August 15, 2007

It rained all night and was still falling at nine. The thermometer stood at fifty when Onie rose at nine.

She made coffee and tea and my first cup was begun at nine thirty. Onie was due a respite from kitchen duty so the writer made apple blueberry pancakes and boiled some sausage. The daily crossword was completed along with breakfast and then we turned to domestic chores.

Onie cleaned house while I tended to the gray water tank with the blue boy and filled the holding tank with fresh water. One of these years we will figure out how many gallons of fresh water we use in a summer. It will certainly depend on how much fish we process and how many times we smoke fish. Both require a lot of water.

While the domestic duties were being tended to Bill and Nancy came by. They were on their way to Trustworthy to buy some fishing gear. When they bought new rods in Houston they had purchased seven footers. Most folk here fish with rods of at least eight and a half feet. The additional length seems to make the flip, drag and snatch easier to perform and the wear and tear on the body is lessened. With this knowledge and the experience gained in the last few days they are going to buy eight and a half foot rods. In addition they will get hooks, swivels, snaps, weights, a bonker and some stringers. We helped then with their shopping list and specifications before they left for Soldotna.

With the chores at an end Onie and I went to fish in the drizzle. We managed two reds and three silvers before the Hagars got back with their new gear.

While Bill’s overall health has shown a dramatic improvement his eyesight hasn’t kept pace. As a result he needed some help in tying hooks and rigging his new rods. We took a break to help with that and when the task was completed we returned to the river along with him. It takes time to transition from a seven foot rod to an eight and a half foot rod but he did well hooking three. I took a break for a sausage snack and to make a few notes before returning to the river where two more reds were strung.

We headed to Custom at six thirty but hurried back for hamburgers and skillet potatoes.

Anxious to land a fish with his new gear Bill headed back to the river with me in tow. Onie and Nancy settled in for more dominoes. Even though Bill and I stayed on the grate until ten when a marauding band of mosquitoes drove us in we didn’t manage any more fish.

Nursing several bites we joined the ladies at the domino table where we stayed until eleven thirty.

While Onie prepared for bed and a little TV some notes were put down so that an honest rendition of the days activities could be reported at a later date. With that completed I joined Onie where I dozed until she turned off the tube at one thirty. We both slept.

August 16, 2007

Birthday wishes were left on her voice mail after we sang the birthday song to her. Today she joined Onie in age marking another year of being sister, Mom, nurse, Sunday School teacher and friend. We were sorry we had missed her but hoped to hear from her soon as it had been a while since we had talked to Martha.

My other two siblings, Margaret and John, don’t get mentioned here for birthdays as Margaret shares January with me for her birthday. John was an April baby so his birthday comes before we are traveling and writing, too. But we do try to wish them happy birthday and sing to them as well. So far we haven’t been hung up on but then no one has answered their phone either.

It was fifty five, not Martha’s age, at nine thirty under overcast skies. Onie had risen at nine and had the beverages and breakfast ready half an hour later; grits, eggs, and sausage.

After breakfast, with rain falling, Onie went off to shower while I sat and worked on notes and agency business. Four hours later my turn in the shower was taken.

Nancy and Bill went to town before we rose and returned at two.

Every one headed for the river. By six there were six on my stringer, Bill, Nancy and Onie had all gone down swinging. Their score was zero, zero, zero.

In all fairness the girls had quit early to go shop for supper the entrée for supper; king crab legs.

Bill and I took the fish to Custom at six thirty and returned home to find salads on the table. They were followed by a pound of king crab, each, and zucchini at eight.

We lingered at the table visiting about various things including fishing, hunting, racing and model airplanes. At eleven they said goodnight.

Onie headed for the bedroom and sleep. Yours truly tarried at the laptop until two fleshing out stories for three days.

The thermometer rested on fifty two when the lights went out.

August 17, 2007

Onie is to the point of almost being driven to finish her book. She was up at eight, reading. She had made the coffee and tea when I joined her at nine thirty for oatmeal, bacon and sausage.

Outside the sun was trying to break through the overcast sky.

More work remained to be done for Tom Blomstrom Insurance Agency so that was tackled before the writing resumed.

At eleven Onie led us to the river where the fishing was better than it had been in some time.

A new twist had been added though as the fish had declared war and began fighting back. One such critter had launched a one ounce round ball at my head after having had a hook impaled on his dorsal fin. Everyone on the grate saw him as he broke water, jumping and twisting, aiming at my head, just before letting the ball fly. He had stretched the line taut and when he released the hook from his fin the ball came speeding at my head at something approaching the speed of light. I should have dodged. Instead I ducked. Dodging would have allowed the ball to pass harmlessly by and lodge in the trees behind me. Ducking presented the top of my head, instead of my forehead, as a target. The fish’s aim was true and the ball struck with great force opening a two inch gash in my scalp. As the ball flew by the hook, which was in hot pursuit of the ball, snatched the cap from the top of my head. When the ball reached the end of the line it rebounded and headed back to the river taking the hook and cap with it. When my sight cleared, I had been momentarily stunned by such an act of aggression, the ball, hook and cap rested in the river. Dizzily I bent over to retrieve all of them barely avoiding a dip in the river as my world spun about me. A minute later the headache which would last two days set in. Whether or not this angry red salmon ever reaches the spawning beds and fertilizes hundreds of eggs is yet to be seen but if he does one can rest assured that in the years to come fishermen will be subjected to much harassment and injury by his offspring.

