MOOSE SHOW

July 18, 2011-Monday

It was sunny and 51 at 8 when we both got up.

We had coffee and Chai tea.

Onie watched the grate where fish were being caught.

The writer made notes.

Breakfast came at 8:30.

Kurt texted at 9 and said he was going down river with the guys and was leaving at 9:30.

The writer dressed and went with them.

Down river it was fish, fish, fish until all the limits were filled then it was back to camp at 11:30.

Onie had fish in brine getting them ready to smoke.

When the fish processing was over, the writer emptied the holding tanks while Onie filled the fresh water tank.

Emptied and refreshed we went to the grate where Onie fished but failed to connect.

The fish count for yesterday was 230,000 plus. No one here has ever heard of that many fish coming in in one day. We wish Ted and Priscilla, Sidney and Barbara were here to help rid the river of too many fish.

At 5 me and Onie, Kurt and Mike went down the river again. Onie caught her limit.

We headed back at 7.

Kurt and I cleaned the fish then he went up the hill.

Onie and I freshened up and at 8 joined Kurt, Becky, Dwight, Pam, Phyllis, Duane and Mary for supper; salad and tanner crab, mashed potatoes and chocolate fudge brownies.

After supper we had our own private moose showing when a cow moose and her twins came into the back yard.

From inside the house and later from the deck we watched the twins graze and play before all three bedded down in yard.

We were back home at 10:30 where we processed fish, rinsed fish that were in the brine, arranged the shed and racks, spread fish on racks, seasoned them and started the fan to dry them.

It was one when we were finally done. We were both very tired and tumbled into bed after brushing our teeth.

FISHING

July 19, 2011-Tuesday

Onie was up at 7.

The writer turned off the alarm.

She left at 8:30 for Zumba and exercise.

The writer slept until 11 when he rose to make notes and have some Chai tea.

Outside it was hot and overcast.

The writer was still making notes when Onie got home.

Together they had tomato and avocado for breakfast along with Chai tea and more coffee.

Putting on his insurance agent hat, the writer took care of some agency stuff while Onie headed to bed for a nap.

The writer, after finishing business went to the grate where he strung three fish.

As he was cleaning his catch Kurt came down. He was taking some friends fishing down river to the gravel bar and needed some help as they are novices.

We shoved off at 3. We were back at 6:30 with seventeen fish.

Our friend, Earl Jenkins, from Oregon has a rig here but no vehicle with a trailer hitch. He needed help to empty his holding tanks so, driving the toad, the writer helped him.

Later Onie and I fished but got nada.

Supper, eaten outside, was grilled veggies and venison tenderloin, cooked on the gas grill using our new Grill Grate that our friend Bill sent.

Kris came over to visit and then Kay joined the little group. Soon Kurt and Becky came down.

Everyone except Kris went to fish. Catching nothing in a short time Kurt and Becky left for the house. We kept at it until Onie had three nice ones hanging on a stringer.

The writer fileted them, saving the bellies for Kurt, and Onie processed them.

Fish that had been in the brine were taken to the grate where they rinsed preparatory to seasoning and drying as the next step in the smoking process. The racks from the smoker were washed, put in the shed and then had the rinsed fish placed on them. When the fish were loaded and seasoned the fan was started. It was a new day, 12:05 A.M.

Inside a few notes were made while the navigator watched The Investigators.

With notes completed the writer started writing on last week.

He joined Onie in bed at 3.

She put another blanket on the bed as it was very cold. Before the sun came up again it would be 36.

Onie is the perfect mate, help mate and companion for the writer. There is probably no one else on earth that could abide the hours and whimsy of the writer.

Knowing that 177,000 fish came in yesterday we both knew tomorrow would be another big day.

The couple, finally warm, went to sleep.

GO FIGURE

July 20, 2011-Wednesday

There was bright sunshine and 42 degrees at 6.

Onie was up at 8 when she had coffee and surfed the web.

The writer joined her at 10 when he had Chai tea and made notes.

During breakfast the duo discussed plans for the day.

