Over to the Lands of Big Salmon, Steelhead and the Mekahs

All the University engineers returned home. Ellen flew back and I was alone without a schedule in the land of great fish and bold coffee. It was my time with the hunting dogs. I took the Ferry over toward Port Angles where my Model 21 was supposed to have been sent in the late 1940's. I enjoyed Port Angles as it reminded me of a northern california town with lumber mills and a healthy fishery. One aspect to this Olympic region is the multitde of espresso house and fresh seafood. I love oysters and could buy a dozen for $5.

My drive out to Neah Bay was almost in total solitude a great relief from the gridlock of Seattle. The road hugged the coast and I could clearly see the Great Island of Vancouver and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. These waters teamed with sea life and I imagined the hordes of King Salmon retuning after three salt years to natal streams. I was not prepared for the culture of Neah Bay and of the Makah tribe

The Wolf Pack

There are times I need to be alone to get in touch with my Nordic ancestors who have lent me their DNA for a short time. Although the desert gives me room to contemplate, the moody rain clouds and cool sea breezes of north Ireland coast, Alaska or the Olympic Peninsula can sooth the Viking spirits that reside within.

At last , an opportunity presented it self to me. Nicholas my eldest son had managed to mold and cast many engineering students into a team that took concrete with proper additive and many hours of stress testing and sanding in a sea going canoe any Inuit or Mekah Indian would be envious. The final concrete canoe competition were to be held at the University of Washington in Seattle this year. The University of Nevada had managed not only to beat out their arch rival University of California -Berkley for the right to represent the Western Conference, but rammed and almost sank their }Bear Force One. Forty- three Nevada student with Nick as their leader jumped into a Van and 12 hours later where watching Nevada compete against 20 finalist like like Florida, University of Wisconsin and Kentucky.

I drove my rig up after visiting friends n Roseburg and found a great camping spot on the University grounds next to a nature reserve. Seattle is choked with cars, the worst I've ever encountered. so many Island with bridges that constrict flow but the weather is terrific.

Nevada took overall boat design and technical paper, finished 3rd in rowing and 3rd overall. They would have finished 1ST ahead of Wisconsin and Florida but they went 6 seconds over their oral defense and were deducted point. Later the Judges said Nevada would have finished 1st in Oral which meant they would have place 1st in the Nation. Six seconds,, Engineers sure are picky