Alaska Here I Come

These shirts are not just my work shirts that I will be adorning whilst salmon fishing in Egegik, Alaska. They are the hands on my back and the beats of my heart.

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love love… So when Adam called me on a coldish winter night and threatened me to either book a flight back to Kauai that night or he was going to do it for the following week, if he says he’s gonna do it, he means it... I booked my ticket. Adam saw why I loved it, although he had never been there yet, but when he met my friend Cherisse on Oahu and had some good talkings with her, he could see the picture she was painting.

I said my so longs to friends and family, packed my belongings and went back to the island I said I didn’t want to go back to. Sometimes it takes an “outsider” to see what you overlook. Not that I ever overlooked being on Kauai. I think I just over looked myself and what I REALLY wanted to do was to make MYSELF happy. Not my friends, not my family… It’s my life dammit, I can only live it.

So after being here for a month or so I get a call from my buddy Joel. “Momma,” that’s what he calls me, “What if I said I could get you a job salmon fishing up in Alaska? Would you do it? It’s only 6 weeks and it’s a good chance for you to make some good money.”

S- “I’ve never done it before.”

J- “I’ve seen you on a boat, you will figure it out.”

S- “Ahhhh… well, let me check my race schedule and make sure it doesn’t get in the way of big races. When do you need an answer? Give me a deadline, I need a deadline.”

J- “How about Friday?”

S- “Can it be next week?”

J- “Are you serious?”

S- “I just want to make sure nothing is going on and…”

J- “Friday.”

I found out my race schedule and didn’t even make it to the end of the day. I let Joel know I was game.

J- “You sure. I need to know that you are positive that you want to do this.”

S- “125% sure. Why not, right?”

That’s the short version and I’m sure Joel will tell you it went a little different, but that was the jist of it.

So after Joel called me a few weeks later acting like I didn’t get the job, as he told me in his “sorry I have to be the one to tell you” tone, he told me I got the job. Pecker…

I love Alaska. I missed Alaska and I wasn’t heading back to Maine anytime soon, so what a great chance to get out of Hawaii when it’s starting to get hot!

Time passed and my departure date was getting closer and closer. I was getting excited. I couldn’t wait to see Ravens and Eagles and possibly whales. To see the rugged Alaska that I love. To meet new people and learn something new. All right up my alley. Most of all to see Joel and work beside him. Now I have only worked on a boat with Joel once. Just once. But man… what a day it was. To watch to moon go to sleep, the sun rise over the Atlantic, work hard, then watch the sunset and the moon rise… a full moon too! I felt like a princess and selfishly… that is was all for me.

The days leading up to my departure, I was calm. Anyone that knows me knows I am never calm before I leave for an extended amount of time, especially some place new  and to top it off… a new job. I was in my room, folding my shirts and and trying create warm outfits to wear on the what can be known as frigid waters of what will most definitely be an unforgettable summer. Well, I don’t have warm clothes. When I packed this time for Kauai, I brought the bare minimal amount of clothing. Nothing warm. So, what does one wear when you have nothing warm??? Paddling shirts. They are capilene. They are warm when dry and pretty warm if you get wet and you stay in motion.

My first Molokai with Namolokama in 2013. She’s a long sleeve when partnered up with my Na Pali Race Nike tank neon yellow shirt; first real solo race of 17 miles that I decided to swim part of due to a broken leash and a fly away boat. Those two shirts have been a team in my life since my paddle became my weapon of choice. They are my “security blankets,” they are my superhero outfit. When I wear them, I am unstoppable.

“The Sailing Team” shirt from the Na Holo Kai race that I found out I was racing when Scooter (Adrenaline HI) called me up that night to tell me I had a ticket to leave… the next day. An 88 mile sailing canoe race from Oahu to Kauai.

My first doubles Molokai surfski race with Dylan Thomas that we raced after returning from sailing from Fiji to Kauai.

US Surfski Champs in San Francisco. My first race I went to go do and be the only one to represent Kauai. A race that was a personal test the week after I lost my ski down the Na Pali Coast. Where I met Dawid Mocke and a bought my very own Mocke leash… One of the BEST of it’s kind. I’ll tell you what, talk about some of the kindest paddlers and community at that race. Top of the line!