Kurt dropped by.

He had been down river with his guests and was leaving for Homer. He was leaving the key to the small boat with me so we and Mike can go down river later. In a few minutes Mike called to ask when we were leaving. We had some chores to do so we told him it would be a little later.

Onie cleaned the kitchen and started more fish in brine.

The writer worked on agency stuff.

Both dressed and loaded the car with dirty clothes and made a grocery list.

Fish were started in the smoker then the couple headed out to Trustworthy to replace the cooler that had fallen victim to the coach and Sawzall. While we were there we bought a big filet board for Onie to use at the grate so she can finish fish there. Then it was to Freddies for fuel while Onie shopped.

Fueled and finished shopping we headed on to Noble laundry where we washed five loads finishing at 4:30.

We were glad to be home at 4:45 having lunch. Traffic on the highway had been very heavy and the drivers in Soldotna could have competed with the world’s worst for surliness, rudeness, impatience and aggressiveness. It happens every year when the reds are running fast and heavy. Folks seem to lose all civility, fights break out over parking places, camping sites and places to fish. On occasion a person will be killed because tempers flare over a tangled fishing line. Yes, that is right, people are killed over a tangled fishing line. Go figure.

Mike was called and advised we were ready to go down river at 5:15.

The three of us were at the gravel bar shortly thereafter. Onie began catching fish right away. It took the writer and Mike a little longer but the trio was back at the fish grate at 7:30 with limits.

We unloaded the boat then the writer turned his attention to unloading the smoker, crushing cans and making notes.

By eight he had turned his attention to fileting the fish he and Onie had caught. Completing that task he turned to rinsing fish that had been brining all day. Fish that had been drying were placed in the smoker, after the racks were rinsed, and the smoker set for four hours and one hundred sixty degrees.

He was inside before 10 where he made more notes and ate supper.

At 10 it was still warm, 69. It had been warm all day and the writer had worn shorts and a tee shirt, even while wearing his hip waders to fish at the gravel bar.

When eleven came the couple were sleeping.

FOUR DIPS

July 21, 2011-Thursday

Why did we get up at 6:15?

We dressed and the writer had Chai tea and a blueberry scone, read the paper and got ready to fish. He put fish that been drying in the smoker.

Onie left to go to Zumba and a workout.

The guys came down at 7:30 and we went down river to fish.

The limit went to 6 at 12:01 a.m. today so we will have our work cut out for us.

The work did not prove too onerous and we had limited by 9:30 when we stopped to fillet the fish.

Back at camp the filets were put in the refrigerator and the fish that were in the smoker were taken out. It was done. The fishermen were all hungry and sampled the fresh smoker fish as did a few folks from around camp. After the snack the guys left with a promise to return at 2:30 for more fishing.

Onie was back and finished processing the a.m. fish. Then she and the writer vacuum packed what was left of the smoked fish before we had lunch.

We are going to have to start eating like gourmands if we are to have any room for fish in our freezer as it is getting full. Another alternative is to start canning, soon.

After lunch the writer went out to work on the shed and fish bucket.

Jay came by for Sonny’s brine recipe. Onie printed it off for him and visited with him a bit before she took a nap.

The writer made notes and surfed the web. One hundred thirteen thousand fish passed the sonar counter yesterday but we aren’t seeing many of them.

Warm weather was with us again today. It was 72 at 2 under partly cloudy skies.

Kurt was back down and asked me to take the guys down river to fish. Soon the writer was boating them down river. Mike and Onie went as well.

The fishing went well as there seemed to be plenty of fish in the river. Up and down the gravel bar one could see poles bending and against the bent poles backs bent in return. Fish were being caught, some released but many being bonked.

As Onie neared her limit a nice sized buck was hooked and fought to shore. Waiting for help she tried corralling the unruly fish with her feet and then her hands. When the buck continued its slippery escape routine she seemed to have no alternative but to sit in the river to hold him until help arrived, with a bonker, so sit she did. With water rushing around her she held on to the fish until the writer got there with a bonker. With the fish subdued she stood up, wet but smiling and happy that she had just one fish to go.

