So it all started out fine. We were leaving on the 10:30 pm for the Alaska Marine Highway on the Tustumena-174 passengers, 36 vehicles, 8 four- 
berth cabins, 18 two berth cabins of which we had neither. Buba isn't this a 13 hour ride? Where will I sleep? Boca, it looks like those sleeping bags will come in handy after all. Loading the "vehicles" -in Alaska this means trucks and various forms of campers- was an art form. They place you by the size of your ride and put you on the boat in that order-you drive up to the boat then the lift takes you down to the "basement" and swings the car around and you back it in. We are talking a bit of a squeeze. Side view mirror was touch and go if it would remain attached to the car. Poor Buba
kept getting mixed up with his right and lefts while the boatman guided him in...
berth cabins, 18 two berth cabins of which we had neither. Buba isn't this a 13 hour ride? Where will I sleep? Boca, it looks like those sleeping bags will come in handy after all. Loading the "vehicles" -in Alaska this means trucks and various forms of campers- was an art form. They place you by the size of your ride and put you on the boat in that order-you drive up to the boat then the lift takes you down to the "basement" and swings the car around and you back it in. We are talking a bit of a squeeze. Side view mirror was touch and go if it would remain attached to the car. Poor BubaThe Alaska Marine Highway "Let's Go See Alaska!" brochure claimed- "this would be an opportunity to experience coastal Alaska at an unhurried pace and in close-up detail...as your vessel glides through he waters along the rugged coastline". We take our luggage up to our "seats" to find 50 junior and high school kids making camp. You can only imagine the look on my face upon meeting some of my shipmates. Where do we get the meal and beverage service with" healthful hot and delicious cold meals and a cocktail lounge" the brochure advertised? We looked for the restaurant-closed till 8 a.m. Cocktail lounge-the 4 ft bar with 2 stools was locked up tighter than a drum. Wonderful. The Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul have nothing on my young ship mates. So finally, after the kids worked themselves up to a lather whirling,
dancing, joking, texting, acting out the movies on their computers, pushing each other around, clogging up the aisles, crowding around Bocahantos -the little Darlings finally passed out. The next thing you know Buba follows suit-he puts his sleeping bag on the linoleum floor and plop. Oh no, says Boca, not for me. So after an hour or two of squirming in my seat and listening to the cacophony of snoring and tooting I join Buba on the floor-no space next to him so down I go down on a perpendicular angle. So he is laying bough to stern and I was laying port to starboard. And the rocking and rolling began. I am learning what a rogue wave sounds and feels like. What was I doing in a sleeping bag on a linoleum floor? The last time I did this was in college in 1972 on a ferry going from Harwich, England to the Hook of Holland-much thinner, more flexible and limited funds. And if I remember correctly-pretty rough seas. Oh yeah, this was a deja vu. Who knew that lying down port to starboard when the waves were hitting the beam could create a nightmare for ol'Boca. I tried to race to the bathroom but those darn socks I put on for the linoleum sleep had me slip sliding -kids all over the floor-my white bag in hand praying I would make it.....just in the nick of time. Watching the Hurling at Croke Park, Ireland pales in comparison to Boca's Version. And on and on it went....again asking for Divine Intervention that this would pass I crawled to the back of the boat. Isn't there a purser here? or flight attendant or some such? There I was clutching to somebodies door knob looking for the next Lu when a young m
an in overhauls walks by...Can I help you? YES, SHOOT ME! "Umm, Umm- let me go get some Dramamine and water".... I spotted a chair in the hallway near the doors to the deck swinging open and shut- good now I get to also catch pneumonia as well. Mr.Helpful Overhauls comes back with the Dramamine and like a fool I take it. LOOK OUT! No more bathroom, out of white bags-I looked like one of their volcanoes erupting. Overhauls, aren't ya glad ya stopped to help ol'Boca?
