We’ve just returned from a whirlwind driving trip to Seattle for the annual workboat show. This is a boat show for tugs, fishboats, charter boats and such – boats very similar in size to ours, with much of the same equipment aboard. It’s a chance to talk to engineers and technicians who build and service the stuff we have; to see what’s new, and what might help solve this or that nagging little issue we have with the boat.

This year I’m focusing on our heater system (which uses engine coolant to heat the fore and aft ends of the boat inside); improvements to the performance of the air conditioners (which are also heaters); the flow scan which measures the amount of fuel being used and the right materials for dealing with paint / rust issues. Also I found a very cool little gizmo that should solve the issue of knowing how deep the effluent is in the black water tanks (as long as I can solve the problem of how to install it).

We also had the chance to visit with many of our Seattle friends – Wade, who’s crewed with us portions of the past two summers; John (Wade’s friend) a solo circumnavigator in a tiny sailboat who crewed in September from Pt Angeles to Bodega Bay; Ben, who crewed with us from Seattle to Wrangell AK last January and his parents – especially his mom who actually reads, and can quote from this blog, bless her; Kurt & Marcia from MV Alpenglow; Ginger & Peter from SV Marcy; David Burch at Starpath; Deniva and the folks at SMA; Barb & Bill, boat parts people extraordinaire at Hatton Marine and David C. who is close now to taking delivery of his very own Diesel Duck.

The weather wasn’t great, and I did get a cold/sore throat for a couple of days, but overall it was an enjoyable, successful trip. On the way up we stopped overnight with our good friend Bill H at Trinity Center (northwest of Redding CA). The following morning, we headed north on Hwy 3 over Scott Mountain, through Etna and Fort Jones. The roads were clear as there’d been no snow for a week or so, skies blue. A really beautiful drive up to Yreka (Gump’s hometown), then back onto I-5 for the rest of the trip north.

Back to Sonoma County in time for Thanksgiving at the house on Pleasant Hill with Patrick’s family. No actual fistfights, no blood drawn, great food and good company making it a successful holiday by my calculation. And back to DavidEllis… everyone happy to be home. The crab fleet hasn’t made it out of the harbor yet; between weather and the price being offered by the buyers, it hasn’t yet been worth starting an engine. There was a meeting yesterday afternoon, but the buyers are offering the same price the fisherman sold their crab for 20 years ago. Some are now taking the pots off their boats and going black cod fishing until the price comes up – it’s their life, and they’re entitled to a fair price.

Had a visit yesterday from grand-daughter Jordanne and her friends Benje and Rob. They played Risk with Dorothy. World domination was not actually settled but I’m pretty sure the gals from Sebastopol wiped up the floor with the boys from Texas. My brother John and Birdy came out with my brother Terry, his wife Martha and their great kids Joseph and Jezelle. John and Bird did their vacation on DE summer 2010, but Terry and his family have never seen the boat. I wouldn’t be surprised if Joseph and/or Jezelle end up as cabin boy/girl next summer.

Apparently it’s tick season – I hates ‘em, along with mossies, fire ants and the Alaskan white-sock no-see-um which nails me each time I visit the beach at Pruth Bay.

That’ll do it for now…