Oh, It's Good To Be Back Home Again.....

"Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend...yes, it's good to be back home again."  In the words of John Denver...it's good to be back home again.  After a month up north aboard Kairos we are back in the ebb and flow of San Juan Island in no time.

It is time to get the field cut and baled.  The giant rolls weigh about a ton and our field yields 10 - 12 bales each year.  One of the local farmers arrives, cuts, comes back and turns the grass for more drying, and then returns to bale and finally another trip to pick up.  They get the hay, we get our field cut and a few great photo ops!

2,000 pounds of hay in one place!

The front field turns into 11 big bales!

This August we continue to work with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network by responding to stranding calls.  A "stranding" is any marine mammal reported to be stranded on shore anywhere in San Juan County....pretty much the San Juan Islands.  There are stranding team members on each island.  Our first call this year was for a "fresh dead" adult Harbor seal on the west side of our island.  The second call is for this little seal pup on the rocky shore of a private beach on the north end of the island.

Little seal pup 

The owners of the beach house call the hotline and we respond by going out to the site and determining if the animal is alive, injured or dead. (condition)  If it is alive, we must leave it for 24 hours after the reported sighting to see things will sort out.  This little one is definitely injured on the right side, but how badly we cannot determine.  If the injury appears to be caused by human interference we have an obligation to pick it up if it is still there in 24 hours.  We leave our number and talk with the folks who called it in, but we don't hear back from them the next day.

After the standing call we stop by the lighthouse research station to visit with Bob Otis before his research shuts down for the summer and he returns to Wisconsin.

Nan and Bob 

This year the Resident Orca whales sightings have been very scarce compared to other years, especially within the reasearch sighting area and times.

Research data for 2013 May - Aug. 3, 2013

Each "0" translates as no pass by in the study area from 9 - 5 p.m. on that date.  I wind up putting in the 0 for Sunday, August 4, 2013.  We believe this all balances on the lack of Chinook salmon this year.  Especially those Chinook that are supposed to be returning to the Fraser River in Vancouver, B.C.

Not so much whale watching from the lighthouse this summer, but lots of whale talk and education going on.  They also keep a running list compiled by visitors from foreign countries on how to say "Killer Whale" in their language!  Here's the top part of the very long, long list!

Part of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network work is to help with the necropsy's of stranded and collected animals here in the Salish Sea.  Lucky for us this science is done at the UW Labs right in Friday Harbor.  On this day in August we go to help.  The necropsys are preformed by Dr. Joe from Sea Doc Society and today we have some high school biology students observing.  He explains the speciality whiskers that Harbor seals have to track their prey in the water.  Steve does the photos and I do the recording of parts taken for samples and where the samples are sent.

Fisrst the seal pup measurements are taken

Steve does the photo detail

Joe explains whiskers as the opportunity to teach arrives!

I am always amazed by how much I learn by just "helping out."  The cause of death of this little pup will take some time to figure out.  Every bit of information helps determine not just the health of the marine mammals, but the entire Salish Sea as well.

South end of Lopez Island

There are some foggy days in August, that's why the nickname "Fog-ust."  Most of the fog clears away by 2:30 p.m. which is great for my days on the water with the whale watch business.  More photos of that to come in the next blog post.

It's never good when the phone rings in early morning hours for Steve from IOSA (Island's Oil Spill Association."  This Saturday at 4:30 a.m. they are calling to respond to a major fire on the waterfront at Downrigger's Restaurant.  It is right above the main pier area and the concern is that debris or oil will get into the water.

Steve's photo from 5 a.m.

Nan's photo from the same afternoon

The IOSA team stands down around 8:00 a.m. and returns home.  Steve checks back several times during the day.  The fire is put out (YAY!  Volunteer Fire Department) and the restaurant and businesses underneath no longer have a building for operation.  And ....our whale watching crew no longer has a happy hour spot for Thursday nights.  :(    It is all very big news and sad news for Friday Harbor.  55 jobs alone in the restaurant are suddenly...gone.

Pete and Nancy's beer!

So, no time to waste.  We arrange with our buddies Pete and Nancy, who live on their fishboat (turned live-aboard) in the summer here, and who make their own beer, to get....lessons!

The school room!

Heating and stirring....and waiting...and watching...

Lots of instructions to follow

Professor Pete and a job well done!

We spend a Sunday morning aboard the Sandra Jean learning something about the process of brewing beer.  Of course we had a few scones and fresh blueberries too!  Serious business this beer making.
I'm not sure how soon we'll get into the whole thing, but I'm thinking about it....probably for next summer.  Meanwhile, I better sample a few more brews to see just what I want to create!

Bowler girl Nan

Did I say we moved Western Prince happy hour to the bowling alley last week?  What next?!

Sparky investigate the booty!

The Saturday Farmer's Market in town is great this year.  The tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers and breads are not to be missed.  Sparky agrees!

This week our nephew, Andrew, from southern California is paying us a visit.  Lots of good times, including a picnic dinner on South Beach and a hike up Mt. Young.  Funny, you need some "company" to get out there and do things like this on the island!

We always, ALWAYS, go along!

One of many pancake breakfasts! (Steve, Rob, Andrew)

Picking the campfire / picnic area at South Beach

Brothers put burgers (veggie) on the grill

47 fish boats are there when we arrive, and 2 when we leave!

No, he did not forget the uke!

So, we're keeping busy that's for sure.  Anyone stopping by San Juan Island....you know where to find us!

Top of Mt. Young Hill....looking out over Haro Strait