camp coffee at dawn

​~ Katie Budd, Commercial Fisherman and store manager for Fisherman's Market West Vancouver.

So, my story isn’t harrowing or about rough seas as so many fishing stories are. What I want to write is about is a feeling. The feeling of waking up on the pacific north coast. ​

Long after losing service or keeping track of how many days we have been working. The coffee is on, it’s usually between 4:30 and 5:30 in the morning (depending on how the captain is feeling) and the pot of camping coffee being made on the diesel stove inside the wheelhouse is wafting out onto the deck.

Sitting there and watching the first hints of sunrise shed light on the most beautiful corners of this province (I would argue the most beautiful places on earth) is where I have seen true grace. There is no mystery in the day that lies ahead, just a job that needs to be done, fish that we will catch and receive a pay cheque for, a dinner that will be filling and then another night of rest before doing it all again the next day.

​Cell phones and the bustle become more like remembering a bizarre dream and being present is the reality in all aspects of the day, as it is hard, long and potentially dangerous, so being present is the only option, really. Maybe it’s because of these realities of being out fishing that makes that first cup of coffee smell and taste better than anything I have ever experienced anywhere in the world.