dancing, joking, texting, acting out the movies on their computers, pushing each other around, clogging up the aisles, crowding around Bocahantos -the little Darlings finally passed out. The next thing you know Buba follows suit-he puts his sleeping bag on the linoleum floor and plop. Oh no, says Boca, not for me. So after an hour or two of squirming in my seat and listening to the cacophony of snoring and tooting I join Buba on the floor-no space next to him so down I go down on a perpendicular angle. So he is laying bough to stern and I was laying port to starboard. And the rocking and rolling began. I am learning what a rogue wave sounds and feels like. What was I doing in a sleeping bag on a linoleum floor? The last time I did this was in college in 1972 on a ferry going from Harwich, England to the Hook of Holland-much thinner, more flexible and limited funds. And if I remember correctly-pretty rough seas. Oh yeah, this was a deja vu. Who knew that lying down port to starboard when the waves were hitting the beam could create a nightmare for ol'Boca. I tried to race to the bathroom but those darn socks I put on for the linoleum sleep had me slip sliding -kids all over the floor-my white bag in hand praying I would make it.....just in the nick of time. Watching the Hurling at Croke Park, Ireland pales in comparison to Boca's Version. And on and on it went....again asking for Divine Intervention that this would pass I crawled to the back of the boat. Isn't there a purser here? or flight attendant or some such? There I was clutching to somebodies door knob looking for the next Lu when a young m
an in overhauls walks by...Can I help you? YES, SHOOT ME! "Umm, Umm- let me go get some Dramamine and water".... I spotted a chair in the hallway near the doors to the deck swinging open and shut- good now I get to also catch pneumonia as well. Mr.Helpful Overhauls comes back with the Dramamine and like a fool I take it. LOOK OUT! No more bathroom, out of white bags-I looked like one of their volcanoes erupting. Overhauls, aren't ya glad ya stopped to help ol'Boca?So much for the Hot Babe-death warmed over is a better description. That Bulimia thing would never work for Bocahontas.
COAST GUARD ENLIGHTENMENT-USCG INTEGRATED SUPPORT COMMAND
Calm waters couldn't c
ome fast enough. While Boca was looking rather pasty, Buba met a new friend, a Coastie, aka Coast Guardsman. Way better than Kevin Costner...and even cooler than Ashton Kushner. Remember their Coast Guard movie (The Guardian) took place here in Kodiak Island or not so much- lots of high tech stuff Rick said he wishes he had. Rick was raised in Anchor Point, up the road from Homer (isn't everything), been in the CG for 11 years. R
ick is a Radioman on the Cutter Monroe named after the only Coast Guard Medal of Honor recipient-all previously were named for former Secretaries of the Treasury. The Munro has had a long and honorable history of service and has been commissioned to Kodiak since 2007. Rick goes out for 3 month tours on the Bering Sea. The largest Coast Guard Command is right here on Kodiak Island-some 2500 of them. Most of the guys who are stationed here transfer out after their 3 year hitch and on to Japan, South Korea and other spots. So Rick, what exactly does the Coast Guard do? I've heard Buba call them "the shallow water Navy". Oops. They: enforce international, federal and state fishing laws and regulations, search and rescue, some Dept of Defense missions, escort the Navy around the world, some drug enforcement missions and even pirate catching! Yeah Buba said, shoot a few more of them and they'll stay away! The CG is more defensive than offensive-no weaponry on board more or less I am sure.
ome fast enough. While Boca was looking rather pasty, Buba met a new friend, a Coastie, aka Coast Guardsman. Way better than Kevin Costner...and even cooler than Ashton Kushner. Remember their Coast Guard movie (The Guardian) took place here in Kodiak Island or not so much- lots of high tech stuff Rick said he wishes he had. Rick was raised in Anchor Point, up the road from Homer (isn't everything), been in the CG for 11 years. R
ick is a Radioman on the Cutter Monroe named after the only Coast Guard Medal of Honor recipient-all previously were named for former Secretaries of the Treasury. The Munro has had a long and honorable history of service and has been commissioned to Kodiak since 2007. Rick goes out for 3 month tours on the Bering Sea. The largest Coast Guard Command is right here on Kodiak Island-some 2500 of them. Most of the guys who are stationed here transfer out after their 3 year hitch and on to Japan, South Korea and other spots. So Rick, what exactly does the Coast Guard do? I've heard Buba call them "the shallow water Navy". Oops. They: enforce international, federal and state fishing laws and regulations, search and rescue, some Dept of Defense missions, escort the Navy around the world, some drug enforcement missions and even pirate catching! Yeah Buba said, shoot a few more of them and they'll stay away! The CG is more defensive than offensive-no weaponry on board more or less I am sure.Rick, why do you like the CG?" I get to stay in Alaska and the sea tours are shorte
r than the Navy. I love the Coast Guard and Alaska so this is the perfect fit for me. " They may be the smallest in numbers (45,000-50,000) of the military svs but BIG in many ways. You bet and thank you for your service to your country my man. Buba, this calls for a trip to the base to check out those Coasties!
r than the Navy. I love the Coast Guard and Alaska so this is the perfect fit for me. " They may be the smallest in numbers (45,000-50,000) of the military svs but BIG in many ways. You bet and thank you for your service to your country my man. Buba, this calls for a trip to the base to check out those Coasties!
