After a long day in Dutch reprovisioning and shuffling barges around, we are headed to Nome with a single barge. It’s foggy, but the seas are glassy.
Been working on the deck instead of on the barge. I am feeling pretty good about making tow as a deckhand. It’s easier now that we only have one mate - I am not have to shoulder my way into the process.
Yesterday was the AB’s 25th birthday, so I made him german chocolate cake. It turned out very good. Today I am going to try to make Chicken Tiki Masala. I have been thinking about making it, and when I was at the store, I saw the new Cooks Illustrated - and it’s one of the recepies this month.
!DSPAM:40,46d6ccb2228362508512678!
Beeping. Too early. 2300. It’s the AB’s alarm. He’s too early. I am waiting for the Mate to call me. Only got to my bunk at 2100. There. It’s off.
More beeping. He’s snoozing. Never noticed that particular malignant behavior before. But then, the engines are off. Only the auxiliary.
Now the rattle of the second auxiliary generator joins the sound of the first.
Chief is up. I roll over and cover my ears and pretend not to hear. Sleep.
In…out of rem. Not so much dreams as odd logic. Fuzzy ideas concerning lashing down cargo of lunch meats.
There. The deeper louder throat of the mains turning over. First the high whir of the starter. Once to clear the pistons. Then again, and the roar.
Then again on the second main.
The knock.
“Call out”.
I answer with a vague syllable and get dressed in the dirty overalls I just took off 2 fitful hours ago. Tide is high. The barges are off the mud, and we can leave port after two days of unlashing and re-lashing cargo. On the second barge, only 9 picks for Anchorage, but 90 picks to get to those 9 containers. And then 90 picks to put everything back. Classic.
5 minutes later we are all mustered on the back deck, radio’s, gloves, work vests.
“You know that there is a special place in hell for people that use the snooze button.”
“I guess I’ll have lot’s of places to visit when I die.”
Hooking up the barges took a couple of hours and we were underway by 0200. Just enough time for me to get some sleep before my watch at 0345.
Should be in Dutch on the 26th.
Got up at 11:30 last night as we came into Anchorage. Got the barge tied up by 2 am. Then got up at 5:30 to prep dinner (pot roast) and make breakfast. Then went out to the barge at 7:00 and worked cargo unlashing and lashing until just now - 7:20 pm. Have to get up at 11 tonight to move around barges, then get up tomorrow morning and do it again. Very tired.
Weather finally kicked up. Seas 10-16 feet. Boat handles it well, but we slowed down for the barges sake. For some reason I couldn’t sleep in this particular roll even though it’s not bad. Woke up cranky. Should be in Anchorage late tomorrow night.
The sea undulates like a muted blue silk sheet. The horizon is a subtle difference between the blue gray matte of the sky and the blue gray gloss of the sea. There is a low chasing us, and I wonder if the puffs of ripples I see now are precient of the gale we may see later.
Another gorgeous day in the Gulf. Seas are glassy, almost no wind. Made steaks for dinner, which were well recieved. The AB said it was the best steak he had eaten in a long time. Tried a new marinade.
Finally finished relistening to all the Harry Potter books (thanks Krysten) and started reading the new one. Several of the crew have asked for it after I finish. 165 days to go.
51 degrees 18 minutes north
130 degrees 45 minutes west
Exceptional weather as we cross the Gulf. Sun is shining, wind 25 knots, seas less than 3 feet. We have been surrounded by Portequese man-o-war since last night. Sun is shining as I make apple pie.
Got back last night. I am only here until Saturday…then I do the Alaska/Bristol Bay run again.
