Gull Cove, Alaska

We landed on a calm stretch of ocean protected on three sides by surrounding land and by a big island that ran parallel with the lodge a mile or so to the west. As we climbed down from our plane, we were greeted by a friendly looking chap who looked as if he could have been captain on the whale ship Pequod, had he been born a fictional book character and lived 150 years or so earlier. He was of stout proportions, dressed in regalia that reflected the likeliness he worked outdoors for a living. He sported a classic shipman's salt and pepper beard that partially hid his friendly round face and wore rubber boots that were well broken in. The big man had a warm smile that suggested he was sincerely glad we were there. He introduced himself as Paul Johnson and welcomed us to Gull Cove.
Standing on the dock along side Paul, was Alex, a Johnson family friend from Seattle. He was Paul's 17 year old deck hand and assistant and this was his job for the Summer.

                                          -Tami, Paul and Alex

After helping us unload our gear, Paul and Yard led us up the ramp to the lodge where we laid down our bags just inside the sturdy front door.
Out from a store room off to the side of the kitchen walked a friendly blond headed gal who'd apparently been hurrying herself with last minute preparations as her newest guest arrived. Paul introduced her as his lovely wife Tami and she too made us feel sincerely welcome. Tami had a slight northern accent that suggested she might originally be from Wisconsin or Minnesota and handled herself in a way that told us she was born to make folks feel comfortable, welcome, and immediately at home.



-Ricky Ricardo

We noticed a young lad sitting on top the refrigerator who appeared to be somewhere between 5 and 6 years of age. Paul called to him to come down and meet the visitors. The miniature man reluctantly jumped from the fridge to the counter top a few feet down from where he'd been sitting, before pouncing a second time onto the kitchen floor. Paul said, "Guys, this is our son Ricky!". Ricky looked us over, apparently unimpressed with the new guys and quickly climbed back up to his preferred perch on the fridge.                          -Little Ricky

                                          -Alice in the Palace

Next we met little Alice, Ricky's younger sister. Alice looked a lot like her mom and although not completey impressed with our arrival, did seem somewhat more enthused about us being there than her older brother had. She gave us a smile as she showed us a future work of art she'd been busily crafting before we walked in. She sat back down at the table and proceeded as if there in fact hadn't been an interruption to her three year old world.
                                         
-Paul dressed for work
Paul showed us around the lodge and filled us in on the specific details of making ourselves at home. I noticed Ricky had climbed down from the fridge and was now standing in the living area in front of the wood stove. I broke away and went over to the young man to introduce myself one on one. I bent down and put my hands on my knees to get closer to his level and as I asked little Ricky how he was doing, he drew back his right arm and cold cocked me with a closed fist upside the face. My surprised head reacted to the blow by bending to the right and quickly back to center, like it was sitting on top one of those Fred Flintstone blow-up whacking bags they used to sell in the annual "Sears Wish Book" in the early 70's. Before I was able to completely gather my senses, "SMACK",  he whacked me again. "Little Ricky" then went for the apparent knock out blow, but this time I was ready; I caught his hand mid air, looked him in the eye and whispered, "Please don't do that again!"
He glanced down at my boots before looking me square in the eye, just long enough to convey that he was more than likely thinking, "I'm not afraid of you 'new guy'", before quickly climbing back up on top  the refrigerator. Before the day was out, I was referring to him as "Ricky Riccardo", a nick name that would stick from that point on.

After showing us around, Paul escorted us out of the lodge, down the gangway, around the corner and over to the two individual cabins where we'd be relaxing the next few nights...when we weren't fishing,  counting bears, whale watching, or just leisurely cruising around the Alaskan gulf coast on the Johnson whaling ship, "YAKOBI"!