Dwight’s phone rang. It was Kurt calling to have him ask me to come get him and two more folks.

Mike had caught his limit and was ready to go back with me. On the way to the boat he fell in the river, twice. The writer got a big laugh out of it but he shouldn’t have.

When we got back to the grate Mike was cold and glad to be there.

The writer picked up Kurt and his two friends and headed back down the river.

When the writer got back Dwight was still fishing for his limit as was Onie. Onie soon caught her last one and retired to the bank to try to keep warm.

Dwight hooked his last fish. The writer scrambled to help him with the fish. Going over a little hump next to the river he caught the toe of his boot on a root. He managed to escape it and keep his balance but it was for just an instant as the toe of the same boot then caught on a fish stringer. The fish had the last laugh that day as the writer sprawled into the river. Lying in the river with the water swirling around him he quickly found himself wet to the chest with waders almost full of water. Before anyone could ask if the water was fine he righted himself and managed to crawl to the bank. Lying on his back he drained as much water as he could from his waders then went to help Dwight who was still fighting his fish. The fish was landed and bonked. It was a good ending to a hapless start even if the writer was now among those who had washed in the Kenai on this fine warm day.

Kurt had witnessed the comeuppance of the writer even though he hadn’t seen Mike take his dips. He also saw Onie was wet and trying to stay warm so he took us, Onie and the writer, back to camp as well as Dwight and Duane.

Our fish were put in our cooler to go to Custom but Les told me Custom won’t guarantee we will get our fish back. They may swap them out for someone else’s and we don’t want that as not everyone is careful to take care of their fish, either from lack of knowledge or carelessness. Either way we don’t want someone else’s fish.

A call was placed to Custom. They were overwhelmed with fish and were taking no more fish.

The cleaning table was occupied so we elected to get dry and nap while the cleaning table cleared.

Our “nap” was over at 10:15.

The cleaning table was still backed up. We took our table etc. to the opposite end of the grate and started working on our fish there. Dwight and Pam came down to visit.

Dwight pitched in to help with the cleaning. The writer skinned the fish and Dwight fileted them. With his help we were done at eleven-thirty.

The four of us visited in the coach ‘til midnight when they headed for the house.

Onie went to bed.

The writer made notes and napped in the chair until three, then went to bed.

Inside and out it was warm.

TOO MUCH OF EVERYTHING

July 22, 2011-Friday

Onie was up at ten having her coffee. The writer rose an hour later to the smell of hot biscuits, sausage and Chai tea. The feast was ready. Adding some canned figs we ate, visited with one another and planned what to do with the fish that we had put in our cooler last night. We had iced them down but wanted to do something with them today. We discussed when to start canning and doing more smoking. We enjoyed the little slow time.

Kurt came by to say he had a little space in a freezer if we were really strapped. We told him we have it under control for now. He said he would have more space next week.

Onie made bread pudding while the writer made notes.

Kurt came back by. He and the guys were going down river and asked if I wanted to go. I passed for now as my hands and fingers are swollen from handling fish and I am just tired.

Kurt is tired and aching too but he has company to entertain. The writer told him he may go later today with some of his company and he, Kurt, can stay home.

More notes were made then we both dressed and started the smoker and further processing of the twelve fish from yesterday.

It was hot, 77, under clear skies.

The paper, ADN, is predicting a very crowded weekend on the river with bad traffic from Anchorage and in Soldotna. There will be long lines at stores and gas stations. All the campgrounds will be full and there will be fighting over camp sites, parking spots and fishing spots. The record run of reds is drawing record crowds and record problems. The fish processors are swamped and taking no more fish. There is just too much of everything.

We are not going to town until at least Monday.

We vacuum packed the smoked fish and started another batch smoking. A load of clothes was washed and a little agency business was tended to.

Onie napped.

It was another hot day, 76, with bright sunshine.

All over camp folks are seeking shade or laying out sunning.

The writer went to fish. He had his six in two and a half hours.

