As the tide turns, a bushy soap opera

[tungularafishcamp]

Well folks, never made it thru high school so don't expect too much here, am just a bush rat in this modern era of internet and ez livin. So am just sittin here in my new man cave trying to figure out what to say.

Grew up mostly in suburbia as an air force brat, never found a place that felt like home I hit Kodiak island when I was 20 and it has been home ever since!

I bounced around on different big boats and different fisheries in both the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea until I had enuff of a nest egg to buy a gill net site at the S end of Kodiak. I would set net for salmon here for summers and then fish big boats all winter until I started makin babies then it was time to shift to smaller boats as you get more family time. Big boat fishing is great but the boat is your wife, your wife your mistress and your a stranger to your kids so it was an ez choice.

Funny thing was when I quit the big boat fishing and the sometimes big money it brings to get more home time my wife liked it better the other way around so left me for bluer pastures but I got 2 great daughters out of it and for some reason had way more money even though I was makin way less

Becoming a single dad just spent summers at fish camp for many years so kids could go to school and be civilized in town. Remarried and got 2 sons out of the deal and all the kids loved fishcamp til the middle teens then it was a prison camp/torture chamber, too bad we didn't have internet then, or maybe it was a good thing!

Kids are all out on their own now or off at college so am out here as much as I can be and still keep my current wife She is just winding up her career as a nurse, she loves it out here and it gives her time to work on her art.

I do dungeness crabbin, salmon, and halibut fishing now but other fisheries will keep coming and going. Am playing around with octopus fishing
now, building some experimental pots. Also added a couple of 20x50 high tunnels and started raising produce for a remote cannery near here.

We get all our electrical needs (except welding) met by a water wheel, and now have skype so life is pretty cush! From June thru August quite a few folks live out here but by sept 1st most are gone although there is a small village and the remote cannery not too far away.

Although there are a lot of freedoms here that I sometimes take for granted, til I travel anyway we still have all the rules and regs that everywhere else has and even get to pay borough(our version of a county) taxes for NO services as the ocean is the hiway/runway around here. Keep waiting for them to pick up the garbage but no luck so far:laughing:

Being out here alone much of the time you learn to figure out make things work, just usually not the "right" way. Not sure how I ever did it without a tractor, just had one for a few years but wow it makes life easier! Not sure how I ever had a tractor or did anything else out here before I found tractorbynet for the huge wealth of knowledge/help that is here as well as the comradery on here (and no I am not a communist Houston Scott)

Rick

PS Not really a man cave but the start of the new root cellar.

 

[mmurphy]

That is one great looking "Man Cave". I would love that area but, winter time blues from lack of sun in winter would be a killer on me! Does the Ice Road Truckers go by?

 

[MarkV]

Rick I am glad you posted a little history. For those of us that lived in the city your kind of isolation is hard to imagine. I have seen some photo's of your camp in the past how about a few more sometime. When do you come in for the winter or do you?

MarkV

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Rick,

Same questions as MarkV. Where do you go in winter, and more pictues PLEASE!

I assume you use a generator when welding. I also assume you have your own fuel depot you keep stocked.

Be well sir!
David

 

[k0ua]

Thanks for the Bio Rick, that was interesting, if you can please post some more pictures, and tells us what all you use your tractor for.
thanks

James K0UA

 

[Egon]

Thanks for the post. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Solitude is great for some. For me it would be great during midsummer but come the colder short days things would just fall apart.

Pictures would be interesting?:thumbsup:

 

[joemd11]

Excellent post Rick! Good to see how people in different areas live. Post some more pics when you get a chance as many of us will never get a chance to visit Kodiak. Oh, and watch out for those bears!

 

[tungularafishcamp]

:laughing:The call of nature got me up a little bit ago and was standing on the porch answering that call, hear a snort and a little 3 yr old bear was trying to get into the bait tote even with the deck lights on. A shout got him moving on his way.

I can get my fuel from the cannery that has several fuel barges in every year and it has large storage tanks so that makes it ez for me although payin for fuel is not so ez these days. $4.40 last fuel barge.

It seems like I use the tractor for about everything these days, movin boats motors, nets, fuel, fish, haulin kelp, building, mobile scaffolding,you name it not sure how I ever did it all without the tractor. I have put pics on many specific posts in the past but I will add a few here. Hughesnet is a little slow on the upload so I don't do too many at once.

Rick

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Other tractor uses

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Couple more I have of the old n new greenhouses

 

[My Hoe]

Rick,

Thanks for sharing. The closest I get to Alaska is watching "Deadliest Catch." LOL But I'm a fan of the place, from what I've read, heard and seen, ever since I was a kid. Always hoped to get up there, and still do, someday.

Are the boats on "Deadliest Catch" equivalent to the "big boats" that you mention? I, for one, would love to hear more about your fishing days--and hear your opinion of how realistic "Deadliest Catch" is.

