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June 5, 2009 – Alert Bay, British Columbia
by Herb McCormick
(June 5): Today’s log is dedicated to the memory of Lt. Colonel Richard M. Thoreson, a dedicated father and Marine Corps pilot who served his country with distinction for twenty years. We’ll return to Lt. Colonel Thoreson in very short order.
First, a voyage update: Last night, after another long day of motoring, organization, visits and chores, Ocean Watch once again dropped anchor for the evening, this time on the mainland in the tranquil waters of Blenkinsop Bay, directly across from Hardwicke Island. At 0700 today, June 5th, we were once again underway down Broughton Strait for an unscheduled but highly anticipated call at Alert Bay, some forty nautical miles down the track. We’ll have more on that stop tomorrow.
Today’s relatively abbreviated travels provide the opportunity to address a topic near and dear to the hearts of the Ocean Watch crew: Chow. Last night, crewman Andy Gregory whipped up hot, heaping plates of delicious shrimp scampi, accompanied by thick wedges of garlic bread. We’re not entirely sure how Andy got to be such a good cook, or how he calculates his garlic clove-per person-ratio-which, in understated terms, is generous-but it sure was a tasty meal.
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| Joanna, Gail and Herb shop for Ocean Watch’s provisions. |
Before shoving off, a shopping party consisting of Joanna Wehrwein (a.k.a. Mrs. Dave Logan), Gail LaRussa (boatbuilder Paul’s wife), David Thoreson and me ventured south from Seattle to the local Costco, a modern-day monument to the joys of budget pricing and conspicuous consumption, to lay in our first stock of provisions. We had two pick-up trucks, a three-page shopping list, and skipper Mark Schrader’s credit card. Plus, we’d all skipped breakfast. It was a lethal combination.
Since our first stop was across the border to Victoria, Canada, our list was light on fresh produce, meat and alcohol, the quantities of which, in theory, are all restricted by customs. (In practice, we cleared in by phone and never laid eyes on a customs agent, but by heavens, we were under the legal limits!) To answer an oft-asked question, Ocean Watch is not a dry ship, as we all like a glass of wine with dinner, a happy-hour beer at the change of watch, or a nip of rum after a long day when the anchor is safely down. Admiral Nelson’s crew enjoyed a daily tot, and so do we.
Even forgoing the lack of spirits or fresh veggies, it was a prodigious effort. We understand that Juneau has another Costco-Alaskans, you’ve been warned-but we still took the opportunity to lay in vast quantities of staples, enough, we think, to get us to Boston. It was a prodigious effort, and before we were done, we’d loaded up two large lorries and a pair of shopping carts with cases of pasta; bags of rice; piles of cereal; plenty of sauces; truckloads of canned meats, fish and vegetables; bags of flour and sugar; etc., etc., etc. Furthermore, Ocean Watch has a large deep-freezer, and into that we piled big bags of frozen fruits and veggies, and a goodly portion of frozen shrimp, chicken breasts, tortillas, raviolis, lasagnas, ground hamburger, kielbasa, pork loins and so on.
They closed down a checkout aisle to address the shopping spree. The final sum was well north of two grand. We all like to cook, and last night, thank goodness, it was Andy’s turn.
Then, after dinner, something happened that I won’t forget for a very, very long time.
In 2000, Ocean Watch crewmember David Thoreson was en route from Valdez to Seattle aboard Cloud Nine, the 57-footer aboard which he would successfully transit the Northwest Passage seven years later. A ringing cell-phone changed his world. His dad had died of a sudden heart attack. A bush pilot was dispatched to pick him up, and flew him to Campbell River, near the very spot where Ocean Watch was anchored last night. Some would call it ironic. Others might say it was fate.
Before Ocean Watch set out from Seattle last weekend, Dave’s brother, Michael, gave him his father’s remaining ashes, and they agreed that they’d be deposited at a fitting time and in an appropriate place. Their father’s death left a hole in both of their lives. They wanted to close an open circle.
So, on a stunning night in a quiet cove with a brilliant moon overhead, Dave Thoreson walked up on the foredeck of Ocean Watch with two tumblers of whiskey in his hands and a small satchel in his pocket. He said a few quiet words and committed his father’s final earthly remains to the sea. Then he poured one of the whiskeys into the water and knocked back the other. The circle was closed.
Godspeed and Semper Fi, Colonel Thoreson. I never had the honor of meeting you but I can say with assurance that you raised one helluva family. Your legacy is in extremely good hands, mate. You’ve earned your rest in peace.
Herb McCormick
*This crew log submitted by Iridium OpenPort and Stratos
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