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What else has been going on around here…
- No Fish Camp!?!?! June 10, 2023
- Our Latest Project June 8, 2023
- Getting the greenhouse ready. June 8, 2023
- Dog Life is Good! June 8, 2023
- Lupines for my Loves June 7, 2023
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Fishcamp recap.
I had a hard time getting up Monday morning. No alarm for nearly 2 weeks, naturally waking is nice! Sleeping to ocean sounds is also nice. Neither of those things are happening anymore . 😂
Although technically not fishcamp related the Solstice Sisters headed to Homer on Sunday, which has become a tradition at least once a year when things are normal. We went for brunch and tried to get home at a decent hour. It was glorious. Doing the tourist thing on the Spit: eating at quaint little cafes and food trucks; shop hopping little boutiques and charter shops; and one cannot forget a pitstop at The Salty Dawg.
Fishcamp was different this year. The emergency orders restricting our fishing between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm essentially gave us about 5 days of actual fishing, for at least 20 mins. We had nets in the water whenever we legally could and we caught 1/3 of the number of fish we normally do. That’s not going to last the year but at least we didn’t come home empty handed. Our household allowance is 75 fish, we came home with 29. Just means we need more halibut. 😎 In total we caught 125 fish, split between 6 permits.
Good food and drink is always a part of our adventures.
I processed three cases of salmon in the beach. Came home and put 8 fish in the freezer for later processing and smoked 6. I tried a new brine, just salt and pickling spice. Smoked for about 6 hours. We’ll see how we like it. Then we’ll do more later.
Even with all the differences and split camps and odd vibes, it was nice to spend time with my peeps. The beach was not as crowded, no rowdy dudes to contend with, few beach racers and poorly behaved people made for a more peaceful beach time.
We also learned new things (Thing 1 got to observe a commercial setnet operation with Mrs Jane and learned about assembling a new net), met new people and had new experiences! Always good things. And we day dreamed of what we could do if this happens again…. Go hiking, camping, fishing, etc somewhere else. It would be more affordable probably!
It’s just after midnight. I’m laying here listening to the rhythmic crashing of the waves. My tent softly illuminated with the fading “civil twilight” from the setting sun. Kids are finally asleep. It’s so peaceful.
It’s Wednesday June 22 (my nephew’s birthday!) And we have three days left of this personal use fishery. Later today will be the first time since it started that we get to fish any of the incoming tide. That’s where the fish are, headed to the river on the incoming tides. We get one hour of incoming tide today. Slightly more tomorrow, with the best fishing window on Friday, the last day.
I’ve tried not to focus on the negative and lack of fish. But enjoying my Solstice Sisters’ company. Making & eating good food and the best beverages a gal could ask for, and beach ice cream for the kids. Tonight’s served with fresh baked brownies from Mr Jimmy!
Each night Niki fills hot water bottles for each of us to put in our sleeping bags to keep extra warm. What a sweetie.
Solstice marks the official “winter is coming” season because we’re now losing daylight hours. Even though we have about two months of decent weather left, it will be gone before we know it! So get out in the sun and soak it up! Play in the sea spray. Walk barefoot in the sand. Hunt for some agates and beach glass. Enjoy a margarita with your besties. Live life Alaska style.
#solsticealaska
#midnightsun
#salmonislife
#thisismytribe
Alaska on my mind... 