Out of the AK

There has been some time that has passed since my last entry. I didn't have any time in town in between trips to upload anything. After the offloads, the plant sent us out as soon as we could get out there. A season does bring rougher seas then B season did in the fall. The peaks to the swells were much sharper then I had seen before. The difference of being in a much smaller boat is easily noticeable as well. Only being out at sea for only a couple of days at a time verses a month to a month and a half, sea legs are never really gained. You are also always combating sea sickness. Out at sea for 4-5 days, in port for 1-2 then back out to sea, your equilibrium can never get into the rhythm it needs to. I never felt nauseated really though. The sea sickness just left me with pounding head aches and feeling as if my ears needed to be popped but couldn't.

The Captain and crew of this cruise ended up being perfect for me. They were all had kids in the Jr. high age group and had been fishing with one another for quite a long time. It was great watching them work together never really having to tell each other what they were doing or what they were expecting the others to be doing. Everything on the boat had a routine also beyond the fishing. Once I found my place in that routine, things went very smoothly. It's harder than you might first think to find that routine among these people that have literally made this boat home for the past 10 winters and falls. Its as if you were forced to have some young, just out of college, know it all come live in a guest room on your property. You have to provide for him as if he was your child, yet you can't "demand" that he really do anything. Also, his work, his job, is to report all that you do in the day to your boss. Trying to find a way to make that situation work is the toughest part of my job. The dichotomy of a professional and personal relationship with the captain and crew has to be strongly established within the first few hours when you first meet. If I can't, then the next month is spent trying to. Everything seemed workout great with this crew, and I think all the credit goes to the professional and respectful way in which they work and handle themselves. Of course they expect the same manner of work ethic and respect in return from anyone working and living on the boat. Once that was established, I had a great time working with and living with this crew.

I am now back in Seattle after this short, one month stint into the Bering Sea. I had to come home early for a wedding I could not miss for the world on March 7th. After which I am going to try and head back to AK as soon as I can so that I can start making money again here shortly. An other trip will probably within a new fishery. Which comes with a new boat, captain and crew. Starting all over again learning, working, living out at sea. Trust me, there is nothing like waking up to a breakfast of coffee, eggs, bacon, and the smell of the ocean. I don't know how much longer I will doing this job, but that sensation I just described will always tug at me to keep doing it.

- Casey

Also, Danny Pecka. I don't have a witty blog of completely factual information of his ridiculously awesome life to throw at the world. But he is a damn good friend. I love you buddy. Keep on . . . Keepin' on. . . Keep Truckin' . . .
He has a great blog that he has been doing for about a year now of his job as he travels over the North West in his car. He has some strange takes on what he sees that will have you asking yourself, " . . . What?" as you snort laugh with his humor. Check it out.

http://dannypecka.blogspot.com/

I'm not just putting this on here because he wrote a completely factual blog about me, his stuff is super hilarious, and I know you'll all get a kick out of it.