Seasons Greetings Everyone

Sorry for the delay in posting new information. Both boys are home and we have mostly just been enjoying their company. After Christmas I will try again to have Peter write of his experiences himself, but he is a bit reluctant because of the confidentiality agreement he signed with Saltwater Inc and ADF&G. He does not want to reveal anything he shouldn't ! Do have a wonderful Christmas and I will see some of you at Mom and Dad's on the 30th. I will be sending Christmas cards out, they will just be a little late! Enjoy the Season, Steve

King Cove, Alaska

I got this picture off the internet of King Cove which is about 300 miles from Dutch Harbor. This was one of the places that crabs were off loaded for processing at the Peter Pan Seafoods plant. This was also the place where a member of the crew celebrated his 21st birthday.

False Pass, Aleutian Islands

Peter took this picture of the tiny fishing village of False Pass,Alaska population 64.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_Pass%2C_Alaska

Bald Eagle on the boat

Bald Eagles are not rare in Alaska, nor are they particularly shy. This one was perched not 30 feet away from Peter when he took this picture.

Dutch Harbor from Mount Ballyhoo

The boat Peter was on seemed to have a lot of vibration while underway. The Captain decided to return to Dutch Harbor to have it checked out. Divers found that a portion of the propeller was missing, which would certainly make make the prop shaft vibrate! The divers had to use explosives to get the damaged prop off and with the need to have a new one shipped in they were in Port for 5 days. During the wait Peter was able to get some hiking in and took these pictures from the top of Mount Ballyhoo 1589ft.

Pictures from Alaska

I was able to download pictures from Peter's camera today so here is the first installment. Peter was impressed by the lone cabin in the lower left of this picture. Talk about remote!Enjoy more to follow.

Peter makes it Home.

The plane trip home didn't go anywhere near according to plan, but the end result was still fine, on the ground, at home, safe and sound, with 57 lbs of luggage. Due to flight delays in Anchorage Peter missed his flight out of Seattle which was probably a good thing because in the process of trying to book an alternate flight to Montreal he was asked for his passport which he didn't have. He applied for one before leaving in September, but the passport didn't arrive till Peter was already in the middle of the Bering Sea. We thought about sending it to him but did not think it would be a big deal since we live only 5 miles from the Canadian border and we have crossed many times without passports. Our post 9/11 World has changed everything and now it is required. He was able to book a flight out of Chicago into Burlington,VT ,which actually worked out better, because it's smaller and closer to home. At about 9:20 pm last night Peter set foot back on Vermont soil (actually carpet,but you know what I mean). We collected his luggage and were on our way home by 9:50. Pulled in the drive at the farm at 11:20 after a memorable 1.5 hour drive which included excellent conversation, some revelations, and the sightings of three separate deer that thankfully stayed on the side of the road! Peter had much to tell, but there were things he could not discuss due to a confidentiality agreement he signed with ADF&G. I have a meeting at the Hospital to get to so will end for now.

Questions for Peter

Hi Everyone,
Thomas and I,Trudy has to work, will be picking up Peter at the Airport Tuesday evening, the 21st. I have a bunch of questions for him, probably too many, I will try to contain myself! I will be reporting what he tells me about his experiences, and hopefully even have him contribute a post about what it was like in Alaska. Are there any special questions you would like me to ask? You can comment here, or send me an email, and I will do my best to have them answered.
Excited, but breathing easier, Steve

Pete to be home for Thanksgiving

Peter called from Anchorage today. He was very lucky to have made it in to Anchorage so quickly from Dutch Harbor. His debriefing in Dutch was yesterday afternoon after which he went to the airport. Flights were all booked up so he was placed on standby. The biggest planes that can get off the ground on the one 3900ft runway(Cliff one side, mountain other and ocean either end...sounds like fun!) are twin engine Saab turboprops that hold 30 people for a 3 hour flight to Anchorage. Well, luck was on his side because he was able to board the 4 pm flight. Once safely on the ground in Anchorage he took a taxi to the observer bunkhouse, met up with some of his classmates and had fun losing a rousing game of monopoly.
Today was his final debriefing after which he called home at 6:30 our time. He has scheduled a flight home for Nov. 21st which will involve leaving Anchorage at 1:41am, arrive Seattle at 6:10am, Leave Seattle at 7:30am to arrive Washington D.C. at 3:15pm, then leave D.C. at 4:55 to arrive in Montreal,Quebec(about 75miles from our home) at 6:37pm; flight 7532.
We are so looking forward to seeing him, but it does not sound like he will be at all lonely for the next week in Anchorage with his classmates for company. They were heading to the mall soon after Peter got off the phone with me. Only one classmate is still out on the boat. Another of his fellow observers, Katie, has a web site where she will post a lot of pictures. I have asked Pete to send us the web site address. It will be so good (and such a relief) to have Peter home. This will be a truely special Thanksgiving! Warm thoughts to all, Steve&Trudy