Bandaged but not beaten fishing was resumed and was still ongoing when Bill and Nancy began fishing. When the fish battle was over for the day it was Onie six, Tom six, Bill six, Nancy two, and fish--one human wounded but not strung.

Two coolers were taken from the grate, full of fish, and placed in the back of the Subaru then Bill and I headed off to Custom.

After dropping the fish off, on the way back to the coach and supper, Bill opined as how his blood sugar may have dropped while we were fishing, he is diabetic, and perhaps a scoop or two of ice cream would stabilize it until we got back home. We whipped right into the parking lot of Coldstone Creamery where an emergency scoop was administered. Not wishing to be anti-social I joined him having a scoop of Rocky Road.

During the fishing wars the girls had managed a trip to Freddies and a few games of dominoes.

When we had left for Custom Nancy had prepared a salad while Onie tried a new recipe, stuffed salmon. To this entrée was added broccoli and at seven thirty and a few mouthfuls later we pronounced the new recipe a winner.

The after dinner visit was short with them leaving at ten thirty to go to the lodge to start packing for their return trip home.

We watched Court TV for half an hour before calling it a day.

August 18, 2007

We were up before eight thirty. Inside and out it was cool, forty four outside and fifty eight inside. The electric heater was turned on and soon took the chill out of the inside air. It would be several hours before it warmed up outside, if it did.

With tea and coffee brewed Onie worked on getting breakfast ready. Bill and Nancy had said they would be over about eleven. Packing took a little longer than expected and they arrived at noon.

Soon we sere seated eating scrambled eggs, bacon and biscuits.

After the meal a handle was fashioned, out of Gorilla tape, for the box containing the art work they had bought from Norman Lowell. Then the fishing gear was prepared for travel and stowed in our basement. It will make the trip with us and be returned to them the first time we get together for a domino game, back in Texas.

At one thirty everything was packed and loaded. Their car was at hand and they were ready to begin the journey to Anchorage.

We had given them a map to the airport as their faith in Miss Garmin had suffered much on their trip down. We stood hand in hand as they drove out the drive.

A flapping awning brought me back to tasks needing attention. With a ladder, borrowed from Duaine, I climbed up and tightened the anti flap devices, quieting the awning for another time.

Next we stripped our bed, sorted the laundry and headed for the machines. While Onie was tending to that chore the black and gray water tanks were emptied and more fresh water taken on. While the fresh water tank was filling Stu came by and asked if I would help him remove the battery from his dually. He leaves it here for the winter and doesn’t want the battery to freeze. After shutting off the water we took out the battery and placed it in the bed of his small truck. He will take it to Anchorage and store it there. The fresh water tank filling was completed and I headed to the river for a few minutes.

Twenty minutes later it was time to shower for supper on the deck. The fishing had been a good respite from chores. I had hooked five fish and landed two of them, a red and a silver. Neither had hurled any lead at me. They were added to Sid and Barb’s stringer.

Showered and in fresh clothes we headed for the deck and prime rib time. When Kurt returned from Iowa he brought with him two friends, Joel and Jeff. In addition he had brought numerous prime rib roasts. La Von had been busy all day cooking them.

LaVon

Tonight was another pot luck supper on the deck of the lodge. As an added treat Margarite, Mike’s wife, was playing the keyboards. She is a concert pianist as well as a vocalist. She played every request except Rhapsody in Blue. For that she needed a full blown piano.

Margarite

Onie took her, by now, famous cabbage salad. Sonny tried to hijack the whole bowl on the way in but it eventually was rescued by LaVon and added to the rest of the buffet items. When the meal was over Allen once again walked away with the leftovers.

Amy and Allen

In addition to the prime rib we also had pork ribs, baked potatoes, two veggie trays, cold slaw, baked beans, olives, macaroni salad, two trays of deviled eggs, and rhubarb pie and bread pudding for desserts.

Fed and relaxed folks sat back to enjoy the music in the cooling night air but the music was getting hot and soon folks were up dancing.

Shirley and Tom

Sandy and Mike

The cold finally drove Onie and me off the porch at ten but some folks stayed until eleven and we could hear the music and laughter even with the door and windows closed.

Those who stayed late walked home in the rain. It had misted on us but those who stayed late were soaked if they didn’t hurry.

Onie watched Court TV while I dozed. Later with the rain falling steadily we fell asleep.

August 19, 2007

The wind was blowing and the rain beat down. It was fifty three when the clock read eight. Coffee and tea were made, the paper was read and notes were made.

Onie got up at nine and we had our Cheerios and banana before heading off to church.

Safeway was our first stop after church, at twelve thirty. It was on to Freddies at one where we stopped for fuel and produce before heading home arriving at two.

