I'm on a boat!

So... I bought a boat...




YEAH!!!

When I applied for the job at the Pilot, my boss told me the last reporter, Tozzo, sold his car and bought a boat... I thought to myself... 'huh... maybe I'll need one too' well sure enough you need a boat when you live on an island! I am really excited about exploring and getting to the various forest service cabins around the Tongass National Forest. Crabbing and fishing will also be a positive...

It is a 16 foot Lund Aluminum "skiff"

It has an 88 HP Johnson with an 8 HP kicker, came with the trailer and all sorts of goodies...

After doing research and talking to EVERYBODY about their preference for boats, I came to the conclusion that a canvas top is essential in Southeast, seeing as how we do live in the largest temperate rainforest in the world, rain squalls are common...

The boat actually belonged to Ed Sarff, the Petersburg City Councilman who passed away that I wrote an obituary about.

Ed took good care of the boat, the body doesn't have a single ding, he was the original owner and kept good care of the engine. It has power tilt and trim and came with extra fishing gear and a downrigger. It also has a livewell, walkthrough windshield, open bow and separate controls for the main motor and kicker.

I am pretty excited about it to say the least.

Erin and I took it out for a spin last Thursday, packed along our barbecue and had a nice relaxing meal in the Wrangell Narrows.



The next day I did some preventative maintenance, oiled it, greased it, changed spark plugs, and it PURRRRSSS!

Unfortunately that thing called work got in the way this week, so Friday or Saturday will be the next chance to take it out for a spin.

On Friday afternoon we went out to a friends cabin halfway down Mitkof Island. He bought the property four years ago, bought a small saw mill and built his own cabin!!! I was awestruck, it was a beautiful cabin of red cedar, he cut all the lumber at true dimensions, including the cedar siding. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture, next time.

Getting to his cabin is half the adventure, as he lives about a half mile off the road via a narrow path strewn with scrap lumber. Getting home was a little tricky, luckily we had a flashlight... for three of us to navigate the path... we made it back to the car unscathed after only a few wrong turns.

The fact that Alaskan residents can subsistence hunt and fish is pretty awesome. Add to that you can also cut down a certain amount of board feet of lumber each year.

Here is a picture of some of our new friends playing some tunes, Chris is an AMAZING mandolin player...



On Sunday, while Erin worked at Java Hus, I went with some friends up the Stikine River about 30 miles to some hot tubs fed by hot springs, it was an awesome day. We had some fun trying to navigate up there, hit the tubs for a few hours and headed back to a beach to grill up some brats...

Heading up the river


This is part of the slough to the hot tubs.


it got to 3 or 4 inches at times...

Dana, Rossi and I in the tubs


We had some Brats on the way out




On the way out we got a little stuck...



Made it home a little wet but safe and all in all had a great time, although in the morning rush I did forget to call mom to wish her a happy mothers day... whoops... Love you mom!

I have had a pretty hectic few days researching a story involving the city of Angoon and some hydropower projects, I pissed off their mayor and found some juicy morsels for the story, we'll see how it pans out.

Tonight Erin and I were invited to a crab boil at Sandy Beach Park, about a half mile from our apartment. Orin and I bought three dozen oysters, I had a few raw...



pretty good with some hot sauce and garlic oil!

Tomorrow we have practice for the softball team we are playing for in the Mayfest tournament. We have our first game Friday at 1:30. We have had a few practices so far, and MAN WAS I RUSTY!!!

I haven't been on a baseball diamond since 5th or 6th grade, but it is a pretty good time and after batting practice I am feeling pretty comfortable.

On Thursday Mayfest starts. Mayfest is the biggest festival in Petersburg and hundreds of visitors are streaming in every day. Festivities begin Thursday at the viking feast, complete with turkey legs and all the food you can eat with only your hands! should be fun.

Until next time...

Two months and counting!

We have been in Petersburg for two months! Two months and four days to be exact.

Oh how time flies when you are having fun!

I have found that work at the paper is quite rewarding. I have had a few letters and calls from people who liked my stories. My most rewarding compliment came from the widow of a man I wrote an obituary about. I spent a significant amount of time trying to showcase his contributions to this community, and the compliment was greatly appreciated.

