In building the smoking racks, I wasted little material, using tall, young saplings for the framework, and the bark as wrapping to tie the framework together. I used reverse wrapping, as Grandpapa taught me, to strengthen the joints.
It was a lot of work getting the pieces to stand initially, but after much struggling, I was able to sturdy the salmon smoking structure once I got the initial pieces to stand in place. I am thankful for all the patience Grandpapa had in all my growing years. Without Grandpapa I would be dead already.
I got the work on the smoking racks done as early as possible so I can spend the next five or six hours fishing off the south side of my island, where we caught all the fish yesterday. I have a feeling in my bones that that's where a treasure trove of fish still exists.
I slipped on a green algae covered rock, Grann; and I slid hard, against the rocks, not able to grab anywhere to keep from sliding I hit the rocks below, where endless ocean waves ceaselessly soak everything.
I looked up and saw no way to climb back to the top. I was trapped. I would have to swim around the island to find a place to climb back to dry land. I didn't want to drown or starve to death or leave Bijou to the wilds.
The water is freezing cold. Too cold to survive for long if swimming. And too cold to move for long before cramping and becoming shark food. I tried to reason which direction would be best to swim in to find another shore, a place to get back on land; an animal crossing or a beach I hadn't yet discovered.