I have experienced a similar isolation, as I "wintered over" one year, on an Island near the Canadian border, in an uninsulated, summer cottage, with an inadequate, under-sized, bolt-together, stamped-steel, small "garage stove" shoved into the fireplace. Five families on the island, in winter (200+ in summer). I'd stayed until Jan. before, but never until the Spring.

When I say "unuinsulated," I mean the kind of "uninsulated" where the Evil Day Star wakes you up by shining through the cracks around the windows, and doors.

I cheated with electric heaters and got a $900. power bill for my troubles (but that might have been the bill for 2 years--can't remember).

Sometimes (having closed off 200 of the 400 sq. feet) I'd get the living room up to about 105F, just for fun. But with that stove, you woke up cold. One morning it was 39F INSIDE. The 6' x5' bathroom WAS insulated, actually, so a small, electric heater could keep that above freezing, or warmer, if you wanted. No shower--kitchen sink baths. Heat the water on the stove, after hauling it on the dog sleigh, behind the quad or the snowmobile, from Harry's house.

With the wooden shutters left on, 24/7, for what little insulation they provided to the 1920's, single-pane, gappy windows, I could tell who went by by the sound of their unlicensed, uninsured, unregistered and often unmuffled vehicle (just like some I have--LOL). So could my dog--LOL

I saw -17F, at night, for a month straight, it seemed--0 was the "high" during that time. The River actually kept it warmer than the -40F 20 miles away, on the mainland. Not sure how that works, when the River was frozen. (?)

What are some of the temps you've seen, at your place or out on the boats?

I believe I read, in one of your posts, that you use your tractor on the beach, frequently--is that right? If so, I wondered if you've had any issues with salt water corrosion? (I'll bet our litigation-fearing town dumps more salt on our often DRY roads, ahead of storms, so that I'll end up with more rust than if I were splashing around in salt water.)

Thanks again for sharing, "comrade." (I think it just means "friend" or "brotha," if you want it to.) Plus, IMHO, I can't see were our current form of "Disaster Capitalism" is doing us many favors these days (unless you're on Wall St.!).

And in case no one's noticed, the Police, Fire, Military and Homeland Security are all SOCIALIST ORGANIZATIONS, (with the exception of VOLUNTEER fire depts.) because they are PAID by THE TAXES *gasp!* of "the people." So maybe more peoples and places should engage in the sort of "camaraderie" that exists HERE, at TBN, and think about how to "scale" it up! More small, local businesses--less Multi-National Corps.!

And I too understand the "paying mainland taxes but getting no services, like garbage pickup, etc..." thing. We do get some snowplowing of the gravel roads, believe it or not.

FUN FACT: Approx. only 25% of all big corporations actually paid any Federal income tax, in recent years.

Hey--maybe if more corporations paid their taxes, we could have garbage pickup, huh? Nahhhh..... :laughing:

Thanks again,

My Hoe

 

[stub]

I deer hunted from a boat in Olga Bay for a week. Interesting flight down from town - it was a little cloudy... Shot a buck on the 1st day on top of the mountain (1st mistake) boned him and packed him down 1 trip in a soft pack with rifle in one hand and the head in another. Every time I stepped crossways, the pack would roll and take me down. Pack was so heavy when I'd fall I couldn't get back up. Had to crawl out from under it and put it back on standing up. Didn't see any bears out hunting but I was wishing one would come along and take it away from me. About killed me getting it down through the alder brush to the beach. Captain said he'd sell me another tag so I could shoot another one. I said no thanks. Spent the rest of the week hanging out, hiking, fishing, pulling the crab traps. Did kill a nice fox. Skinned and froze him and brought him home in my carry-on bag. They didn't bat an eye when his head and feet went through the x-ray. Him and the deer are on the wall now for the memories. Special people in Alaska. Real nice place would love to go back some day. Take care

 

[Rockgod]

Had a few friends from high school move to Alaska, one to Kodiak Isl. He acted as a guide for a brief time but the "bush" ended up getting the best of him (went a little crazy) Last year he moved back home. That type of living isn't for everyone. I have a lot of respect for you and yours.


Very interesting, thanks for posting!

 

[beppington]

Your story is very interesting, Rick! Thanks! I realized after requesting that you post about your life in AK that I was kinda prying ... but glad you don't appear to have been bothered by it :thumbsup:

I've used Google Earth to zoom into areas all over the globe that I've never visited, & had become curious about people living in remote areas of Alaska, what that life is like, etc.

I did visit Fairbanks for a job for 4 days in Nov '07. One morning it was -17. I understand why you don't hang around too long for that :thumbsup:

 

[Western]

Rick, interesting post!! Like the "man cave":laughing: At least your "root cellar" appears to have some "roots"

Have any Halibut your way?? that would be fun. So the fishing you do is for commercial use, do you also sell to the cannery where you get your fuel?

I think I could handle the solitude much better than any "female" I've have known:laughing: i can certainly see how at least in the winter time, how the igloo would get a little "cramped":thumbsup:

 

[300UGUY]

Great post!! I don't think I could stand a winter up there, and I am from a French Canadian background. Curious about your greenhouses - heated ( I asuume yes ) A high tunnel tha is heated?