The rain had gone and there was less wind.

Onie’s allergies were bad. We worked a crossword and then went to bed where we watched the History Channel. Ice Road Truckers was on. We watched three episodes during which time I napped some.

Onie started a movie and I went off to fish.

On the grate six fish were strung and I was back in the coach at eight after delivering the fish to Custom.

Swashbuckling Errol Flynn was starring in Sea Hawks. It was a fast moving sea story that appealed to the romantic in me. It was Errol Flynn night and the next movie was the one that made him a star, Captain Blood. It was over at two.

Onie had slept fitfully but finally at one o’clock she took an allergy pill.

When it took effect at three thirty she went to sleep and slept soundly all night. It was hoped it was the beginning of her recovery from allergies and lack of sleep.

August 20, 2007

It was very cloudy when Pawpaw rose at nine. The wind had laid and there was a complete calm and quiet about the camp. The cool fifty three degrees added to the sensation of solitude and peace.

While the coffee and tea brewed papers were picked up, a shirt jacket hung in the closet, caps gathered and rearranged on the dash and a general straigthening up attempted.

Sitting at the computer with a cup of tea notes were made and stories fleshed out a bit.

Looking out the window eyes fell on a campground that was already beginning to show the signs of a summer drawing to a close. Its seasonal residents are thinning out. Frank Friddle,  just across the yard from us, has been gone for a week now. His rig is locked, the flowers are fading, the slides are in, the awning is rolled up, the barbeque pit has been stored and all his canning gear has gone south, with him. He should be home now in the hills of South Carolina.

Out the back of the coach Bill (Stu) and Shirley Sturgis’ camper is closed. It takes them several days to prepare to leave but the packing and planning had been completed yesterday, as we watched TV, and they left for Anchorage where Stu has an eye appointment. They will visit family in Anchorage a couple of days before heading on to the outside, lower forty eight.

Sid and Barb Johnson are getting their utility trailer ready to travel.  They, like Frank, Stu and Shirley, leave their fifth wheel here year round. The trailer sits in front of their space and items that have been stored in it all summer are under their awning waiting to be sorted through, abandoned, repacked or given away. Their two chest freezers which sat under the front of the fifth wheel and the awning are in the trailer, running on electricity delivered by extension cords.

Talk in camp is now about preparing to leave even though the fishing and smoking go on. All the canning is complete and the tins or jars have been packed. In only a couple of weeks the camp will be virtually empty. We, Duaine and Bonnie, and Sonny and Birdie, are planning on exiting the day after Labor Day. Richard and Mary will leave the next day. Doris is staying the winter, in the lodge.

A few weeks after we have gone the place will see its first snow fall and then winter will begin in earnest. Twenty to twenty five feet of snow will be seen here before our return next spring. In the meantime we will enjoy these last few days.

Onie slept soundly as the writer jotted on and when she rose at noon she looked much more rested and sounded much improved.

She enjoyed some Freedom toast and sausage with her coffee before returning to bed for more rest and recuperation.

Neglect of the laptop had caused me to fall several days behind in recording our comings and goings. It was back to expanding and expounding as several days were recorded and left to wait for Onie to do her magic getting them ready to be posted.

Tired of writing the scribbler joined Onie for a nap before heading out to fish at five. In two hours two fish were strung.

Onie had risen to create a salad and some got to for supper. The got to was a combination of things we got to eat or throw away. The got to was really good. We followed it with green grapes, cherries and chocolate covered macadamia nuts for dessert.

The daily crossword occupied me as we grazed along while Onie watched LMN.

After supper it was back to the laptop until nine when Onie lured me to the TV with Millionaire and then it was Court TV until half past twelve.

Outside the rain fell.

The rain was still falling at eight. The fifty two degree air outside had chilled the inside of the coach so we ran the electric heater while the coffee and tea brewed. Then a few games were played before attention was paid to note making.

There didn’t appear to be any great rush to get to the grate as no one was there, a sure sign that the fish weren’t running. There were no reports by phone on the number of fish passing the sonar counter in Soldotna, a sign the state employees hadn’t been too anxious to post the numbers. A quick pass was made through the paper before Onie rose to fix eggs, sausage and biscuits at noon.

The crossword was a little bit of a challenge as they become progressively harder as the week passes.

Richard came by at one to check on tomorrow’s leave time for a halibut trip. A call was placed to Lisa and when there was no answer a message was left on her machine asking her to call.

Then it was off to the shower at one thirty.

Clean, in clean clothes and refreshed a short walk around the camp to Kurt’s rig and Duaine’s, was made to make transportation plans for the trip and to let them know that we would leave at three unless we were advised otherwise.

Later fishing occupied our time with a limit being caught and given away to Sid and Barb.

In the evening Larry called and said he couldn’t get the boat out of the basin until about six thirty in the morning, it would be too dark. Daylight is failing and that is a sure sign winter is coming on, fast.

Another walk around the park was made to tell the guys we could leave at three thirty instead of three. Then more writing was done before retiring with Onie to watch a little TV. The set was turned off at eleven.