Bittersweet day at Timber Cove 10/10/10

From all reports Saturday was stellar, but Sunday was a little different....swell was up, vis was low and surge was strong.

Hit up TC for the easy approach    with Porky, Sledge, Porky's friend Kevin, my buddy Erik and our two good friends Robert and Jim Okumoto.

Robert's lymphoma has just come back...again...for the third time...

Jim is an old school diving beast...no float, no board, just his gun, a gauge, an iron and a goodie bag!

I have spent the last week at work communicating back and forth with Robert about different scenarios for his wife and the Widow's benefits she can claim once he is gone.........really depressing conversations....

Was hoping to get Robert in the water again before he had to go back into chemo, but I guess his last round of treatment whacked out his equilibrium pretty good and he didn't trust himself to get into the water...

Was feeling really anxious to get in the water in the AM...my mind was racing with thoughts about Robert, Cancer, and other stuff that is going on in my life...

Once in the water all that went away and I worked a 20-25 foot deep area for three decent 8 inchers...like using the 8 inch gauge that I got from Petlauma Sport and Dive a lot...

Saw a nice looking ling, but wasn't 100% sure if he was big enough, and while I hesitated and looked he swam away...I followed...he swam...I followed...and then had to come up...dropped the gun and went back down after catching my breath but didn't see him again...

When I got back to shore I saw that Porky, Kevin and Erik were Ab less...convinced Porky and Kev to come back out with me and let me spot a few and mark them with the floatline so they could GET SOME!!

Surge and swell had gotten bigger by now...but managed to mark one for Porky and one for Kev so they had meat to bring home to the wives!! Nice job fellas!!
 

On the way back swung by the Red Barn to drop Sledge off, and got to say hi to Alan, MontanaN8V, Tote, Becky, WildernessHunter, TigerFish, and Elongatus.

Enjoyed the mental escape in the water, but still very bummed about Robert's condition...

F*ing Cancer SUCKS!!!!
 

Here are some pics of the abs, and the melt in your mouth tender, cut with side of fork blackened ab dinner I cooked up for Ana!!

Sincerely,

Jim

Thanks for the report Jim. Remember to count your blessings and try to be a blessing for those that need one. Which you are! you can only do what you can do and Bro you do more then most.
 Randall

Jim, thank you for sharing this touching report with us all. My heart and prayer goes to Robert and his family I do hope that Robert will feel much better soon, so that he can have the opportunity to dive again. I really do believe that the seas, on the water and especially below, heals the mind, body, and soul. It will be good for him!!

I'm stoked for Porky and Kev on their very first slugs, WTF'nG brothers!! Having Jim there really helps boost confidence
But Jim, I'm lil disappointed that you didn't pop a 10 off But I have to give you a 10 for the delicious dinner you made for Ana. I need to learn from you how to raise my WAF pts, especially when she's not crazy about my new hobby 

Thanks again Jim for your report!!

Jim, that sucks about your buddy. I will say a prayer for him. jim

Jim, you may already know this but you still need to have a 7" gauge even though you're diving with an 8" gauge.

Jim, you may already know this but you still need to have a 7" gauge even though you're diving with an 8" gauge.

Thanks for the reminder Nate...I got a 7 inch one clipped on to my boogie board to make sure I'm legal!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Sledge is still up at red barn?

Sledge is still up at red barn?

Yep!!
 
He didn't even get in the water, but stayed on shore to provide base camp support=drink beer and tell stories!!

He took some cool pics and vid of a boat capsizing right out front IN the cove....the swells were really pumping through!!!

Scary scene with the boat....only had oars, too many people in it, and all dressed just in street clothes...DFG was there checking folks when it happened so they were able to coordinate the rescue...had a guy on a JetSki out there in a flash!!

Wish I had taken more (any) pics out there...my head just wasn't in it....

Had a good time at the beach post-dives showing some families and kids an urchin, the mouth parts, how to get the uni out, shared the uni with all of them, and gave them the shell (and an empty ab shell I brought in) and advice on how to clean it up when they got home!!

Sincerely,

Jim

Hey Jim,

Kevins kids were really stoked on the shells and eating the uni, they called me last night, all stoked out still!

That was for sure rough, a strong surge, and dirty water for my first AB dive, bit we stuck it out and I had a blast!

Dove much deeper then I ever thought I could, and learned a lot. Thanks for the spotting for me and the use of the float line, with out that there would have been no way for me to locate anything. Popped my first and only AB and ate that bitch last night, YUM!

Robert and Jim Okumoto are super nice guys... Yup, Jim O. is a beast out there. Said while he was at the bottom he came across like 4 or 5 ern's, like a memorial site, said it creeped him out.

Thank Eric for Driving, and as always great to see Sledge.

Ive been spear fishing like 5 times, and AB diving once, and its always been dirty water and nasty out, looking forward to when I luck out and get the perfect day!

Tough report, Jim.  You're a good man for watching after all your friends - whether they're diving with you or facing life's biggest challenges.  Finding the half-full part of a battle for your life is tough, but when it's all you've got it means alot for those on the perimeter of the challenge to be as supportive as you are.  Bravo.   

FWIW, if you only pick abs bigger than the caliper then your caliper doesn't need to be 7".  In other words, if you are only diving with a 10" guage you're perfectly legal if you only get abs at or over 10".

Tough report, Jim.  You're a good man for watching after all your friends - whether they're diving with you or facing life's biggest challenges.  Finding the half-full part of a battle for your life is tough, but when it's all you've got it means alot for those on the perimeter of the challenge to be as supportive as you are.  Bravo.   

FWIW, if you only pick abs bigger than the caliper then your caliper doesn't need to be 7".  In other words, if you are only diving with a 10" guage you're perfectly legal if you only get abs at or over 10".

+1 on being super for being there for your buddy - DAMHIK, but it means more than you can know, probably more than he can accurately express.

In regards to the gauge, I have heard of people getting tickets for not having a 7" one, even tho you are targeting larger Abs, according to the regs (2010-2011 page 53) you must have one in possession:

(f) Measuring Device: Every person while taking abalone shall carry a fixed-caliper measuring gauge capable of accurately measuring seven inches. The measuring device shall have fixed opposing arms of sufficient length to measure the abalone by placing the gauge over the shell.

You might be able to successfully argue the spirit of it with a sympathetic judge but the letter of it is clear stated.

Thanks for the report. We faced similar condition during the RBC weekend. Like I said before, you're a good man! 


ernest

FWIW, if you only pick abs bigger than the caliper then your caliper doesn't need to be 7".  In other words, if you are only diving with a 10" guage you're perfectly legal if you only get abs at or over 10".

In regards to the gauge, I have heard of people getting tickets for not having a 7" one, even tho you are targeting larger Abs, according to the regs (2010-2011 page 53) you must have one in possession:

(f) Measuring Device: Every person while taking abalone shall carry a fixed-caliper measuring gauge capable of accurately measuring seven inches. The measuring device shall have fixed opposing arms of sufficient length to measure the abalone by placing the gauge over the shell.

You might be able to successfully argue the spirit of it with a sympathetic judge but the letter of it is clear stated.

I have heard the same thing ! that is why I have one hanging off my float even tthough I do not use it. stupid letter of the law crap again !!!!

Those urns are set free as a part of a ritual by the Buddhist monk.  He charters the 14 ft tinboat and has Timber Cove motor him and the urns to the middle of the cove.

I am told that once the ceremony is over, the folks do not care what happens to the urns and anybody can grab them.  I always say I'm going to grab one but then I never do because it somehow just doesn't feel right.

Thats good info!!