Onie woke from her nap and we processed today’s catch.

Supper was a big salad and fresh salmon.

After supper Pam, Phyllis and Mary come down to visit. Onie copied pictures off Pam’s camera.

When they left we did a little cleanup and then went to bed.

It was eleven thirty and once again it was warm inside and out.

THANKSGIVING IN JULY

July 23, 2011-Saturday

The thought that it was eleven thirty in Coldspring made getting up at eight thirty more palatable.

We had our coffee and Chai tea followed by steel cut oats and crosswords.

With a couple of crosswords under our belts we vacuum packed some smoked fish and washed dishes.

Onie started cooking for tonight’s event, Thanksgiving in July.

The writer headed outside to the shed where he got the dried fish, placed them in the smoker and started it.

Onie had another batch in brine so it was rinsed, placed on racks and started drying.

The driver turned his attention to the patio which he cleaned up and straightened up before stopping to visit a little with Dennis, Kurt, Kim and Ken.

The three K’s had been down river fishing where they got limits but said it was a zoo and getting worse by the minute.

Kurt asked if Onie and I wanted to go. We passed and said we would go Sunday evening when the working locals were gone home.

Four people were killed last night on the Sterling Highway in two separate wrecks. One was caused by a young man, 23 years old, passing in a no passing zone when he hit a motorcycle head on killing both riders. One can only guess for now what the real cause was but it was probably impatience and/or alcohol or both. The other accident was caused when a woman trying to pass lost control and was t-boned by another vehicle. A one year old and four year old child both died in her car, her children. Because the highway is only two lanes where both accidents occurred, they happened within an hour of each other, the highway was closed from around 6pm to 3 am. The writer believes that traffic deaths in Alaska and elsewhere could be drastically reduced if anyone breaking the law at the time of an accident was automatically charged with first degree murder. The current method of trying to get people to obey traffic laws obviously isn’t working.

Onie worked on rearranging the contents of the freezer while the writer made notes.

Outside it was spattering rain, 61 and cloudy.

Even in the rain fish were being caught. Thirty seven thousand came in yesterday.

The lure of the grate with bending poles proved too much for the writer so he donned his rain gear and headed down to fish. For three hours the rain spit and spattered while the writer was stringing his six fish.

It was time to help Onie take stuff to the Thanksgiving in July event. Since intermittent rain continued several shelters were put up and tables placed under them.

Back home at nine the writer went to filet his fish and put them in the ice chest while Onie got fish from the drying racks in the shed, put it in the smoker and started the smoker. Then she rinsed the fish that was in brine and the writer placed it on the drying racks, seasoned it and started the fan drying it.

Onie started more fish in brine and then went to watch movies at ten.

The writer made notes.

RAIN

July 24, 2011-Sunday

We rose at eight thirty while it was misting and cold, 51, outside.

We had our Chai tea and coffee and visited before the writer was off to shower.

Back at 9:30, under light rain, he joined Onie for breakfast and then dressed for church.

In the car headed to church the rain continued with 56 degree temps. There was heavy traffic on Sterling Hiway with lots of folks coming and going from Anchorage.

At church a missionary spoke about work in remote Indian villages in Alaska.

Home after church the rain continued falling even harder and the temp dropped to 54.

We both had hot tea and ran the furnaces. The dampness made it seem colder than it really was. We read the paper and worked the Sunday crossword before going to bed to warm up.

Warmed up we got up and started more fish in the smoker, took fish out of brine and placed it on drying racks. The cooler and buckets were cleaned.

Even though the rain continued we emptied our tanks and Earl’s. Onie filled our fresh water tank and washed 4 cases of jars. She hopes to begin canning tomorrow.

Chores over, for the time being, the writer went to fish. The four flimsy fish he caught that wouldn’t make one good one discouraged him as he was tired and his back was protesting of any more flipping. When he broke off he went back to the house where Onie had a movie about to start.

At 8 we began the movie.

Outside it was raining.

Sleep came at 11.

Outside it was still raining and 51.