Blue Eyed Bliss: The Majestic Sea Barf

Wednesday night of our big va-cay we headed out to Neah Bay. We left Bremerton around 7:30 p.m. and made it to our destination by 11:00 p.m. Yawn. We set up our sweet tent and realized all we had was a tent, pillows and two blankets. Who doesn't like sleeping on tarp? I mean really, c-o-m-f-o-r-t. I've never slept better. Sike. I actually woke up in the wee hours of the morning, in the crack of the tent, laughing. I guess my subconscious thought it was hilarious that I was sleeping on tarp.

After a few hours of sleep (thanks Dramamine!) our alarms went off at 5 a.m. and we headed to the docks to board the majestic Sea Barf. The worthy Captain, Mr. Uncle John Krache, was ready for us to join him on board. Just in case you haven't put two-and-two together...the boat is really named the Sea Barf. Awesomeness. Once on board we got the run down on the rules of the day and a tour of the facilities (a 50 year old bucket for the ladies) and we were off in to open water.

Thanks to the seasickness patch behind my ear and two doses of Dramamine I didn't even get a bit of nausea. I was barely awake, but not sick! Okay, so I wasn't barely awake but I was pretty sleepy. Once we cruised passed the most breathtaking lighthouse I have ever seen, we left Salmon and Indianhead Rocks in the dust and kept on crusing and crusing and crusing. Approx. 12 miles out into the big blue sea. So far out that all we saw for miles was, you guessed it, water. A bit overwhelming at times, but I toughed it out. We did see seagulls, freightliners and SALMON! Yay for salmon.

I hadn't been salmon fishing in many, many years and I am pretty sure last time I went someone else reeled in the big ol' fish for me so it was a welcomed challenge that I soon found out to be exhausting. Man those fish fight. Especially if you catch them in the tail. Ugh. But, we loaded up the cooler with salmon by 3ish and then headed back towards land (hello land!) to bottom fish. So fun. I highly recommend bottom fishing because it is such a unique experience and the fish are so beautiful. Bright colors, bug eyes and huge, featherlike fins. I seriously can not put in to words how amazing it was to reel up from 150ft below and find a bright orange or purple crazy looking fish on your hook. Wow.

Big ol' orange bottom fish.

So, you'd think the fun stopped there but no, our Captain pulled out all the stops. Two words, sea cave. What? Have you not been in a deep, dark sea cave IN A BOAT? ON THE WATER? Yep, I am shouting that at you. I was totally freaked out and equally amazed. The clearest water under us and amazing sea creatures all around us. It was so picturesque and of course, I didn't have my camera. Dang Dramamine made me slightly (just slightly) foggy. UGH. But, it is burned in to my big ol' brain for ever. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen/done. Thank you Uncle John!

So after 10 hours in the Sea Barf what does one do? Well, drive back to Bremerton of course. I was such a worthy co-pilot as I snored in the seat next to Brett. What? Salmon fishing is exhausting. Thank you Brett for getting me back safely!

If you can't tell, I had an absolute blast and look forward to joining Captain John Krache on the Sea Barf in the future if we are lucky enough to get an invite back.