Has only a week gone by since we were in Astoria? Not even a week since we crossed the Columbia Bar, and the days are so full that the details of a week ago are already beginning to fade.

But here we go, in installments since I predict that this is going to be a record-breaker for one of my blog lengths.

GOING SOUTH
As my last entry indicated, about ten days ago, while Butch was checking marine weather forecasts from a variety of sources, as he did twice a day for 20-30 minutes, and seeing if an opening might pop up to head north, he "hmmmmmed" (as I had become quite accustomed to over the previous week and it was beginning to drive me crazy), and said, "I don't know if I should tell you this." GREAT. He was going to say that that window we were eyeing was disappearing and that we would be another week in Portland. It was a cold 40 F, it was windy, and the rain wouldn't stop. There were three small but constant leaks from the fixed ports on the forward coach roof; yet another complete repair and replacement, they had been watertight until we were hauled out for boat work some months previously. The stress and tweaking of the hull must have popped the silicone seal in a few places. We had small towels placed strategically on the cushions and the salon table to catch the drips -- which meant that half of our sitting area was occupied by towels. For the past several days I had begun to have serious misgivings about this whole adventure thing, and the thought of heading north into an even longer season of this was weighing heavily on me. I was not a Happy Camper, and I wasn't doing an inspired job of keeping that information from Butch.

"Tell me what?" I asked, sighing.

"The window is opening up," Butch replied. "I think we could make it to southern California."

What?! I got up and looked over his shoulder at the data. We spent almost 45 minutes scouring over different sites looking at winds, swells, and weather systems. That was at about 10am on Thursday, October 29. We spent the next several hours discussing it, weighing the pros and cons, what we'd miss, what we'd gain (never mind the charts and books and gear we'd purchased in the last three weeks), the risks involved. Reconsidering all the debate we'd already gone through weeks before. It would be four or five days to San Francisco, another two or three to Ventura if we could keep going. We talked with other boating friends. Most said GO if we had the chance. Trent was out doing errands, picking up last-minute items for our departure the next day, and we wanted to discuss this with him face-to-face, not over the phone. Butch said he would abide by my decision. It was still cold, still windy, still raining, and the boat was still leaking. At 2pm I said, "We can't attempt it without crew. I just don't have enough experience. If Trent is willing to go with us for this extended version, or if we could talk Jack or Mike into coming, then let's go for it. If we can't get anyone, we're not doing it. But if we can get crew, let's try to go south."

When Trent finally got back from his errands and called, I told him that we wanted to talk with him. He grabbed a quick late lunch and came down to our boat. He knew something was up from our behavior, but sat down and waited to hear what was happening. When we told him, he broke out in a huge smile. "I thought you guys were going to tell me you had decided to go to Hawaii. This is great news. What a pleasant surprise, and I'd be delighted to go south with you. What an opportunity!"

Alli told us the next day that he'd been grinning like a Cheshire Cat all evening.

So that next morning the three of us left Tomahawk Marina and headed downriver. We only told a few people of our intentions, and decided to keep the plan open until we actually left Astoria. Having had our plans changed for us so many times already, we resolved to remain tentative about the whole "turn left" or "turn right" commitment until we were in Astoria and had looked at the most up-to-date forecasts.

Coming next:
"Crossing the Bar"
"Offshore"
"Coos Bay"
"New Friends"

Some entries will be shorter than others ;)

Photo is Trent at the bow as we leave Walker Island bound for Astoria on Saturday, Oct 31.