Westport

Thursday night I got a message from Kevin saying that fishing had turned red hot and that they'd filled the boat to capacity and would be heading in to unload. I'd been wanting to take Abby and Ben out to Westport to see Kevin on one of these days that Kevin was in port in between fishing trips, so I tentatively planned on going out to the coast for the day with the kids. But when I talked to Kevin on the phone in the morning, I found out he was only planning to be at the docks a couple hours longer before heading back out since the tuna were only about 5 hours away and he hoped to catch the late afternoon and evening bite. I didn't know the fish had moved closer and had thought I'd have all day (last week he'd been fishing off the coast of Oregon near Tillamook - a 13-hour boat drive - and so would be in at the docks all day and then drive all night back to the tuna). Still wanting to take Abby to visit her Daddy and also wanting to take more food out to Stephen and Kevin so they wouldn't have to waste money buying more food at the lone expensive grocery store in town, I frantically called my mom to see if she'd watch Ben for the day so that Abby and I could leave ASAP (I knew I couldn't get out there quickly with Ben too!). My mom, who had just got back the evening before from being in Oregon all week, graciously agreed to watch Ben.

So, Abby and I (with 1 cooler and 3 overflowing paper grocery bags full of food - yay for stockpiled free/cheap food from couponing! =), headed down the road and arrived about lunchtime...only to find out that Kevin was no longer in a hurry. Because of several boat projects, he wouldn't be heading out until evening. Lucky for us, we got to spend the next several hours with Kevin and Stephen and didn't have to worry about caring for baby Ben who was happy to be back at home with Grandma (remember how much he hates car rides? =). Abby was ecstatic to see her Daddy and to check out his boat.

Saying "hi" to the anchovies in the bait tank.

"Driving" the boat with Daddy.

Since Kevin had some time to spare, we all went out to the Mexican Restaurant in town that we'd been given a gift certificate for almost two years ago and hadn't had a chance to use! It was nice for the guys to get a nice, big hot meal and Abby had lots of fun eating chips and feeding them to her Daddy!

Kevin wanted Abby to sit with him on his side of the booth. =)

Then we headed over the beach for awhile. We unfortunately couldn't stay long because Kevin had an appointment at the bait dock to get more anchovies. But even for the short time we were there, Abby was elated. She definitely is a beach-lover like her Mommy. =)

Checking out a crab shell with Daddy.

Daddy's girl all the way!

Next we headed back to the boat and got to go for a ride over to the bait dock. Abby seemed to enjoy the boat ride and was busy taking it all in.

The bait dock.

Stephen dumping a net-full of anchovies into the bait tank.

Stephen showing Abby one of the anchovies and she even touched the wiggly fish!

For the next hour, we just hung out with Kevin on the dock - talking with other captains, watching fish being filleted, watching the boats tie up, and visiting Kevin's seafood store that he co-owns.

Abby's holding two tuna cans that she spotted right away and recognized as the same as the ones that she "helps" pack up and ship from our house.

Abby also had a great time spotting various sea lions and seals that swam around the boat basin (that's the other side of Kevin's seafood store in the background).

Unfortunately, it was all too soon time for us to get going and back to baby Ben, and time for Kevin to get back to work on the boat. But Abby had a wonderful time and I'm so glad we finally made it out there so she could have a better idea of what her Daddy is doing when he is gone all the time.

Saying good-bye.