Saying goodbye to May

May 27 - 28, 2013

We spent the early hours of Memorial Day cleaning Jerry’s house for the afternoon retirement party for the outgoing Chief and Assistant Chief of Juneau PD.  Jerry made some excellent pork ribs and everyone got a taste from his new hobby, brewing.  Overstuffed, we watched a disappointing display of hockey as our Red Wings fell to the Blackhawks…better result is EXPECTED Wednesday.

Tuesday started out as sunny and hot as any Michigan summer morning in July…watching and learning some of the finer points of the GILL NET.  The net they use mostly has 6” webbing, is 30 feet tall, 1200 feet long, with floats along the top, and lead weighted line along the bottom.  When fishing, it is stretched out perpendicular to the shore and salmon swim into the net.  The webbing catches the fish in the gill plates and undersized fish swim through unharmed.  The fisheries in Southeast Alaska utilize the 6” webbing for the majority of the ten week season but nearing the end, the fisherman have the option of sizing down to their 5 3/8” webbing.  After the switch over, very large fish can be missed but the smaller are caught.  An exception would be the large males jaws begin to hook as they near sexual maturity and they are caught by their teeth becoming entangled in the netting.

A 6” Gill Net measures the long axis of the diamond when fully stretched taunt

 Lead shot filled rope holds the gill net near the bottom

 
 Floats keep the top of the net near the surface

Ian prepping his needle for mending the net

Temperature reached 74 today so we lounged a bit, built three bird houses, shopped for Jerry’s next brew and I bought a new gold pan…can’t wait to try it out next week.  I’ll send everyone a plane ticket when I strike it rich.

May 29, 2013

Up and at it, 5:30am to hop on the HAINES bound ferry.  Forecast predicts this is the last gorgeous JUNEAU day for the next week but who knows, rain always falls sooner or later.  Blah, blah, blah, made it to GULKANA about 12:30 am.  However, I did have daylight all the way…saw several moose, dozens of caribou and my first interior grizzly/brown bear. 

 Miscellaneous shots form the ferry, glaciers and such

Survival boat aboard the ferry

 The ferry after I disembarked

May 30, 2013

I got a good and well deserved nights sleep and started the day with pop tarts.  Moved the Raptor to a better location on Jon’s property then helped Jon for the remainder of the day.  Most of the day we mixed concrete and poured it for his hangar floor then I helped with the brake lines on his Super Cub.  In between, I plugged in the Raptor and filled the water tank.  Jon took his plane for a spin in the area and I was impressed with what a small plane could do in such a small area.  Once everything was put away and cleaned up, Jon treated me to a couple of beers.  I hope to return the favor tomorrow.  

May 31, 2013

Back to work after coffee with Jon.  We started with post holes for the deck to the house and that required more cement mixing.  Finished around noon and began gathering logs for the deck.  Stationed them by the band mill and Jon went to cutting.  Jon had to leave for Wasilla after the two timbers were cut but he did show me where the gold dredging and panning equipment was.  I had lunch then used a draw knife to shave all the bark off four logs.  That was hard work so when I completed, I took a break and washed my truck.  Showered, washed dishes and did a load of laundry.  Bed will feel good tonight and I’ll try to sleep in.