Off the water today

Eds Adventures: It has been a while since my last update. It has been a challenge getting time to update the blog as much has been happening on and off the water. Last week was a real adventure. Some of the highlights were: frist day as deckhand i stepped off the boat with leftover lunches and ended up in the water. saved the lunches but scraped my body up a bit. Later that week I was getting off the boat with the days garbage and somehow my glasses went flying into the marina. Okay, I lost it for a minute. Wade my captain had a look of shock as I  shouted out a few explatives. He calmly got a net and started skimming the water. Soon he had my glasses and all was well. I felt a bit embarrassed by my behavior and apologized and thanked him for his help. Wade has been awesome to work for and a great guy. He has been on the island for 18 years and been shrimper, and runs the maintenance foe a shipyard before working on the oil spill. He knows the waters well and has such a history of the area along with Lenny and Darcy old timer captains from here.
By Wednesday the waters were so rough and we had zone 7 at the Empire Jetty's about 50 miles from Grand isle. Wades boat is 21 ft and 225 Merc outboard. It is fast but does not rider well in rough water. We got soaked by the time it was over.
Thursday was a stand down because of rough seas. By Friday Willdife and Fisheries announced they were avacuating due to Bonnie. I was now in a delema about where to go. Part of me wanted to just head back to FL and say goodbye. Bret texted me about staying near him in Denham Springs at his place or KOA near Baton Rougfe about 3.5 hours away. I had packed up my camper and moved to Allens house because the state park was full for the weekend.
That was good so Friday everyone started heading off the island. Allen left and I waited for Brett to find out what he was doing. Freddy, David were gone back to New orleans. I ended up locking my keys in the car. I pulled out my spare key and it did not work. I was stuck until Allen or Bret called. i had a spare battery for the key but no tiny screwdriver to replace it. I was at a low by this time just worn out from the challenges. Allen came back about noon and got ready to pack up. He took me over to the Sureway grocery-hardware store to see if I could get a screwdriver. The clerk looked through and could not find one small enough. I was going to have to call a locksmith. He checked for a minute longer and found one. Thank you Lord. He got it opened and I chnaged the battery. Allen dropped me off and left. i walked to my car calling the Holy Spirit to allow the key to work. I came close to the car and pressed the button. The doors popped open and all was well. What a relief was.
Brett called and met him at the Bridgeside marina finally about 2:30. he had to go back out on the water and was not leaving. He gave me directions and I left the island. I drove toward baton rouge following 1-90 to 1-10 to 310-to 55 to 1-12. to denham springs. It was kind of a suburb and a KOA for $40 night filled with large RV's and cable and pool. A few trees and a park across the way. It was my first and last KOA. crowded with people and no space. behind the campground was a toxic pond with a few leftover barrels of some toxic mix and NO SWIMMING signs. Nice touch!!!  The park was a little better and able to walk for a couple of miles along a little ditch.
I stayed for Fri and Sat night and found a Chilli's to have a meal. The storm never materialized

Sun morning I packed up and headed back to Grand Isle. Got here about 1:00 and checke into my old site lucky 13. Few people were back but they had the big party fundraiser. It was supposed to be International Tarpon Rodeo weekend fishhing tournament and concert. They had the concert with some stars, The little river band and some other names. It was good for the island and had about 10000 people. Kind of glad I missed it as traffic was terrible I heard. Wade and his family went and had a good time.
We were back on the water Monday morning with rough waters. BP decided to inspect all boats and also do drug testing for all personel this week. What a huge cost and wasate of moneyt. It seems they are trying to get rid of as many people as possible to lower costs.  There will be a lot fewer people here by the end of the week.
Tuesday we found out there was a gas line ruptured by a dredge boat spewing out oil and gas and sediment inot the air and spraying one of the few unoiled marshed areas. What a nightmare as it is still not shut off as of Thursday. How much more damage can happen here. I think it was BP sabatoge to divert the focus off them on Day 100. Anyway Wades boat broke down yesterday afternoon with water in the fuel tank and running on 4 cylinders. this morning it was not fixed and so I have time off until he gets it fixed. Too bad, no pay for today but hope he gets it fixed by tomorrow. I will take it easy and try to wash my car and clean it out. It is such a mess!!
I am not sure the title fits so much anymore. It does not exactly feel like the JOURNEY OF WONDERMENT but more like JOURNEY OF SURVIVAL. I have some more pics of new oil coming in and more bird island rookeries.

Days into weeks

Eds Adventures: It has been a while since an update but every day is filled on the water. We are finding more oiled areas after Alex and most boom was damaged or blown on shore. This week there have been an increase in dead and oiled birds. While it is good news that the oil has stopped spilling, there are 120 million gallons still out in the gulf. BP continues to use dispersant as a " out of sight out of mind" mentality if they can sink it most people will think everything is okay while they will be creating a terrible nightmare on the sea floor where most of the commercial biodiversity is nurtured.