Then I have shirts from ones that are my family.

The Ventura family and their family’s ranch on Kauai. The whole clan came to Maine the winter Febuary of ’15 during one of the coldest winters we’ve had on record, just to see where I am from. And of course for the little Ventura monkeys, I had to have the pirate bandana and eye patch.

Myrtle Street Tavern where I’d sing and dance my ass off! Bree and Dusty are one of my top supporters of my Hawaiian paddle life. Best of the best and are who they are and aren’t afraid it. That’s why I love them.

Café Miranda, the place I crave wherever I go! Best food, best waitstaff, best cooks… it’s just the best.

The old Dip Net, now Slipway. Stacy Jo gave me that shirt. She’s a sister, a mother, a best buddy… yet another place that has the best food created by mastermind Scott Yakovenko.

Rubicon Racing from Matt Hayashida and Iditarod musher. From back in my first Alaskan experience when I came to Alaska to run dogs in 2011. Which ultimately was my reasoning to start this blog.

A splash of Montana memories from my friend Mike that came to Kauai to visit and has also helped sponsor me with paddling.

An L.L. Bean flannel that David, owner of Viking Lumber gave me… because I love his flannels and Sandra made sure I had a replacement flannel for the one that was lost. And well, L.L. Bean is Maine, man.

My all time favorite Maine shirt that by buddy Max Greeley gave me from his company www.boardofmaine.com when I first started paddling on Kauai looking for sponsors. So he gave me some shirts, hats, shades and stickers… Great company… Great state.

My last race before I left for Alaska, Kauai World Challenge. A race I did last year and broke my boat in halfA 4 leg, 35 mile race from Kapaa to Salt Pond that we did as an OC2 man team with Ele Jones as my partner and Hobey and Kavika Becks as father son partners for the other legs. Team name… Becks and Babes. All I can say is… WOW! Ele and I were beasts, absolute BEASTS and Hobey and Kavika are such solid Watermen. One of the best races from training to racing. Couldn’t have asked for better partners.

Then we have my Weke Rd shirt Ryan Hackman makes right in Hanalei. One of my favorite roads. A road that’s the road of anyones childhood. Well, anyone that’s ever lived by the ocean in a small . Close to the ocean, close to town and some of the best live on or near it. Also one of my favorite streets to run barefoot after a swim and after it has rained.

The warmest piece of clothing is a Team USA ski team race jacket from Pam. I paddle with her husband Jack and she used to run Mammoth Mountain in California. I live right down the road from them and would frequent their house while they were building it. Pam is a strong woman and a powerful one at that. Jack is laid back and laughs a lot. A great couple that I respect and look up to.

I can’t go anywhere without my Wonder Woman sleepwear! A staple in my life to remind myself that I am that Amazon and yes, I come from that place!

Finally, there’s a hat and a shirt. The hat is from Penobscot Island Air from back home. Kevin Waters is a special man in our family and a close friend of my fathers. He owns the company that flies to the local islands in Penobscot Bay. He also was the man that flew my father over Criehaven Island, on a chart it’s known as Ragged Island, to spread my mothers ashes. His heart is bigger then his smile and stronger and warmer than his handshake. The shirt is from one of the first guys I met paddling. I was at men's practice and this giant man, with big hands, a huge smile and giant laugh stood there as Jody was divvying up the men for the canoes. I noticed his mermaid tattoo and of course, blushed. Well, Michael Mons passed away this year and was sent off to the ocean Hawaiian style. The ones he loved and loved him paddled out in Hanalei Bay on one mans, paddle boards, decorated double hull canoes from our club, surf boards with flowers and leis to throw to the ocean like confetti at New Years. A helicopter flew over and did a flower drop as we all splashed and threw water and flowers and yelled for Mike after his ashes were spread. That was a loss and always hits hard when the spirit was too young and too big.

So yeah, I carry people with me wherever I go. I don’t stop thinking about them and like to know that they are with me. I don’t have just one person in my life, although that is what most people are looking for and yes I do want, but I do know that I live for myself and for others as well. 

Let's see what this summer has to offer... Memorable I am sure!