While still in Seward, we celebrated Kathy’s birthday by taking her to breakfast at the Resurrect Art Coffee House in downtown, walking the shops, and out for another dinner at Ray’s on the Waterfront – where we were joined by JD’s NPS friends Lee and Shannon Fink.

Other noteworthy experiences in Seward included Lee and Kathy’s dogsledding ride adventure….

…my solo bicycle ride into Kenai Fjords National Park, where I saw two snow geese (trumpeter swans? not sure, had neither binoculars or spotting scope to assist me).

JD and Lee got a few more days on the water, following all of the intelligence they collected from guides, captains, and those cleaning fish on the dock – with limited success. They learned that the fish were well over 25 miles out, still in the Pacific Ocean, and had not entered Resurrection Bay to any great extent. Although on two occasions they ventured 25 miles out from the harbor to the mouth of the Bay, most days the seas were too great for our boat to be out that far, including days where the seas were 17 feet. Regardless, with Lee’s able and willing assistance, they threw everything in their five tackle boxes, including newly purchased gear suggested by various expert and local fishermen, but still with limited success.

Along our travels, many people have commented on our boat, the Pelli – particularly her lines, and deep-V bow. He found the Pelli to be a completely sea worthy vessel, ensuring a dry ride from any waves that they hit. However, although perfect for Baja, where it rains less than 2 inches a year, we have learned that the absence of a cabin makes for a very wet fishing experience in the waters of southeastern Alaska – where we fished many more rainy days than sunny, requiring full rain gear. Regardless, it is fair and right to note that Lee served as a faithful, competent, jovial co-captain to JD through a range of conditions.

JD, Lee and Kathy enjoyed a farewell dinner with Fernando at Resurrection Roadhouse, the night before we pulled up stakes at the Windsong Lodge.

…while I savored some solitude along the banks of the Resurrection River, reflecting on our location beside this river these past few weeks, and the concept of death and rebirth in its many forms and contexts – from the seasons and cycles of nature; to religious/spiritual/indigenous rituals and traditions; to the ebb and flow of human relationships, and my one tiny, wild and precious life.

From Seward, we migrated over to Homer, taking up for a few nights out on the spit, at Homer Spit campground. While there, JD and Lee made a few more attempts at catching, with results similar to those already described. On one trip, while returning from The Narrows, they encountered 6-8 foot seas, while traveling faster than 25 mph, requiring JD to surf the boat on the waves as best he could. Meanwhile, dog Alma and I spent many hours walking the harbor, where she was able to explore and frolic off-leash for the first time in weeks – an important reunion with freedom for this little dog that we rescued from a life of homelessness in Mexico, where food and shelter were certainly in doubt, but freedom to roam was not.

We celebrated JD’s birthday while there, riding two-up on the motorcycles out East Bay Road to the head of Kachemak Bay, stopped by the visitor center for Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, and enjoyed dinner at the Harbor Grill Restaurant, and dessert at Carmen’s Gelato.

A definite highlight for me in Homer was reuniting with a friend, Steve Delehanty, from my days with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Steve is the Refuge Manager of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and has lived in Homer for 14 years. He and I met during a 10-month long leadership program in 2017. JD and I joined Steve for dinner at his home one evening – where I was instantly reminded of the importance of friendships and how easy it is to slip back into dialogue with certain people. Steve is an open-hearted, kind, candid and attentive conversationalist; in addition to freely sharing his experienced fishing advice, our conversation flowed for hours as we caught up on our families, his children, and compared notes on his career, and JD and my experiences in leaving ours. I acknowledged to Steve that while the longing for a platform from which to speak on behalf of important issues of social and environmental justice remains quite real for me, I still trust that I made the right decision, that I am right where I need, and want, to be.