I continue to volunteer for wildlife and fisheries after a lengthy process trying to get hired. I am not sure how much longer I will be staying as there are a few opportunities within the next month and am waiting to here. Probably sometime in early August I will come back to Fl. for a break and see what transpires from there.

It is a rainy morning with lightning this morning so wanted to update the blog with the latest from Grand Isle. We have moved marinas for the third time since May. We had moved into the state wildlife research lab and enforcement building. It was unbelievable to see how state and federal agencies are filled with egos and power. We had about 12 boats and 50 people with captains and state people from all over the country. The facility was new and we had dock space. The research lab folks gave no support and complained about everything we did. In a crisis like that it seems everyone would pull together for the good of the cause. It is their waters we are trying to save and protect.

Many of the wildife people coming here have amazing histories. I have been out with Dave who does eagle banding in Michigan and Bryan who does grizzly bear and black bear and mountain lion tagging in Idaho. There is someone who is doing condor research in Ca. Amazing group of people coming here for 2 week assignments working on the water.

Mark and Mike continue to battle the politics and we have moved to a new marina near the grand isle bridge. Last night i was over to Freddy's place for dinner and see some of the golf. He invited about 10 of the wildlife people including Patti and Emily to come speckled trout fishing off his pier. They were catching all kinds of fish. Yesterday they opened recreational fishing to the area and everyone was so excited to finally get to enjoy their passion. It is such a good things as they people are working long hours with little to do in time off. These groups of people have formed strong bonds and life experiences over the last few months. I have been so blessed to meet good people along the way.

After the state park increased fees to $26 per day I found a new place to put my camper. A friend of Freddy's who has a camper and a lot on the island is letting me stay for cheaper. There is a bus, and two campers and outside shower here. It is a interesting experience and opportunity for growth and to see the reality if peoples lives here still suffering from katrina. Hopefully I can make it for a few more weeks.

Back in Grand isle

Eds Adventures; what a great week in Fl visiting friends and catching up on things. I got to play tennis with Larrry on Sun after 14 hours of driving and little sleep and not much to eat. It took its toll on me and ended up dehydrated and spent time trying to regain energy and rest.
i played golf with Jay and my tenant JJ and had 2 great rounds. i think it was so nice to just get out and get some excersize and enjoy the beauty and wildlife at Riverbend with no expectations. Jay was awesome and stored about 200 pounds of equipment and kayak that I do not need down here. It was great to simplify and lighten my load. Better on gas mileage as well.

I got to have dinner for Tommy Yasinky's  50th brithday and celebrate with his parents and Mario and Grace their friends. It was a surprise when I saw Tommy on his daily walk and called ou to him. He had no idea I was coming back so it was a cool surprise.
I spent time with Mary kay at the pro-shop. She is so wonderful and a gifted Spirit. She and I relate in many ways spiritually as well as common interest and being slow this time of year we had some quality time. She is such a great friend and confidant. 

About 4 am on Monday morning I left to come back down here. I drove about 750 miles and stopped in Missippi near Shepard st park and Sandhill Crane wildlife refuge where I stayed about 2 months ago heading out west. You just never know what kind of twists and turns literally, will happen. Never would have dreamed I would be where I am now half way thourgh my journey of wonderment. But al leats I can say for one opf the few times in my life that I let go of control and ego always planning my  life and truly listened to the spirit and led me to Grand Isle.

Early Tuseday morning I drove through New Orleans for the 2 nd time in a week. It would be nice to check out the town some day. Made it back to Grand Isle about noon after being stranded by a telephone pole across the highway with no other routes to the island only 25 miles away. Alex was in full force with winds and rain and was lucky to get the camper set up w/out rain.

