Rain, a trip to the hot springs and Dad's 6 week check up

It has been a fairly uneventful few days. Of course, we have had lots of rain and the forecast is for more rain. I have been using this as an excuse to read constantly, cook yummy, hearty meals, and write. This is my view from the little desk in our stateroom:

Rain, rain, rain. Southeast Alaska, July 2015

We were able to return to Baranof Warm Springs. Jeff and I enjoyed the tubs last night and I made a Pasta Bolognese. Prior to that, we had beef short ribs, double baked potatoes, fried rice, and a few frozen pizzas. Surprisingly, the guys like frozen pizza night. They would eat pizza once a day without complaint. It is the easiest meal for me, so I am happy to oblige and get back to my latest project. I certainly don't take it personally, everyone loves pizza! Unfortunately, the oven reached out and bit me the other night. I ended up with a triangular burn on my right forearm, complete with huge blisters that merged into one giant blister. Jeff doctored it for me and I am hoping it doesn't leave a scar. It doesn't hurt anymore as long as I keep it bandaged.

The most exciting event since my last post was the huge halibut Jeff caught. It measured 57" and weighed about 95 pounds!!! Impressively, he brought that fish up on 20 lb line. Check it out:

Jeff's halibut! 57 inches and 90 lbs!!!

This was an excellent catch. We were able to get about 50 lbs of nice fillets off of it for our home packs. At the end of the season we will be able to fill our freezer with some beautiful fish again.

It has been 68 days since we left home. We have been living on the boat the entire time, as you know. About this time in the season, I start to get a bit homesick and crave visits with family and friends. While we are getting along very well on the boat with just three of us, only the occasional issue, it is still an isolated existence. And of course, we miss our cat, Bootsie. 

Most importantly - good job DAD for recovering so well after open heart surgery! His 6 week check up was full of good news.  He has a clean bill of health.

Mom and Dad, July 28, 2015

Thanks to those who helped my parents during these difficult months. While many sent best wishes and checked in from out of town, I would like to thank those who did the heavy lifting, so to speak. Special thanks to John, Alaura, Chris, Scott, Tino, Michelle, Juanita and Ernie, Ky, the REG, Kathleen, Helen, Michael, Carlos, Janet and Al, Ron and Claudia, Anthony, Mike, and the folks at the Quarters who made sure he stuck to the doctors orders. It has been difficult to be far away and I am greatly appreciative to those who stayed with him at the hospital, came by the house to keep him company, dropped off food, drove him around, ran errands, and helped my MOM in big and little ways. Much gratitude and many thanks!

We enjoy emails and communications from family and friends... so thanks to those of you who stay in touch. It means a great deal to me and Jeff. 

Aloha,

Joanna

60 days and counting...

We have been on the boat for 60 days so far. Everyone is doing well here. Some mechanical issues and lots of long drives have made this an interesting season so far. We crossed the Gulf again and we are up in Valdez. It's a beautiful place and one of our favorite p[laces to tender. The folks up here are nice and the views breathtaking. The pictures I have taken do not capture the feeling but perhaps your imagination can help:

We are enjoying nice weather. The rain let up to blue skies. I have been cooking. Tonight was cheeseburger pie, a favorite with the guys. Made chicken soup, French toast, another quiche and some pretty good sandwiches over the past week. When we are driving long distances, we sleep in shifts and subsequently eat in shifts. So it's a challenge to cook items that we can all snack on as our shifts change. With only 3 on board this year, there is not as much need for lots of large meals. I have adapted my cooking for what we have going on in those next few days.

About to start another all-nighter, taking fish and then driving to a cannery. 

Entering the port of Valdez today. The seiners are setting their nets or lining up for a good spot.

Sending my best wishes to family and friends. A special shout out to Maren, hang in there. I'm behind you 100%. Whatever you need, just let me know. I'll be there.

Joanna

Crossed the Gulf

We have arrived in Petersburg. It was a nice trip across the Gulf. Walked through town and stopped at our favorite restaurant, Inga Galley.

