Respecting the Adventure

I have respect for many things. The incredible scenery, the abundance of wildlife and people I am stationed with. We may give each other hard time or get a little aggravated at times. We may need to get a break and just be alone. That is true anywhere you go. Most importantly, we have respect for one another.

We do our job, and what we have to do to deal with our current situation. The longer I am here I can see that everyone trying. We all have out challenges, but we are there for each other while having a good time. No matter how hard we are on one another, we do it with respect in mind. More importantly it is how we deal with it. My father always told me the only thing we can control is the way we react to something. To some degree, we all partake. This is not to say that there is not some authentic conflict, but these are handled in a respectful manner regardless of severity.

As for the morale side of our relationships here, they are diverse. You have ET1 and FS1 constantly making fun of each other. FS3 taking the cap to MK1’s water bottle because his is broken. Stephens filling someone’s water bottle with a random liquid, or adding a copious amount of salt to it. Making fun of Stephens vocabulary or spelling. What was that word, “hapens?” The EPO mistaking sweet potatoes pie for pumpkin, then going after FS1 for not informing the station. He also put a sign in the pie to make sure everyone knew it was not pumpkin. It all happens randomly. One of the things that keep me going, is not knowing what is going to happen that day.


Unfortunately that may be an electrical fire that disables the fire alarm system, but so be it. At least something unexpected happened that day. I never know when there will be a beautiful sunset, or the weather will give us blue skies. All I know is that I don’t know. It all comes down to respect for that situation, for that person, or for whatever challenge we will have to face that day.

I suppose that one of the beautiful things about life is that we are all imperfect and are going to make mistakes. The test is how you deal with it. Again like my father told me on many occasions, it is not the trouble you get into, but how you get out of it. This was the lesson to story of how he accidently filled the sewer system with concrete.

On a side note, my first poll is in this blog. Does this character on the stations Wii resemble me? It was kindly made by one of my shipmates as a gift so I would have a character on the Wii. “It” plays golf well, but I don’t believe it is within grooming regulations. It all in good fun, and provides some good laughs when people walk through the movie lounge.


I am currently waiting on orders, and will keep every one informed when I find out. I can’t wait to see the folks, my little sister Kensey, the Extended family, my friends and the dogs. Until I transfer out of here I will be enjoying every moment and appreciating the experience of this part of the world.

A Sharp Contrast to Winter

I can’t say that I dislike any season up here. Okay, winter has it’s challenges but as I have said before, it has a desolate beauty to it. The incredible thing about our few months of summer is the change. Where we would have no life in the tundra around the station during the darker winter months, there is an abundance of wildlife anywhere you go during our summer. Whistle pigs otherwise known as marmots as my mother pointed out, Duck, Foxes, Muskox, Caribou and a plethora of small mice and birds.

The life on this isolated tundra has given me the opportunity to see animals I never thought I would see or even be Close to. I was about 50 feet from a Caribou buck, and less than 30 from the lead bull of a muskox herd. That is when I am thankful for the 300 mm zoom lens. I can still get a picture without having to get to close. They are all wild and all unpredictable. I didn’t realize how fast a caribou herd can move until I chased them down for about a third of a mile taking photographs. I was up on the cliff or should I say ledge so I was moving with a little stealth. Unfortunately they had my scent so they knew I was there. Nor did the wind shift help, it just put my scent right to them. All was well, I still got some decent photos. Did I mention how much I appreciate the freedom of the summer season? It is so nice to be able to get out and away from the station. I have gone as far as 14 miles away from the station. Down the spit and to the main land. As nice as our facility is, cabin fever sets in sometime during the winter.

After I made my way back to the quads, Chief and I went farther down the beach just to catch the Caribou herd running into the wetlands. They are herd animals, not very brave, but fast. I attempted to get more photos once they were over the rise, but I could not move over terrain fast enough as rough as it was. We saw a muskox herd in the distance as the caribou ran to the coastal bay and then followed the water. It was very cool to see. A little farther down the beach we saw the lone Caribou Buck. He was not nearly as afraid; I got fairly close to him. He was keen enough to run through the pond teasing us the entire time. He probably knew that I was just a photographer and not a hunter. If the hunters at our station would have seen him, he would not have lasted very long. He is a very beautiful animal.

The final sighting of wild life other than your typical marmot roaming around the station was the muskox herd sleeping about 150 feet from the station. I had to get some photos, especially because they were relaxed and I could get close without alerting them. This time the wind and the location of the door were on my side. A single mother a young were grazing and lead bull was asleep. I got to about 50 feet from them before one of them alerted the lead bull. He gave me a quick stare down before he became more interested in the females around him. He was not getting very lucky.

Whenever I find to time to get out which is whenever I can. I cannot deny the beauty of this place. It is much harder to see in the harsh weather of winter, fortunately I can rest assured that it is just hiding. As for the challenges of being in isolated duty, the sights and opportunities outweigh the limitations.

I am glad to see that others have found my blog enjoyable. It is hard to believe that starting next week I will be at the top of short timer board. Meaning I am the personnel that has been here the longest. It has been a long tour, but it does not feel that long. I suppose that I should enjoy every moment I have left up here. I can only hope that others are enjoying their life as much as I am.

