Squidder_K update and see how everyone is doing.

Well gang here is a quick update from up here in Washington State.  Last August I retired from the Federal workforce and am now just an old frack fishing and doing whatever. Been fishing a little more when time permits. I am trying to find more retired Kayak anglers to hang out with who live locally. That is a challenge around here. 

I have also been dealing with my Dad's health as he is a rarer form of cancer, and then having hip replacement on top of that.  As many of you know, cancer sucks!

A hobby I have had for years is doing my own ancestry, which is challenging and rewarding at the same time.  So far between my adoptive mother and my biological mother I have some 13 ancestors who were in the Revolutionary War.  I had to look up both sides after contacting the Sons of the American Revolution only to find only direct dependency counts, and adopted kids don't fall in there.  Now this may sound like a PITA, but it was a blessing in disguise.  I may, and this is a big MAY, have a branch of the tree that was on the Mayflower. On top that, my ancestor's daughter was in the first group to leave Massachusetts with Roger Williams and founded the Colony of Rhode Island.  Again I have to do a lot of confirmations to say it is who I think she is.  While most of you are born and breed West Coasters and may have never have heard of this, but in 1772 one of my ancestor participated in the capture and burning of the H.M.S. Gaspee. 

Okay I think I have bored you enough with Ancestry stuff.

Fishing wise, Charter boats keep getting more expensive. $275-300 for a half day on Puget Sound.  I don't think there are any party boats in the area (I have seen any since the pandemic).  Our chinook quota have been cut in several areas this year.  So that sucks,  but some places are seeing improvements.  WHate deaths this year to date have gone over 20.  Both resident and non residents Orca's have been seen in Sinclair & Dyes inlets, which has me wondering is food that scarce that ranging in here at this time of the year. Residents live almost exclusively on a salmon diet, Non Residents help keep the furbags in check (you go immigrant orcas!). 

Been hitting some of the DFW launch spots for local lakes and seem to catch something every other time I go out.  I hit up two HOW events here and was skunked at both.  I go to an event now a days and I am the last Paddler standing. Nothing but peddle drives and about 1/4 of them have an electric drive.  How is it down there?

Speaking of HOW, some of you guys may recall Dino and his wife  Doe.  I see them at every event, he still speaks fondly of everyone down there.  He has quite the operation with HOW, two trailers and fleet of Hobbies.  He has an excellent support staff backing him up.   

Well that is all I got for now, I hope all of you are doing well and keeping the coolers filled and still spreading the NCKA love!

sorry to hear about your dad, cancer f*&%ing sucks. Glad to hear you're still getting on the water, and that the ancestry journey is going well.
Let us know if you have a good paddle fest coming up.
Aloha,

Isao

Nice to see your post, Kevin.