Charlie continues to catch fish, we cleaned them and put them in the freezer so we can have Salmon to eat when we start heading back. Added 14 filets to the today.
Charlie is really liking his longer fishing rod, it lets him control the fish much easier - often he is just catching and releasing after two fish, until he decides he is done fishing and then catches one more to keep.
I tried to use the rod, but the handle is too long and heavy for me - so I am keeping with the shorter fishing rod.
August 8th, 2012
Drove back into Soldotna - stopped by the knife store, and got Connie to teach me how to use a sharpener I purchased there - they are a very nice couple who are retiring this year - have been coming up and working at the knife shop for 15 years. We have met folks who say they stop here every year when they come up to fish to have Walt sharpen their knives - I think they will be missed.
We wanted to go to the Farmers Market today - but the season is over, and it is clear that places are starting to shut down. Our laundry has closed and we washed in a different location today - sorta cool to be here when things are slowing down though.
Charlie bought a hat for one of the workers here, he is from North Carolina - so Charlie has been calling him "Carolina" and the other night, when the bears were pretty close, I was out pretty deep in our fishing hole, and making my way back when Carolina came over, pulled out his bear spray and told Charlie to make sure I got off the river, and he would take care of the bear. He then proceeded to stand and watch the bear as it made it's way toward us - and stood guard for me while Charlie walked over and walked me across the river. We thought that was an amazingly thoughtful, brave thing to do for anyone, much less someone who really doesn't know us, so Charlie wanted to so something nice for him - so he bought him a Russian River hat and gave it to him today to remember this summer by. ( he will be going back to NC to go back to school - I would guess he was maybe 20?) I think T.J. ( his real name) was pretty taken back that Charlie did that for him. ( I don't think Charlie even told him why - just that he had really made an impression on us....)
This morning we ran into the guys from Austria again, it is two men and a young boy - with some very, very nice fishing gear. The boy always has on a bright, neon colored fishing shirt under his waders and is an amazing fisherman. The best part though is to hear how excited he gets when he catches a fish - he has a delightful accent and says " big fish!! Pretty Fish!! Lots of fish!!" Now to actually get the impact of the you have to say the quote with an Austrian accent - but Charlie and I say it now about many things when we see something big, or cool - as in Big fire - Pretty Fire - Lots of fire!! Okay, maybe one needs to be here to hear us to get it.... : )
When we went down to fish, there were really no fish in our fishing hole - so we started walking down the river to try a different part. When we walked down about halfway to the sanctuary - we tried fishing there and all of a sudden all these fish started swimming by - I mean LOTS of fish - so we turned around and headed back to the fishin' hole, and told the Austrians that the fish were on their way.... about 10 minutes later they started streaming in, there was just a constant stream of about 25 fish swimming by you at any given time. It is so awesome to see that here - even if we were not trying to catch them - but since we are, that is also very nice. : )
August 9th, 2012
Again, lots and lots of fish. Charlie and I just keep the ones we really want and release the others. I have caught several more of the larger ones that are starting to turn - a few of them are about 10 " high in the mid section - they get sooooo big when they start heading to spawn. We kept the one I caught today, and cleaned it and put it in the freezer whole. It was 27 " long - and we thought it was a good example of what the fish look like here.
The bears once again ran us off, we walked back and forth crossing the river depending on which side of the river the bear was on at the time.
We also hiked to the Russian Falls today. It was a long walk up hill, about 2 .4 miles, but when we got there we got to see the fish jumping up rapids trying to make it back to where they were born.
WOW - I have no idea how any of them ever make it - they jump, jump, and jump - finally make it up about 7 feet, and then swim on to only be washed back down with the water and have to do it all over again. I guess that ensure that only the strongest make it, and so they spawn the healthiest fish. I have seen it on TV before, but neither of us could believe it seeing it in person. We were pretty tired when we got back to camp but loved that we had gone up there to see it.
August 10, 2012
Today when Charlie was getting our spot for one more night, TJ came over and handed him two spoons and a spatula he had carved, and told him he wanted us to have them. They are pretty cool and remind me of utensils Michael carved one summer at camp. We both thought it was a very generous gift and we will treasure them. He also gave Charlie his contact information and told him to contact him if he was ever in NC and needed anything. We have met some astoundingly nice people on this trip.
Charlie went fishing this morning, but I slept in - he reported that there were more fish there this morning that ever! And of course I was sleeping.... : ) but we have plenty of fish, and I was tired, so still think it was a good choice.
We moved to site 33 which was a great double space, and I picked some more cranberries while Charlie built his last campfire here. We both said it is sad to be going, but even Charlie is ready to stop fishing - and that is saying a lot! We plan to get up, have breakfast and get moving toward Tok in the morning.
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