Alaska Adventure

We spent a week plus at the Cabin and enjoyed fishing, exploring, playing, seeing wildlife and, most of all, time with family.

While the weather was forecast to be "showers and rain" for much of our stay, we actually enjoyed a lot of sunshine and relative clear skies. Petersburg was its usual charming self!

Fishing was not great this year for anyone. However, it still brought fun. One afternoon we jigged for herring in town. All 7 of us on Hewie: Dad running the boat, the kids with poles, Bryan assisting Shan with her fish and Mike assisting Mitch with his fish, Mom acting as the bait queen, and me on the camera. It was busy!

Shannon declared herself to be "Champ of fishing" due to her success with herring. She was overjoyed by the process!

Mom rocking her role of Bait Queen. There's nothing she won't do with the help of gloves!

Mitch told me this was how fishermen smile. And what a fisherman he was this year! His focus going up was getting to halibut fish for the first time. 

He went out twice (about 10 hours of time on the boat!) and didn't complain at all. He was content to sit, watch, help, or man a pole. The ready supply of candy helped...

Grampa caught a little guy, but Mitch was pleased; halibut tacos were the result!

Aside from herring and halibut, we went for Kings. We trolled for them in the Narrows 3 times. The early morning proved buggy!

We did catch a couple this way, with Gnagy getting the biggest! My handsome fisherman also got a pretty one. I caught sea cucumbers and bull head.

We also went up the Blind twice to drift eggs. It was rainy the first time so we decked out in gear.

And Mitch caught one!!! Grampa helped and together they reeled it in, landed it and were delighted by its bright color. Mitch hauled the fish most of the way out of the Blind - quite a heavy feat for him! He himself was hauled partway, too, since he doesn't have waders and we tried to avoid water over the boots. 

Our first time up all three of us landed a King. Mine was caught on my last cast, much to Mitchell's delight, and ultimately was too ugly to eat. We made an eagle feast of it instead.

Here they are. So much happiness in the photo!

While we fished, Mom and Shannon spent lots of time together at the cabin. They went on exploration walks, built a hideout for the kids, colored and had a good time.

Shan loved to help with chores while there, including filling the wood box, sweeping and, most of all, dishes with Grama.

There was lots of exploring, especially since these two could do some solo. 

The plants have certainly grown a lot in the last few years, without the tree canopy to block the sunshine. Shannon was fixated on Devil's Club and she and her brother were sure to touch it just because they shouldn't.

Even explorers have to stop for lunch!

Bryan and the kids explored both bays in the canoe. The paddler in the bow wasn't very helpful, but her brother did strong work.

We also explored Mitkof Island a bit, stopping at the swimming hole near Crystal Hatchery. It was pretty, but not warm enough to swim.

We went down the boardwalk at Blind Slough just to see the sights. Lots of muskeg, a la Kasheets. 

This one scored a ride on the return.

Back at the cabin, there was also a lot of play time. The buoy swing was very popular this year!

No one ran into the tree, and adults weren't required to push!

Grampa also taught Mitchell (and then his sister) how to shoot the BB gun. 

Annie Oakley's title won't be taken from her any time soon, but Mitch sure got better with practice!

And this happened. Oh my head.

Because temperatures don't matter a whit when you're small, swimming also took place on several occasions. Everyone else is bundled and these two strip down.

I think the cold actually made the play more fun!

Their high-pitched shrieks rivaled those of the eagles!

While golfing is the traditional game in the bay, we took a different spin on it this year and made it golf baseball. We all enjoyed smacking the balls, trying to reach the water. When the ferry passed, Bryan put on a show!

Among the interesting ship traffic this year was the 230-foot yacht, Cloudbreak. Unbelievable.

We also were treated to a trio of orcas traveling south down the Narrows. It was a big year for wildlife, really. 

Aside from the usual hummingbirds (pigs) at the feeder, we saw a couple porcupines on Mitkof and most exciting of all, a black bear up the Blind! 

While halibuting, we were entertained by the antics of the White Rock sea lions. One large guy came through by the cabin and even surfaced right in front of the guys in the skiff. They are huge!

And we are always surrounded by eagles. My nasty King made for a good eagle feed and we enjoyed watching them fight for, defend, and steal the meat. The mottled eagles are the immature ones.

So, Alaska was a good time. Three generations of muddy women in various stages of cleanliness.

An accurate portrayal of our family.

So much fishing, exploring and playing meant we needed showers and pjs. Not a better view for tooth brushing!

Lots of stories from the grands before we retired to the loft. The kids were delighted to get the loft for our quarters this year. And they didn't fall (only their mother did...)! We colored, played Scrabble, napped, built Legos, feasted like royalty, and had a wonderful time.

Before we knew it, it was time to leave. So we set sail on our ship, and flew back to the Lower 48.

Arrival in Wenatchee proved trying with a dead battery and keys that got locked in the truck, but the fish made it, we made it, and we miss it already!

Sunset on the Narrows...who wouldn't want to go back for more?!