Photo by Fred Zeillemaker, 1982 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory).
Where on earth to begin? Adak - old US cold war naval air station, from what we could see of it, rather like Port Stanley, with a lot of ex government facilities now largely unused and falling apart. The jetties - 2 of them - once parking spots for big aircraft carriers, now have grass growing out of them. Difficult to get alongside huge fuelling wharf and even Whitters got knickers twisted first time. Met by Lacy Plummer - BAPTO please Speeds for help way beyond the call of duty of a Habourmaster. We were confined to the boat BY Order of the US Customs so Lacy organised 60 galloons of diesel and took our shopping list and bought us lots of goodies, even getting my glove size right. I now have waterproof lined rubber gloves and toasty hands. She had previously cleared our visit with USC, and also brought us the biggest bag of M&M's I've ever seen - we now have ready use tub of M&M's instead of boring peanuts in the cockpit. Got us the weather and generally fussed over us. Thanks Lacy.
Great Sitkin - whooo! Coming out of Adak, there were occasional breaks in the grey gloop and there, magnificent, gleaming, unbelievably close - near yet distant again! - the snow covered slopes of what seems to be a huge volcano. Only saw glimpses of it, unfortunately, and now it's pinching our wind as we work out way around it, way too close for the two finger rule and the wind, if there is any, goes over the top of us and up the mountain, a cosy for Teapot Rock.
Must now start keeping these short. Still working Hawaii sailmail station, but only just, so mostly iridium. Voucher dwindling fast.
David E.W. G'day! MJC, found the wharves despite google earth.
