There are two ways to get to Chignik – on a boat or in a plane.

The ferry runs twice a month to Chignik, and I happened to catch it at the right time. Since it fit with my economical mindset, my transportation was set.  A small plane service flies a bush plane to Chignik about once a day, for those who want to avoid the ferry system.

The sun was dipping low in the sky as I left the Salty Dawg saloon and headed towards the end of the Spit where the ferry boat was tied up to the dock.  I had my bags packed and my campsite torn down, leaving the Homer Spit behind.  I walked up the ramp to step onto the Tustumena and looked back at Homer.

This was my last chance to say no, to walk back down the ramp towards all that was familiar and comfortable – but I knew I’d always regret it, and so I turned and took the first step onto the ferry and into my summer adventure.

I was one of the first people on the ferry, so I tossed my gear on a bench in the lounge area and spread out to claim it as mine.  The room began to fill up and a fisherman took the bench across from mine and introduced himself to me.  His name was David, and he was fishing in Chignik as well.  He looked at me with my one duffel bag, a small backpack, and the shiny new Xtratuff rubber boots that I was wearing and smirked.

“You must be a greenhorn.”  I nodded, laughing at myself.  I knew I could use a friend who could help me know what to expect in Chignik, so I asked him a few questions and struck up a conversation.   For the remainder of the ferry ride to Chignik he gave me advice and introduced me to other guys who were headed out for the fishing season.

The ferry left and I went up on deck to enjoy the start of the ride.  The scenery was gorgeous, with mountains endlessly filling the horizon and sea otters playing in the water as the boat ponderously moved through the water.  In May the temperatures on the ocean were chilly, and so I began to get cold and headed back inside, with my excitement building at the beautiful scene that I had been taking in.

As I stepped into the lounge area, a man walked towards me as if he were looking for me.  Two young boys were following him, and I realized that I was about to meet the captain of my fishing boat – Axel.  He introduced his young sons and we talked briefly before he headed off to get the kids in bed.  I laid down on my bench, tired from the long day, but feeling good about how things were going.

I was on the ocean, I wasn’t throwing up from sea sickness, my captain seemed to be a good guy, and I had a friend to ask questions and get advice from.  I put in my ear plugs to drown out the sounds of people settling in for the night around me and fell asleep to the rocking of the waves that would soon be familiar to me.  I was on my way to Chignik, spending my first night on the ocean.