We are about 1/2 way through the season now. 

Traveling along the coast, we eventually came across the La Perouse Glacier. 

We actually had a good view of it. It is usually covered in clouds, as you can see, it extends well above what we can see.

Glaciers. One of the most astounding, powerful, and breathtaking sights, and here in Alaska, they are every where. Amazing.

Joanna

Hello again...

We are headed out of Seward. Go, go, go!

I only have a few minutes. It's been raining. For about 24 hours or more. Beautiful clouds. 

All is well. Lots of sea birds, whales and dolphins. The fishing has picked up too. We are managing with the three of us: Jeff, Ty and me. The guys do most of the heavy lifting, but I'm on deck more, shoveled out the tanks with Ty one all-nighter, didn't hit our bunk til 07:00. Also spraying the tanks down and generally doing more work on deck. My back is holding up pretty well. I try not to overdo it. The guys handle things that are too heavy to lift. Very much appreciated. 

I've got to go. We were in town for 5 hours and it's time to secure the galley and our stateroom because there is a roll outside of Resurrection Bay. 

Quick shout out to my niece, Alex - I love you beautiful. And I'm always right behind you 100%, without question or hesitation. Will see you in the fall. 

Joanna 

Headed to Prince William Sound.

We had a great Fourth of July in Seward. Headed off to sit deliver supplies to the seiners in Prince William sound. 

I'm happy to announce my Dad is recovering nicely. I'm thinking about my niece, Alex, who is under the weather. She is a beautiful, intelligent and resilient woman. 

Jeff at the parade today:

The two of is at dinner- the food has been awesome!!!

Nick

I miss you desperately. I was doing ok until the fireworks. But not anymore. My big brother, how I wish you were not taken away from us 13 years ago. It still hurts like it happened last year. 

Nick. Nick. Nick. 

Loving life!

Hello all!

Quick update - everything is great! We are in Seward, one of my favorite towns in Alaska. We finished our Homer/Larsen Bay gig and we are ready to tender salmon.  The deck is all set up, supplies and groceries purchased, and we are ready to work. All we need now are fish... but there isn't a lot of fish.

But that's ok! I spent the day cleaning up, running errands and generally enjoying the freedom of no deadlines and mountain sunshine. I have also let go of some obligations I thought I had to hold onto - turns out there was no need! I am free of these obligations and even if I held onto them, it wasn't appreciated anyway! I feel like an enormous weight of needing to appease, apologize and accommodate has been lifted. Wow. What a wonderful feeling. I had no idea it was weighing me down so much for so long. And, as it turns out, it wasn't doing anyone any good but just hurting me and enabling people that don't really care about me anyway. Now that the burden is gone, I can breathe. I can relax and laugh. I can enjoy my husband and soak up this beautiful place we work in. Life is good!

Now, I like to add a photo to every post, because photographs are fun. As an introduction to this photo, I have to tell you that I love bookstores, especially those with a resident cat. Well, the hardware store in Seward has a cat, Mufasa. While there purchasing bolts, duct tape and various items for the boat, I met the cat. Since I was not in a huge hurry, I sat by his scratching post and we played for a bit. Mufasa rolled over and let me rub his belly. We had a nice visit.

Mufasa, the hardware store cat

Every hardware store should have a cat. The folks there explain that he is a great mouser. Now when the guys need something from the hardware store, I am quick to volunteer. Unfortunately, Mufasa was out hunting mice today. Apparently he had already caught two from behind the store and brought them into the store. The staff was not pleased with his work, since his job is to get rid of them instead of hunt them down and bring them inside, still alive and twitching. He is such a cool cat, as you can see, I am sure he doesn't care.

Tonight will be the 3rd night in a row I do not have to cook dinner! I know, it just gets better and better. Jeff and I are headed out to one of our favorite restaurants. Eventually, we will be very busy and worn out, but in the meantime, I am going to soak it all up. Appreciate it. Live it. Love it.

Much aloha to my friends and family!

Joanna