Hello Everyone!
I decided this might be the best way to keep everyone updated on the happenings of my life, though I can't guarantee how good I'll be at it.
So as most of you know Dad and I arrived in Ketchikan on Thursday, August 11th, and it was hectic right from the get go! We rented a car and met up with my new roommate, Deidra, and headed to sign our new lease. On our way there Deidra pulled off (which really confused me because we were CLEARLY not at our realtors place) and was jumping and pointing at the ocean, telling us to get out of the car. So we did, and guess what we saw!? Whales, that's right! Whales! I hadn't even been on the island for 15 minutes and I got to see whales. They were bubble feeding, so I didn't get to see them jumping out of the water or anything, but it was REALLY cool. I don't have any pictures because I didn't have time to grab my camera, but that's ok, I doubt I would have got a shot anyway.
So after we signed our lease we went and got some dinner, and then headed back to the house where Deidra was house sitting for the summer. We technically couldn't move into our apartment until Monday, so we were going to be staying there for a few days. I was really really tired, even though it was only like 7pm in Alaska. Jet-lag combined with very little sleep made for a very exhausted Katie.
The next morning Dad and I set out on a mission...Find Katie a car! We drove around to the few dealerships on the island, and also looks at a car that an individual was selling. I ended up getting a 1999 Ford Explorer. This wasn't what I initially thought I wanted, but I really like it. As with any used car, there have been some issues, but I am sure I will get them all worked out.
So, like the responsible drivers we are, Dad and I went to get my car insurance sorted out as soon as we left the dealership. State Farm was wonderful and we got everything all set up and transferred, but it took a lot longer than I thought it would. When Dad and I left, I found that I had a nice surprise waiting at my new car. The wonderful city of Ketchikan decided to welcome me by giving me a parking ticket! I hadn't even owned the car for more than 2 hours and I already had a parking ticket. It was really just a misunderstanding (They ticketed me for expired plates, and they couldn't see the temporary plate in the back window because the one side had fallen off the window, It was still there! Just hard to see), but I was not very happy about it. We went to the police department and appealed the ticket, but I am still waiting to hear the outcome of that one.
That night, Deidra's company was having a party for all of its workers and their friends and family. The party was on a boat, and they took us around parts of the Island. It was a lot of fun, and the scenery was amazing. Again, I forgot my camera!! So I didn't get many pictures, but there are a few on my dad's iPhone!
Now, as I am sure most of you had gathered, Dad came with me, and as most of you also know, Dad loves to fish. I was really hoping he would get a chance to do some fishing while he was up here, but he assured me that fishing was the last thing on his mind. He wanted to get me a car, and get me moved in, and after that we would talk. Well on Saturday, I had a car; I wasn't moved in yet, but I was still unable to move in until Monday, so we decided to go fishing. Dad, Deidra and I rented a skiff and some poles and set out. Let's just say...that was a failed attempt. We had a really good time, and again the scenery was AWESOME, but we didn't catch any fish. We later found out that our poles were not set up properly, but there is still some debate about that, as we have heard several opinions on the order you are supposed to put things on. Flasher, then weight, then ...all the other stuff OR weight, then flasher, then all the other stuff? ( I clearly do not know all the fishing terminology!) Either way, we had a good time, but we really wanted to catch some fish.
So we came off the skiff early, and went to talk to a local expert ( and a friend of Deidra's) He lent us some poles and told us to go down to the bridge where the river runs into the ocean at high tide, he promised we would see some salmon, and man oh man he was telling the truth!! We saw a ton of fish, but I did not have ANY luck at first. I kept tangling the line on my pole, and then I would get angry when Dad would fix it for me (How am I supposed to learn?) and he was getting angry that I kept tangling my line, and Deidra had to put up with us. Not that ANY of you know what that is like. It was a frustrating process, not to mention that the bridge was PACKED and it seemed like everyone was catching fish but us. Finally, Deidra hooked one, and we were so excited, but he ended up getting away. But we kept on trying! I ended up talking to a local guy (Fred), who was watching us all. He helped me out A LOT, and then decided that he couldn't watch anymore and went to get his own pole. I finally managed to hook a really nice fish, but he was not happy about it, and ended up tangling my line with about 3 others! He was not a happy camper and ended up breaking my line taking my jig head with him. Dad was having a lot of fun helping everyone bring their salmon in (we were the only people there who had a net!) So he told me I could take his pole. I finally got one, and this time he didn't get away. Shortly after I got another one, and we decided it was time to call it a day, because we had plans later that night.
