Alaska dispatch: Another day of nothing in Cordova
It’s raining here. The rivers are flooded so there is no fishing.
It’s not windy so the ferry left today. I wasn’t on it. There were too many people ahead of me who have been trying to get out of here for going on two weeks now. I was supposed to be on a plane back to Virginia tonight. I called the airline and open-ended my reservation.
The wind returns tonight. I am betting the ferry will be canceled Saturday and Sunday so I have no hope of catching a standby ride out of here. I have a reservation for Monday. To say I am praying for the wind to lay down on Monday would be a huge understatement.
I told my boss I would have a column for Sunday. I have no idea what I will write about. Maybe all the things I like and dislike about this rental RV that has been my shelter for more than three weeks now?
So while I mull that over I have been catching up on Outdoor Writers Association of America administrative tasks.
I just made myself a bacon, egg and cheese English muffin for lunch. It was tasty.
Small victories, folks. Small victories.
September 21, 2012 - 6:29 PM
Hang in there mark. I thought I drew the short weather straw with all the rain on my trip but you have that beat.
Mark, an article about the RV and its use in Alaska would be great. It is something my wife and I have been thinking about doing since we visited Alaska several years ago. We would like to go back and the RV concept is interesting.
Column idea?
How about something along the lines of the upcoming youth day deer hunt. Ya know,who plans on being out there,their strategy and such. I will be out there with my daughter once again but only for the second time in the hopes I can get her on a deer for her first. If that happens then almost all of my goals will be complete. I then have to get the little man out there when he gets a bit older.
Mark, just keep repeating – ‘It’s all part of the Alaskan adventure…’
Even though you are stranded and suffered a lot of inclement weather, I still envy you, as do most of your readers, I’m sure.
Hope the weather lays down for you Mark so you can finally head for home today…as much fun and adventure as you have had I know you are ready to see your family in the lights of home. Good luck.
Thanks for writing about the not-so-great times as well. Hunting & fishing trips are not just about God-inspired sunups & sunsets, beautiful animals in their native habitat and the beauty of the natural world. Sometimes it’s about being wet ‘n cold, nearly freezing to death, and sincere thoughts about why you ever burned precious vacation time to make that trip in the 1st place.
Look on the bright side Mark, you have experienced something many people do not get to experience. Hopefully you will get a chance to go back to Alaska in July or August to see it from a different perspective. Also, on a brighter note, when/if you make it back to VA, just kidding, when you make it back, you will note the change in the leaves and the fact that fall is upon us and its time to think HUNTING! as if we aren’t thinking it alot of the time already.
Mark, remember that flooding water pushes the fish into the eddies and if you can find or get to a good eddy, they will often still bite if you can get something in there to them. But I know you know that, and it sounds like you just need to get the heck outta Dodge, anyway. Sorry about the wind. It is cool and beautiful here in my new digs on the Chesapeake, and the fish are biting! Still, I know the experience is one I would have loved to have had. Safe travels.
Mark, I cannot believe you are still there! Remember what I said at the beginning of your trip about being jealous I wasn’t there with you?
Ah, scratch that.
Hang in there buddy. Praying you get out on Monday. I am sure you miss your family, and that they are ready to have you home. Hope you don’t get too lonely up there.
Hope you were able to catch that Ferry Today !!!