Choppy

by GrowingFlowers

The alarm rang at 4:30, it took a while to get up. Finally Falko made some coffee and we urged the kids to get moving. We were going fishing early in the morning!

I bundled. Oh my gosh, I was going to be warm enough. I wore long johns, jeans closed with a safety pin and Emily’s snow pants. Because Emily’s legs come up to my shoulders, the snow pants were extra warm – my entire belly too! 

I won’t list the layers on top, the ski socks, the fleece hat. It felt balmy outside. It was dark and dewy as we all trudged across Frederick’s park, under the Eucalyptus trees, down the stairs and towards the dark harbor. The gulls were wild and loud, some boats had lights on.  A fisherman walked by with knee length rubber boots and shorts. A fleece on top. He definitely wasn’t prepared like I was. 

We loaded up the boat, bagels and cream cheese, water, squid for bait. More bait like contraptions. Jared got the poles out, the fishing net ready. And we puttered out. We followed two small fisher boats towards the ocean. 

Then we flew over the waves, it got choppier and choppier – windier and windier. We went to Davenport. Little white caps on the waves and the boat pitched from side to side. We put out our lines – but Jared was afraid we were drifting too quickly for Halibut. I was just busy not being nauseous. And that took a lot of work. Calm views. Don’t move. Don’t look at anything. I thought I may be in for it. 

But Jared and Emily said the wind was too nutty, it was too choppy. So we headed back in towards quieter water. As we were flying along at breakneck speed – the boat jumping up and down – all of a sudden an entire wave and wall of water splashed over us all into the boat. Kaya – who was front line and standing at the windshield was practically a drowned self. All of us were soaked. Wet – salty. We laughed a ton! It was so surprising to be drenched. My ski pants were waterproof and I didn’t notice the water. Others were soaked. My camera too. 

But we persevered! We wanted dinner.  We followed a blue whale for a while – the spraying water from the blowhole our clue. We saw her come up and slide back down …but she was quick. We saw harbor porpoises and a seal.

The foghorn chanted it’s low and consistent sound in the background. The sea lions on the buoy barked excitedly every once in awhile. I love being on the boat – love the quiet, the sweet excitement of the girls. Their determination.  Emily fell asleep on the bow – Jared calmly explaining and helping as always. Falko joking. Laughing. Brownies were eaten with squid stained hands. 

Jared filleted the fish at the public cutting board. I loved standing there and watching the gulls diving in and grabbing pieces, a cat hiding and peeking out waiting for some of the fish entrails to fall. The fishermen were quick with their cuts – Jared too. Kaya wanted to learn how. A small couple from Taiwan told us our Rock-fish was a good one and asked for their heads. The woman chopped them up as we watched. 

We went home, I got in the bath and couldn’t get out. I felt like my bathtub was a boat, but the water was inside and I was swaying back and forth still. And now, on the couch, under a blanket, I am still rocking back and forth. The girls are in bed reading – it’s still gray and cloudy outside. 

Falko and Jared are rigging the boat for Salmon tomorrow. Falko is beyond enthusiastic.  It will be another early morning after a late night of fish and chips! 

About these ads