We went back to the house and Dad taught us both how to fillet a fish! OH YA! I totally touched a fish. Now for most of you, this isn't a big deal, but all of you Gaggini's know that this is the main reason I was never allowed to go to Canada for the fishing trip! (Dad's rules: 1.) You have to bait you own hook. 2.) You have to take your fish off the hook and fillet it. 3.) You have to spend the majority of your time fishing) I was so proud of myself, I felt like such an Alaskan!
We went to a surprise birthday party for a friend of Deidra's later that night, and met some wonderful people there. I really can't get over, or explain how amazingly nice everyone is here. We ended up having dinner with them the following night as well. They had put out some crab pots, and had a big crab dinner. Man, oh man, was it delicious!!
It was finally Monday and we were able to move into our apartment. We woke up early and got most of my stuff and some of Deidra's moved in. We were really fortunate to find an apartment in downtown (in walking distance of my school!) That was fully furnished with an all inclusive rent. The place is really cute, but it is small. The suitcases I brought with me take up most of the space in my room, so I am going to have to get pretty creative when all my other clothes and boxes make their way up here.
We decided to take a fishing break at high tide, and headed back down to the bridge. This time it was just me and dad, but we hit the jackpot! We stayed there just under an hour and caught 7 fish! That is not including the ones we didn't keep or the ones I let get off my line! Dad caught the first one and it was the biggest, until the very last one I caught! :-D I do feel kind of bad though because Dad didn't get to do THAT much fishing. To get to the fish, you had to climb down the hill towards the ocean, there were a ton of rocks there, and Dad didn't really want me to crawl down there, PLUS I wasn't all that excited about having to get the fish of the hook. But every time he would crawl back up the hill and get the fish in the cooler, I would have another one hooked! "Daaaad, I got another one!" I was pretty proud of myself, I'm going to go ahead and call it skill, but really, if you all saw the massive amount of salmon here, you would know that it wasn't. Side note: Do you know you have to punch the fish after you take it off the hook!? Apparently it knocks them out, and makes the whole dying thing less painful, but man oh man, that seems so cruel to me!! I let Dad do all the punching. After we cleaned the fish, Dad was pretty tired, and so was I so we went back to the apartment and just hung out. Well, dad conked out, and I made another Wal-Mart run.
Then next morning was not as much fun. Tuesday morning was the day that Dad left and went back home to Pennsylvania. This was really hard, and the reality of the whole being 3000 miles away kinda set in when we said our good-bye. I miss him, and all my friends and family a lot. I know that this is where I am supposed to be in my life right now, and Ketchikan is a great fit for my life right now; I just wish Dad could have stayed with me. That sounds selfish I know, but I've kinda grown attached to having him around everyday this past year. I think I actually miss falling asleep to the TV blaring and the walls shaking from his snoring!! Maybe he can make me a recording.
Anyway, things calmed down for a bit after he left, but they picked back up again with school just around the corner. I will do another post about that some other time, as this one is already WAY too long.
Just to answer a few general question I have been getting:
School technically started for me last Wednesday, but my first day with students is this coming Wednesday! Wish me luck and say a little prayer for me.
For my new address is, send me a message on here or an e-mail!
No, I have not seen any Eskimos, and I am not going to! It doesn't get cold enough here. :)
I miss and love you all very much!
Katie