Coast Guard Day

Today was a very important day. Known to the world as Coast Guard Day and it is the services birthday. The day we consider to be our birthday is the Fourth of August 1790 when Alexander Hamilton commissioned the construction of the first ten cutters. These vessels became known as the Revenue Cutter Service and eventually evolved to he modern Coast Guard in 1915. As the original ten cutters were to collect tariffs, we are no longer known for that. The modern day Coast Guard served the public by providing Search and Rescue, Maritime Security, Environmental Protection, Maritime Law Enforcement and Aids to Navigation. I suppose that is a little more responsibility than just collecting revenue. Enough of the History Lesson, I just wanted to give you a little background on the significance of the day.
Now to the more relevant part of what we did to celebrate. First we did not work, and slept in late. I didn’t because I did P90X at 0500, but that was by choice. We then did a Celtic competition of strength and might followed by morale boating, wiffle ball, paintball, board games and some partying in the connex. I kept myself busy and participated in the Celtic Games, wiffle ball, paintball and the board game. I wanted to go out on the ATV’s but no one else wanted to go out. So we played a game of Axis and Allies instead. It was fun to work as a team and win the game.
The Celtic Games consisted of four competitions. The first was the dumbbell carry. They had to be carried about 70 feet to the line and then back. That is not so easy with a 100 pound weight in each hand. The second was the 25 pound weight thow. Just throw the weigh as far as you can. Third was the Iron Cross with 20 pound dumbbells. You will recognize it from the photograph. The final was the pebble toss to hit a bucket after you had done everything else. After all was said and done there was a tie for third, so we created one more challenge. A combination of the first two events with a sprint added to the end. It was an overall fun event to participate and watch.
The rest of the day we had to do something athletic, so we decided to play wiffle ball. After the event was piped and the teams selected, we took to the area we designated in for the diamond. Nothing fancy, just between the buildings. I was a fun game with a final score of thirteen to seven, the underdogs taking the victory. We had to repair the bad midgame with some duct tape, they just don’t make that equipment very tough. After the wiffle ball game a group decided to do some paintball. It was fun, I got shot several times, but it did not hurt as much as I remembered. Maybe I am just tougher now. We had four on four teams. Pojar and I chose teams because we had not played before. Pojars team won three out of four times. It was still fun. I got to shoot paintballs at the XPO. I made the mistake of not calling when I was running out, and got shot several times in the first game. I learned by the last game that if I called out that I was going, my teammates would cover me. I almost got Chief Casey and Miller. Miller got me in the end though. It was a well-placed shot. Later that night I got a call from Cash to play Axis and Allies. I suppose I was “voluntold” to play. That was all right because it was a fun game and the allies won. The world was saved from the Cash and Nearpass. It was equally fun as risk, just different in regards to strategy. As the evening settled on us, we had a jam session and a party in the connex. A little beer, some live music and people just having fun.
That is how we celebrated. I hope that even if you did not know about Coast Guard Day, you had a wonderful day wherever you were. That you found something to celebrate and be thankful for.

South of Seal Camp

So there we were, heading south of seal camp. Going really fast down the beach. The Bearing sea on our right and Port Clarence Bay on our left. I had been looking forward to this day all week and it was nice to have Cash and Eck to join me. The scenery is equally beautiful several miles south of station with some foot hills. Nothing compared to the California Foothills, but up here a ten foot cliff is substantial. As you can see it was a beautiful day. The weather cleared up and gave us the blessing to go outside without howling winds. I was relieved that I felt better enough to do so, I had killer headache the night before. So it turned out to be a good day. As it as been a good week.

If you are following the District 17 Blog that I am also writing for the station you will have noticed we just had a Change of Command. There is a link on the blog to the official blog for all the Alaska Units. It is interesting to see what Everyone is up to. The new Commanding Officer is a very nice. He has reasonable standards and is willing to hold people accountable, but it fair to everyone at the station. Mr. Todd relieved Mr. Boyle in a very concise and professional ceremony. Everyone looked good in their bravos, our dress uniforms. I am proud to say that the distinguished visitors were impressed by the station and the crew. When I went down to new bay after crash crew in my bravos, I did not realize that I was the only person from the crew other than Chief Casey in a room full of the District 17 Admiral and other several Captains. Before I had a chance to find the rest of the crew, Admiral Colvin engaged me in conversation. He just came to the District 17 and was wondering what I though about being out at Port Clarence. The others officers followed shortly. They were all very kind and I think Chief Casey was amused by everyone approaching me the moment I walked in the door.

The Ceremony was accompanied by the wind pounding on new bay door. Like a heard of muskox hitting the door every couple seconds. Shortly after arriving at the reception, the C-130 was ready to take off for Kodiak. It was short and sweet, but it got the job done.

I would have to say the most memorable event of the week was the an event that happened during the ATV Ride. Eck happened to hit a whistle Pig and turned around to see if it was okay. Obviously it wasn't but she was not quite sure what to do. We attempted to give it a proper burial, but were unable to get it eyes closed. That is the unfortunate part. The funny part is that she was trying to close it's eyes with large stick and when it did not work she yelled out loud "It's eyes won't close" in a flustered tone. Following "I'm Gonna Cry," in a tone of minor distress. I wished that it rest in peace. In response to Cash's comment that it was a "Big A** whistle pig," she responded "I think it's pregnant." It is unfortunate that it got hit, but I cannot deny that the commentary was quite funny. So there you have it. Eck, one; whistle pig, zero. Haley has some competition now. Have a wonderful night and hope to talk to everyone soon. Until next time.