We, like the English, must start each conversation with a weather report for we live in the most interesting climate. Southeast weather frames each brief period of sunshine with days of gun metal gloom. It was foggy when I spotted these pigeons going off work after a night of cleaning the downtown docks. Some might say that more pigeons, borne by the cruise ships would soon replace them. Now the sun beats down on town, reddening our pale white faces. This is a fishing day and giving fishing reports is almost as popular here as complaining about the weather.

There were whales feeding in the North Pass when we tried for salmon. We had many chances but could only control one —a large male pink salmon too far into the spawning cycle to eat.  My best chance was with a powerful silver salmon that frankly bested me by running hard at the boat and then dancing on his tail around the bow to freedom. A shower at home and red wine brought me enough distance to see our bout for the gift it was — a chance to control the uncontrollable with a 200 feet of thin fishing line.