Easy Does It, old man, you got quite a scare..
. ..
Maybe I DO need that rest on the ferry.
To Haines. Made it in plenty of time,
and had a Salmon Benedict breakfast even though it was late afternoon.
With the sun acting the way it does, nobody cares.. Wow. I cannot
believe how that fresh fish tastes compared to anything else I’ve ever
had. The succulent flesh smells sweet, those Kings have been swimming
a few short hours before I tear into the meal. There are also three
Gold Wings parked there, one with a trailer big enough to carry two of my
bikes. Never saw the owners though.
'bought more film and checked in at the
ferry office. All my paranoia about needing a reservation is for
naught, the nice lady still says they can always get on another biker.
Great, but a schedule now shows my craft isn't due in until tomorrow.
I went to find a campsite, relax, and see some fishing, and I got lucky:
<--- My friend here was just
watching, looking around and at me when I took this. I was just idling
down the road in third, rubbernecking around and saw a little flutter just
under the sunshade of my helmet. By the time I stopped, I was right
under him.
I slowly drew out the camera, changed
lenses to the 200 mm. and he was, by that time, more interested in the water
than he was of me. As soon as I shot, I was sure I scared him as he
launched off the limb. I tried a snap shot, but although I had him centered,
it is all blurry. I followed him over the road and he soared out to
the middle of the river.
That's him, just flaring to jump
on a salmon out by that sand bar. He got it, but when he is on the ground
there is just no detail for you to see.
Now, where is my Celestron C8 with
my Nikon at prime focus? Damn bikes, you can't carry anything... .
So, I find a campsite:
This "campsite" is just about a quarter mile past the eagle
you just saw. The whole place is overrun with fishermen, trying for
the run of (I think) King salmon.
I feel a slight mist in the air, and accidently roll down
off the road into a picnic shelter. I figure if anybody really wants
to use it, I'll get off the table and they can make a fire and we will all
eat hearty. Heck, nobody showed.
Hey, at least my disk brake is clean. Pretty cool
huh?
Next day, back to town in a lazy, unhurried pace. I
buy more film, and mosey on down to the docks.
It’s 1:35 p.m. and my ferry, the Malastina, just hove
into view and is coming about to the loader. I take the obligatory frame
and now will prepare to board. See those cabin windows? I never
checked them out but the word is they are pretty plush for a ferry.
Check 'em out, if you have time.
On the FERRY
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© 1997 - 2001 Mike LeDuc