Mariner, Friend, Fool and Filmmaker
We spent all yesterday reprovisioning and working cargo and now we are underway going south. The wind is now on our backs, so it looks like not only are we making good time, but we have less spray so less ice. We only have 100 or so refers so our barge checks should go quick. The captain said we might make it to seattle by the 8th. In the meantime, the ice is melting on the boat and the overheads are leaking nasty brown water all over the boat.
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Just passing Cape Tolstoi as we make a break for Dutch. It’s blowing 45 knots now, but should be lying down a bit. Should be in Dutch tomorrow sometime.
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While we have been sheltered behind Unga Island, a vessel went down near us. We are getting our news via e-mail, no first hand information. 120 miles out of Dutch Harbor the 200 foot processor, the Alaska Ranger lost it’s rudder and sunk. 42 people were picked out of the water, 4 are dead and 1 is missing. It’s been less than 20 degrees and blowing 50 -100 knots, so I don’t think there is much hope for the missing person. My sympathies go out to all of them.
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UNALASKA BAY
400 PM ADT SAT MAR 22 2008
…GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…
…HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY…
.TONIGHT…NW WIND 35 KT. GUSTS TO 50 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS TO 8
FT. SNOW SHOWERS. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
The ice was so thick on the boat yesterday that we had a 5 degree list to starboard. It was 4 feet thick in a few places. We spent another six hours breaking it up with sledges. Finally broke out the fire axe for parts that we could only chisel at with the sledge. We had to leave our little bay because of the high winds, and are now turning back and forth near Unga spit. We can only go about 3 miles before we need to turn around again. We already have an inch of ice from last night.
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Cape Kubugakli, Gulf of Alaska 57 degress 49.37 inutes North - 155 degrees 03.51 minutes West.
The temperature is 22 degrees and the wind is blowing 60 knots, so of course I had to go outside and take some pictures. The sea spay was freezing in nearly horizontal icecicles. Hopefully got some pictures that made the short walk worth it.
Been reading Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”, the Dalia Lama’s “The Universe in A Single Atom” and “The Rule of St. Benidict”. Interesting comparison of ideas. The Dalia Lama surprised me with his intelligence and openess to new ideas, although ultimatley find his logic wanting. Ayn Rand on the other hand would laughable if she wasn’t so tragic in her philosophy of misery, and if she didn’t have followers. St. Benidict comes off as a severe kinkster (sorry Kat).
Did two days of cargo in the cold a couple of days ago in Anchorage. Didn’t write as I was too tired. Had to do the work in two tides, moving the barge away from the dock at low tide. This was due to large chunks of ice below the dock that dried at low tide.
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The long white craggy wall of mountains finally has broken with Cape St. Elias, marking the entrance to Prince William Sound. This huge rock juts out a few miles almost perpedicular to the mountains to the north. We will be passing the sound unfortunatley and heading around to Cook Inlet. Bran is angry with me because I made chicken cassarole and now he won’t speak to me.
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Just passed Cape Spencer this morning, which marks our entrance into the Gulf Of Alaska. Weather is good. It was cold on the barge and snowing lightly as we did our lashing checks before leaving the Inside Passage. But the skys are mostly clear and the winds are below 10 knots. We have shifted our destination from Whitier to Anchorage, because the latter seems clear of enough of ice to let us in. I wanted to see Whitier, but at least in Anchorage I get cell service. I won’t have net access to upload my pictures, because the power cord on my mac heated up and melted three days ago.
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Boarding the Mike O’Leary and heading to Dutch Harbor. Don’t know when I’ll be back. 87 sea days to go.
So, full week. Some good, some bad. First, I put my application into the coast guard. It took nearly an hour to review the app! It’s all in and looks in order. Now I wait for background checks and the evaluation of my application. Sometime in the next couple of months I’ll get approval to take the exam. Then a week of exams and another torturous wait to get my license. Assuming all goes well.
On the bad side, all of my camera equipment was stolen from the house I was staying at, so expect fewer pictures for a bit.
See ya in the desert.
So, due to mostly technical difficulties I haven’t been able to post. Much has happened. I am on my last trip, and have all my seatime in. Unfortunately I can’t submit my application by mail, so I am waiting to return before I can do that. After that it will be 4-6 weeks before I can take my exam.
I only needed 20 days at the start of June, but couldn’t get a trip till June 13th, then only a 60 day trip. It’s looking like it is going to go late, which is really dragging on me. More on this later, but suffice to say I am ready to get home and get the license process rolling. But this trip keeps getting legs added to it. I don’t think it will end before September, no matter what assurances I get from the office.