Archive for April, 2008

Aloha…

Published
by
dan
on 22 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

I am in Honolulu enjoying some shoreleave now. It’s quite the switch from the last trip. For the last few days it’s been 74 degrees…. the water…has been 74 degrees. Our tap water (which comes from a reverse osmosis water maker out of seawater) is WARM. It’s been nice. Now I am sitting in a circa 1995 internet “cafe” (no coffee - pay by the hour) to upload a couple of photos. Haven’t been able to use the boat mail connection much due to sat/company issues.

This is a nice run, but… it’s kinda boring. I could see doing one run in between a nasty Alaska trip. Those trips are exhausting, but your so busy, that the time flies.

But Alaska looks like this:

_dsc1304.jpg

And the Hawaii run looks like:

djb_1573.jpg

Haven’t caught any fish for our filet and release program, unless you count “netfish” - as shown by Mark, a fellow PMI cadet:

_djb1696.jpg

halfway to paradise

Published
by
dan
on 17 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

34 degrees 11 minutes North, 140 degrees 60 minutes West

We are halfway to Honolulu and the Pacific is being true to it’s name, if not it’s true nature; seas are calm, wind is less than 5 knots. The reflection of the moon on the water has brighted the wheelhouse like dawn. That satelite and scattered clouds are obscuring the clouds, but spent a little time this morning working on celestial navigation.

!DSPAM:40,48077373319171800915729!

Polar King

Published
by
dan
on 12 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

So, got out of Seattle with no problems - although with very little sleep. We are past the J buoy now and heading to Honolulu on a course of 207. Weather is fine, and there is only a little roll. The crew is good- chill professional guys. It’s nice to be able to open the hatches and not feel a bracing wind. I have better quarters on the polar boats, and unlike one of the Kings sister ships, I don’t smell diesel. Will write personal emails tomorrow.

!DSPAM:40,4802063b136291336712104!

Typical….

Published
by
dan
on 9 April, 2008
in Deck Log and Mariner
. 1 Comment

A cook just quit, so now they want me to leave on the 11th instead of the 18th.  Which is good, as I need more sea time… which is bad as I wanted to see a lecture on Friday the 11th and I was going to have a feast.  Not confirmed, which is annoying since I can’t plan anything or cancel plans quite yet.

Photos from last trip….

Published
by
dan
on 8 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

The real america

Published
by
dan
on 6 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

Left Canada this morning and we are in the real America now. The tides are against us, but we should be in Seattle by noon and Everett by mid afternoon. 10 days off before I do it again, on the same boat.

!DSPAM:40,47f8c23c15711407013310!

channel fever

Published
by
dan
on 5 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

The refer tech says he has channel fever bad - he’s only been on the boat 10 days.. Found the AB’s bags were packed already at 0400. Of course I woke up without an alarm today… so I guess I have it too. It will be nice to be back for a bit. We are still going slow waiting on slack tide at Seymour Narrows (there is a 12 knot current today). Should be on the other side around noon. After that, there aren’t really any weather or tide issues. The only thing that might hang us up is the barge hand off in Elliot Bay.

!DSPAM:40,47f7693d246001726595536!

Published
by
dan
on 3 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

Just passed thru Snow Pass in the Clarence Strait. Weather is fine, and we are making 10 knots. AB is feeling channel fever. Woke up to him yelling “GOOD MORNING DAN!!!” over and over and slapping me on the back. Probably going to have to kill him.

!DSPAM:40,47f4d9da313051913619766!

Cape Spencer

Published
by
dan
on 2 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

Got inside Cape Spencer around midnight. Finally, flat calm seas. Or relatively. Not a bad crossing, but I am ready for the inside passage again. This trip feels longer than it really is. Not really sure why. Probably because I have someone waiting for me in Seattle. We are now in Icy Straight, good place for whale watching, but I don’t think it’s the season.

!DSPAM:40,47f3c97c298612097448885!

Cape Spencer

Published
by
dan
on 1 April, 2008
in Deck Log
. 1 Comment

Coming close to Cape Spencer, which means we will be getting into the inside passage tomorrow morning. Crossing the Gulf wasn’t too bad, although we had a couple of rough days. Really not that bad, but the Mike O’Leary is a rolly boat. Current ETA for Seattle is the 8th.

!DSPAM:40,47f2cdfb108071385515324!