Heard from Mark this morning at 0800 as they were passing Pt Coquille. Mark says that when he awoke at 0200, he decided the wind had come down enough for them to get going, so after getting everyone up and readying themselves and the boat they left Port Orford at 0245 with winds in the 12-18knot range. As we spoke it was blowing 12knots out of the north and with the favourable current, they were making about 5 knots.

It is 189NM to Astoria so if they go through the night, they could get there during the Thursday night/Friday morning and could be ready to cross the bar at slack water 0600 Friday morning.

The weather is sunny and beautiful today both for the intrepid delivery crew and for us in Hood River... although it is, BRRR, chilly for a change!

Afternoon Update: Mark called at 1830 to say they are 48NM south of Newport and pounding on northward. The winds are gusting to 25-27knots on the nose but they are still making good time. He didn't give a SOG. I checked NOAA and the reports are calling for the winds to subside a bit tonight.

BTW, I am driving out for the thrilling ride upriver to CL & HR... Ohhh, we get to have a bridge raised in Portland and go through the locks at Bonneville!