruts made by the combination of the loaded deuce and a half trucks and the heavy Gehls, and all the mud and high tides we've been having.

The AGS drivers didn't want to use their equipment to help pull in the skiff because the ground is so soft there, they don't want to take the chance of getting themselves stuck. I don't know if they'll help pull out the crane truck. Patrick went with Sarah to use the outriggers to lift the truck up and pack gravel under the tires so they could drive out. I hope that works - the tide is coming in.

Final report before starting to nap at 5 PM, resting up for the 7 PM flood pick: while Sarah and Patrick were preparing to implement the unsticking plan, Sarah noticed that the hubs hadn't been locked and anyway, a friend just pulled the truck out. Good, one truck safe.

All the fish are delivered. The ranger didn't do as well as I'd hoped - the mud has relapsed. But it turns out that the ranger is able to tow the boat through the mud using the pulley. That is great news!

All boats are anchored and we are ready for the next tide. Jeff is singing the praises of the roundhaul - where you just pile the whole net, fish, floaters, flounders and all into the skiff when you're running out of water. Then at least everything is clean, even if it is a bit of a mess.

I got a text warning that we might expect a wall of fish heading our way late in the week. OK.

And just one final word about the crew. This was a ridiculously difficult tide. And everyone stuck with it. That is the sign of a good crew on its way to becoming a great crew. And that ain't easy when the crew has as many new people as this one does. I'm proud and happy to be working with them. And relieved to find that they are made of solid stuff. It's the stuff we're really going to need in the next few weeks.

Time to get some rest.