The Shed Boys...

Rogues Blog #8:
The story is told of a group of slow-talking singer-songwriters who drifted into Port Townsend awhile back from parts unknown (west Texas some say). These good ole boys were full of piss and vinegar and when they weren't jammin' on street corners for nickels and dimes they were out courting rich, lonely old widows. A few of the wealthier ladies opened their homes, their bedrooms, and eventually their bank books to these crooning rascals. They became known as "The Shed Boys"... and legend has it they're still around, perhaps hanging out at the Better Living Through Coffee Coffeehouse like the group of pickers pictured below. In "Rogues" one of these rapscallions - wearing his "Love A Curmudgeon" t-shirt - has his world rocked when the heroes of the book (five, 100-ton killer whales) make an appearance in Port Townsend Bay (fifty feet from the window). And the Best Picture Oscar goes to... "The King's Speech."

Memory's Vault...

Rogues Blog #7:
Fort Worden State Park is 443-acres of fir trees, winding trails, and long abandoned concrete artillery batteries with spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Named after Admiral John L. Worden, Commander of the Monitor in its Civil War battle against the Merrimac, the former Army post is now a popular recreation, artistic, and educational retreat. One section of the park - Memory's Vault - features poems by Sam Hamill... moving tributes to nature and the beautiful surroundings. My favorite is below. Alas it was the last poem Marine Biologist Katrina Kincaid would read in "Rogues."

"Black March Eclogue"

Although it is midsummer,

the great blue heron

holds the darkest winter in its hunched shoulders,

those blue-turning-gray clouds

rising over him

like a storm from the Pacific.

He stands alone in the black marsh

more monument than bird.

He watches the heart of things

and does not move or speak.

But when at last he flies,

his great wings cover the darkening sky,

and slowly,

as though praying,

he lifts

almost motionless

as he pushes the world away.

View of Mt. Baker from Fort Worden

More Hamill at Memory's Vault

A Killer Called Hope...

Rogues Blog #6:

In 2002, the body of a female orca was found stranded on the North Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Just offshore, a healthy, young male hovered close by, refusing gentle attempts to guide him into safer deep water. Although the male was saved, it was soon discovered that the female's body carried one of the highest loads of toxic chemicals ever tested, far outside the usual levels found. These were PCBs (lab created chemicals) and DDTs (first developed as pesticides). 

The full skeleton of this magnificent 22 foot, 8,200 pound killer whale was dug up from a farmer's field recently and is currently being assembled at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center (where "Rogues" marine biologist Katrina Kincaid works), including 159 bones and the upper and lower jaws containing 22 and 24 conical teeth respectively. Students named her Hope. She is one of only five orca skeletons on display in the U.S. See pics below. Unfortunately, these high levels of pollution are happening in oceans around the world. 

The Killer Whale Called Hope

Hope's body loaded on flatbed

Learn... get involved in saving the oceans!

Hope's lower jaw

A Proud and Ancient People...

Rogues Blog #5:
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting several members of the Makah Tribe in Neah Bay, WA. The small fishing town sits on the western edge of the Olympic Peninsula bordered by the magnificent Strait of Juan de Fuca and the vast Pacific Ocean. Two characters in the book - Houdini and his sage The Old One - are Makah so it was great to see the village first hand and visit the Makah Museum, where elders June Williams and Kirk Wachendorf generously gave me a private tour. It's a fascinating culture!

This is a proud people who have lived on this land for 4,500 years, yet like all other Native peoples their lives were thrown into chaos by white settlers and the U.S. government. They have never recovered from that travesty. If you're interested in a fascinating learning experience, here's a link to the Makah website: http://www.makah.com/history.html

One interesting sidebar: I met a Makah fisherman, Dan Greene (in red below), who introduced me to his son (the little guy) and two crew members, all named Dan. Why? When they were given Anglo names it's the one they all liked the best. Go figure! Go Packers!

Four Guys Named Dan

Skeleton of 30 ton gray whale in Museum

June and Kirk