Workin'

Well, we are in Larsen Bay after a few trips to and from Homer. All is well. There has been very little to report and no thrilling pictures to post. I have been photographing various ships that enter Larsen  Bay and Homer. Other than that, we have seen huge pods of Orcas and the occasional salmon jumping.

We should be heading to Seward soon. Just waiting to see if they still need us here.

Family and friends have been on my mind, most likely because we had BBQ ribs for dinner, making me think about the Quarters. I grew up on ribs. Tonight's meal was accompanied by twice-baked potatoes and a spinach salad. 

That is all. Just wanted to say hi.

Joanna

We were in Homer for 36 hours and it was great to take care of business: groceries, equipment for the  boat, and generally walk around on land. Jeff and I went to Vida Thai Restaurant, a fairly new place with a beautiful outdoor setting and great food. In order to go anywhere, I have to climb this ladder. I leave my heals at home because of this and many other obvious reasons. 

Date night in Homer June 13, 2015

We ended our evening at the Salty Dog, and met some great people from Maui. We toasted to my Dad's quick recovery with Coronas. Much Aloha to George and Ivana for a fun evening. Wishing them a good cruise through the Inside Passage.

The Salty Dog

Headed back to Larsen Bay, about a 15 hour drive from Homer. Aloha everyone!
Joanna

Leaving Larsen Bay!

It doesn't seem possible, but we are leaving Larsen Bay with a load of fish and propane tanks. We are headed to Homer to drop off the fish and trade the empty propane tanks out for full ones. It has been 9  long days. 9 DAYS!!! Stuck on anchor with very little to do and a slow internet connection. Ugh. WE head to Homer and then we come back to Larsen Bay.

But, our captivity is over now and we are leaving in a little while.  The good news is that my Dad is doing very well after his surgery. So, we are thankful for that and nothing else really matters.

Aloha,
Joanna

Here we are - in Larsen Bay! Big surprise...

There is not much to report. We remain in Larsen Bay, and it has been 8 days on anchor. We may be leaving tomorrow, but I am reluctant to count on it. The chances of leaving seems unlikely. There isn't a lot of fish. Regardless, we will be ready at 10:30 am with the high tide. We have three hours next tot he barge before the tide changes and we have to move.

Jeff and I walked around the harbor today. It is cold, windy and raining. But we are making the best of it. I have been cooking a few hearty meals: penne with bolognese and fresh parmesan cheese, Thai coconut chicken over rice, burritos with beef, black beans, rice and cheese, rib-eyes and asparagus on the grill with a nice green salad, fried rice and poached eggs on bagels with cheese. Jeff and Ty do the grilling and I love it.

Jeff and Joanna at Larsen Bay June 2015

The cooking has been fairly easy and keeps me busy. As it turns out, I am only cooking for 3 instead of 4 people. Our new greenhorn likes to cook his own meals. From what I can tell, it consists of hot dogs cut up and mixed in with instant noodles or, sometimes, it's scrambled eggs and hot dogs. He is very polite about it, and says he prefers Asian food. I didn't know hot dogs were a big part of the Asian diet. Even when I make something like stir fry or the ever popular Thai coconut chicken, he stays in his room. Oh well. At least he helps with the dishes.

Joanna surrounded by seine nets, Larsen Bay, June 2015

My Dad is doing well, thanks to everyone for their thoughts and best wishes. I wish I could be there to help out, but I know he has a lot of people looking after him. But it isn't the same, you know? I worry. I can't sleep and when I do, I have these awful nightmares. Jeff is my rock - he is patient and understanding while we wait for updates. My Dad is as tough as a $2 steak, as our dear friend Brian would say. He is doing great, and he is going to heal fast!

STILL sitting on anchor

We are STILL ON ANCHOR in Larsen Bay. It has been one week and we continue to wait and wait and wait. Here is our view:

the view from the boat of the cannery

We are waiting for the fish to come in.  The opener has been extended and we may be here for a few more days. 

Most important, my Dad had open heart surgery this morning - a valve and artery replaced successfully. We have been anxiously waiting for news all morning. It's good news because it went well and he is under observation in the cardiac ward at Presbyterian Hospital. He has a nurse dedicated to taking care of only him. My Mom is taking some time to rest. It all looks good. What a relief.

No one can prepare you for the helplessness and isolation of working on a boat and being hell and gone from everything. It is almost indescribable and beyond frustrating. It's closer to infuriating but with no outlet. We are trapped here. And if I needed to get home, it would take at least 24 hours and cost several thousand. Being away from the people Jeff and I love is by far the hardest part of this job. I think Jeff is more accustomed to this after 19 years as a fisherman, but I am not. 

My love to my family. I'm thinking of them and I may be far away but I am with them with all my heart. 

Nana

Sittin' on Anchor

Well, here we are at the early part of the season, waiting for fish, particularly king salmon. Everyone is waiting - the fishermen, the cannery and the tenders. But there is very little fish so far. So, we have been sitting in Larsen Bay, on anchor, for three days. We will continue to sit on anchor until there is enough fish to fill a van, and then we will haul it to Homer. We could be here for a while, perhaps 3 or 4 more days. Hopefully the fishing will pick up during the next opener.

The view from where I sit....

There isn't a lot to do. Some chores on the boat, good books to read, and lots of movies I've seen many, many times. We are in a connectivity black hole, so to speak, and have limited access to the outside world. I am sending this blog out quickly, before the boat swings again.  The tides are huge here, and the minus tide exposes clams, starfish and other sea creatures. We took the skiff out a few times today. The guys caught a few cod, but no king salmon.

Jeff and I having fun with the cartoon filter in Photo Booth

These are the slow times. It won't last, soon we will be racing around. Now is time to enjoy the quiet, even when it comes with a serious case of cabin fever. As you can see from our silly photo above - we try to stay busy and keep laughing during times like these. Of course, the down time has both of us thinking about family and how hard it is to be so far away. How we wish we could be there for the people we love so dearly.

At times like these, I think of the saying Maren introduced me to:

If wishes were fishes, we would all have something to fry.

So true!
Joanna