I have dealt with a few politicians lately, including the lone Alaska U.S. representative Don Young and local state representative Peggy Wilson, as well as gubernatorial candidates Bob Poe and Hollis French. Gotta love election season.

The hottest topic so far has been the local city employees union that has clashed with the city manager over contract talks. A mediator has been called, and the whole situation has been heavily debated...

I also covered a story of a house that burnt down... quick newsbite right?

Wrong... I got a phone call a week after the house burned down from a couple who had arranged a public auction that raised $16,000 for the couple with the destroyed house... amazing. The recipient couple said they would never want to live anywhere else...



I was blown away by the strong sense of community and how much they cared, mobilizing in such a short time and even in a time of economic strife they were able to band together. The couple said they have had hundreds of visitors, even people they didn't know came knocking...

I had the chance to do a follow up article on the group of pro-skiers that were in town, it included an amazing photo from one of the photographers here (unfortunately I can not post it here due to copyright issues).

I also completed my first video project for the Petersburg Pilot, about the salmon hatchery located out the road on the south end of Mitkof Island.

Crystal Lake Hatchery moves smolt from Pilot Publishing on Vimeo.

April 20 marked the centennial celebration of the inception of the city of Petersburg, the day was celebrated with a town photo at the ball fields, with about 1500 residents showing up.



I took some photos of the event. That night there was a fireworks show, I had some fun with the newspaper camera.




Since day one in Petersburg I have had an itch to buy a boat, and as of last week buying a boat has become a top priority. Today I found a boat I am extremely interested in, right size, equipment and price range. And Erin is interested in it too — bonus!

Erin is quite the busy bee, working at the semi-weekly produce stand, coffee shop and as a substitute teacher. My favorite job of hers is at the produce stand, gotta love the fresh fruit. I was even forced to buy a bag of potting soil for some herbs she picked up! Chives and Oregano, hopefully more to come.

Tina's, the mexican/korean restaurant in town opened two weeks ago, we have been busy taste-testing their food (somebody's gotta do it!) So far the halibut cheek tacos are my favorite, with the korean beef a close runner up.

And as a treat we had pizza for dinner tonight, $25 for a large pepperoni and sausage!!!!! man was I spoiled in college with the $6 hot-n-ready deal.

I went crabbing with some friends last weekend, kept 5 dungeness crabs and one tanner crab, we had quite the feast that night...

don't worry we didn't eat it all that night!

Erin and I were invited to be on a softball team for the upcoming Mayfest celebration. I have not stepped onto a baseball field since sixth grade, so it was quite interesting... I did get some batting practice in and feel WAY better about helping the team in a few weeks.

The mayfest celebration has quite a few locals excited, and I am intrigued to see some of the traditions... something about a viking feast and a jail. From the pictures it should be interesting, Petersburg is slowly waking up and becoming more lively as summer approaches...

There was a costume party at a friends house a week ago...

I was a ghost, Erin was straight from the 80's

Last week the Pilot published 8000 copies of the Wrangell visitor guide. I was recruited to staple and cut the copies down to their usable size. Only one mishap so far as I came millimeters away from chopping off my index finger with the stapler. Lets just say it isn't your run of the mill red swingline stapler...

After stapling the guides they are moved through a "three blade cutting device" that is one of the craziest machines I've seen. Upon stacking your bundle of guides, you push start and stand back as it shoots the guides through a maze of razor sharp blades before shooting them out the other side clean and ready for distribution.

Before I finish this post I want to mention how thankful I am that both my dad and grandpa's recent surgeries were successful, I wish them both healthy and speedy recoveries. They are both extremely strong individuals and two of the most influential people in my life, I love you both.

Grandpa and I at my graduation last May...


I couldn't resist this one of dad... dead sexy


I also wanted to throw out a thank you... because of a generous gift from Auntie Anne, I bought a bicycle and Erin and I have really enjoyed being able to bike to and from work. (I've only had to call a few times requesting pickups in the car due to rain!) (more on this subject to come in the next blog entry)

Tomorrow I am taking the prospective new boat for a test ride, followed by a few hours of cutting... until next time