 

[bindian]

Rick,
Thanks for linking me here in your PM. How do you like that spiral log splitter. Does it work well?
hugs, Brandi

 

[Pete Judd]

I was up there on staff with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a while in Anchorage where our youngest son was born. For years after coming back to the lower 48, had a lot of customers to service up north. The reason I left, was that it was to far from my wifes family, and needed to keep every thing together. I loved it up there, but she was not happy. The kid that was born up there has made me a grandpa twice, and I am still with the great woman. I still have some land with a cabin south of Anchorage, that I see every couple of years. Every time I have been on Kodiak Island, it has been raining sideways.

Good to see history of others here on TBN

 

[bindian]

I've been to Alaska twice. Fairbanks in December. Nome and Ancorage in August. Loved it all.........but it was work both times.
hugs, Brandi

 

[tungularafishcamp]

:laughing:You folks are gonna make this computer idiot have to learn how to multiquote, lets see if I can remember all the questions but first thanks for all the responses, I am honored!

We have a mostly normal house (like in mortage, city water and such) in town, NE corner of Kodiak island, also called Kodiak with 13,000 or so folks, not sure if we are the 5 th or 6 largest town in the state now. Projects have kept me out at fish camp since the kids left home til Dec the last couple of years. Gotta be back in town by Thanksgiving this year or will be in trouble with the Admiral!

As soon as my wife quits her job we will try a couple of months in Oregon every winter then a month or 2 traveling and harassing our children! The dark is a pain here because of our maritime climate it doesnt get that cold just usually the high 20's and raining and blowing most of Dec, the cold starts in Jan but not like in the mainland. Ideally it would be nice to be out of here from mid Nov til mid Mar.

Dunno about Deadliest catch only seen part of the show a couple of times. A couple of friends that have had the film crews on their boat didn't want them back on their boat cause the film crew tried to stir up trouble between the fishing crew members to make it more Hollywood. I enjoyed my years of big boat fishing immensely, I remember one time in tough weather we were one of the few boats that could still haul crab gear, the skipper is pumping us up with how tough we are so we will keep going, Ya tough I think on a 118 foot steel leftover ww2 war machine(great sea boat actually) dressed up all in wool and rain gear and I look over at the wave coming on us and here is this juvenile fur seal in his birthday suit, just having a great time body surfin a 35' sea break:laughing:And we thought we were tough!

Used up one of my 9 lives in the Gulf of Alaska one night, knocking the ice off the radar so we could "see". A big wave came up and knocked me off the top of the house of a 120' Hansen. Yup lotsa fun!

The coastal cold isnt as near as severe and the interior of the state but it seems more so because of the constant wind and wet. I spent some time working winters on the North Slope(of the Brooks Range) when I had 3 kids in college at the same time. -40 days were actually not too back working outside as there was hardly ever any wind, did get nippy when the wind picked up tho.

Sounds like you went hunting above Anchor Cove, Stub too much alder there for packin a deer, lot easier places to hunt in the bay but none any prettier! Were you on the Alaska Spirit or the Seahawk?

No worries Bep, one of my favorite things about bush living is that you appreciate people when you are around them. I see the posts about people worrying about who is on their property, here you just say howdy and invite them in as it might be the only folks you see for a while. I do get pretty bushy sometimes but my wife straightens me out when she comes. I too love to travel on Google earth, the internet has really made it nice here.

Just wrapped up my halibut fishing, probably all done with salmon fishing for the year so just have crabbin and farmin and of course projects now. Course things are always changing. Was putting on my rain gear to go crabbin after lunch today, looked over at the meter for elec. and see the water wheel is not charging 7 hours of trouble shooting, hunting on the internet, digging with the backhoe to dig up a 20 year old bad wire splice I was back in elec. Oh well the posts will just be fuller tomorrow:thumbsup:

Just did the 2 20x50 high tunnels this year. I put 1/2" pex under all the beds in one of them. My triple barrel solar heating system was a total flop this year but works fine with one but I use that up daily watering. I am looking at getting real tanks next year and even a couple of solar water heaters supplemented early in the spring with a wood stove with heating coils in the unheated high tunnel to start a bit earlier.

Brandi, I really love that log splitter, it is really quick and ez, have never gotten it really stuck and you just split from one end of the log, cut off split pieces til you get to the splitter, cut off the one on the backside quarter turn the log if it is a big one so you get another split and your back in business bucking wood already split 4 ways.

Pete, family is the most important thing to me and looks like to you as well, is that a grand kid in your lap? I am Jealous!! Don't have one of those, yet This is a great country we have on a wonderful planet and there are at least as many great places (even if it rains sideways in some of them) as there are types of people to enjoy them. Besides all the great info I get on TBN I too really enjoy the window into other folks lives, especially as great as the folks are on here!

Thanks for the replies and interest folks, if I missed a question, I am sorry but I will be around.
Rick