we were on stand down for 2 days becaues of weather. Thursday I filled out paperwork for LA Wildlife and Fisheries and Karl one of Marks crew drove me to Houma and gave forms and etc to BP and wildlife. So now still waiting for a job to come through. The observer job may be back on in a week or so. BP is playing games with every group of contractors I have met. Boat captians have been working for 30-40 days with no ;pay. NOAA directed programs for observing skimmers for wildlife have been ignored and the stories go on and on. BP's marketing campaign is such a JOKE. Experts from the Valdaz spill say that whatever you here in the media multiply it by 5 and that will be the true damage. It is so sad to see this happening.
The latest twist is BP has required ALL baot captains go on rotation and bring in boats from all over the country who have NO EXPERIENCE in thse waters to survey the waters with wildlife staff. The bays and bauyous are filled with sunkin pylings from abandoned drilling and waters are so shallow in many places. The captains we have had for a month are local and know these waters. Even with that several boats have lost propellers and lower units on their boats.  Today was the last day for every captain and do not know when they will be back if at all. It was really hard ot say good-bye to Freddy, Albert Ballard, David and others that have been the best. The bar was set high and it will be hard to find any group as good as them. I sure hope they get to come back soon.
Some of the boats showing up are a water hazard and many of the captains have never been to La. How messed up is that. Our lives on in their hands. I know I will be watching carefully as others and know that Mark will boot them out if they put anyone in danger or do not know the waters.
We got back on the water Friday and it felt so good to be back doing something. The waters are a mess with Alex and most islands lost all of their boom up on shore with nestiung birds. It is so heartbreaking to endure after a lot of hard work over the last few months hoping to save much of the breeidng birds. We have not had huge amounts of new oil coming in so that is the good news. Also we see so much beauty here on the waters. The islands and bayous are one of the most beautiful places on earthy and most of what we still see appears that way for now. We saw an otter family and continue to see dolphins everywhere and the bird islands are bountiful with so many species of birds. Brown pelicans still seem to be the most affected but we recovered and oiled royal tern the other day and took it to Port Sulpher to be transported to FT Jackson. I have a pic on the site and it was quite the adventure. We picked up the bird and had about 15 miles ot take it with storms brewing all over the place. We had one already earlier in the day. Albert Ballard who is local commecial fishemen and just a great guy took off and we had no joice buyt go thorugh heavy storm to get to the site. It was blowing and raining and I laid over the pet crate protecting the tern. To see the eyes of the bird not knowing what in the world is happening. Fortunately it was fairly calm and I jsut felt this spirit within the bird as I talked to it like a goofball that I am letting it know it will get the SPA treatment once it gets to rehab. The gulls and terns do not do well in rehab and I just hope this one gets released one day. especially since we pretty much risked our lives for it. Good news their was no lightning so never felt in danger especially with Albert. He is incredible in his knowledge of the waters and weather and I am learing so much about this area. We made it and their and bird was picked up. Finally made it back to dock after 175 miles on the water. That is a TON in heavy choppy waters and rain storms. What a long day. We also had to go to training at 7:00 to learn how to use Tremble GPS units when we recover birds and send the data coordinates and info. The data is downloaded directly to BP servers. and their is no back-up. It is hard to imagine why we are giving the data to BP and have no other source of verifikcation. Somehow I think BP will lose all kinds of data and underreport the damage to wildlife. It just seems ridiculous and sublime that they are still running the show. The problem is if the gov't takes over they will never get paid from BP. The units are horrbly unrealiable and will be a real pain. More fun to come.
Fortunately I am becoming good at not worrying about things I can not control and focus on what I can.
today was another adventure. We were at some beautiful areas and avoided the rain. we walked a couple fo beaches where reported birds. The beaches were so loaded with oyster shells you could not believe. Also had nesting skimmer birds by the hundreds and same with the brown pelicans. They all flew off as we passed by which is always thew best news because that means none are so oiled that they needed caught. I got some nice picks and video. the day was goign good and it was Alberts last day on the water. After lunch at a fish camp on the water that we borrrow for lunch and bad waether to hide. We only use their porch or below the cabin to get out of heat wind and rain for a bit. BP also hiring caterers who fed us with a cold hotdog with some processed cheese for lunch. What a croc. they were actually feeding us well for while.
Then we were passing an abandoned oil platform which are verywhere in the bays and makes me sick there are no regulations ot clean up these sites rusting and a terrible sight among such beauty. I just ccan not believe companies can let these thinsg happen with no regard. Anyway we ened up hitting a underwater pipe hidden from view. It tore up Alberts prop and gears and his transom on the boat. By some miracle he put an spare in the boat this morning. He has been out for 2 months and and no problems, never had a spare. Noone was shaken too  bad as we were going fairly slow another blessing. He was only a couple of hours from bing done on the job and it killed me to see this happen. The prop and motor were onl,y a week old and will cost some money to fix. He took it unbelievable and rolled with the punch never getting upset even though it was the oil companies fault. We took the rig info as they are responsible but probably never see a cent. we finally amde it back and went over to Bret place a friend of Freddy's. It looks like I will be able to move the camper to his place and hook up there. I need to get out of the state park. They raised the rates to $26 from 16 a 40% increase in June. No beach closed trails, Coast Guard and beach crews there are killing me.  It should work out so much better and cheaper if I end up staying here.

Well,. that is about it for now and hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July. It truly is a beautful country filled with so much wonderful wildlife and nature which is our heritage and we must protect and save it just like we cherish our Independance so much. Many times we value individual freedom so much it it hurts our nation and wildlife which should always be UTMOST important. It is the reason our Forefathers had in mind and we need to make it our priority again in this nation taken over by greed and power.

Take Care

Ed