After a two-year stop-over in Bodega Bay CA, MV David Ellis is underway again, currently off the Oregon Coast, enroute Seattle; ETA Tuesday. Crew is Bruce B, a friend of 40 years, and one of his compatriots from El Dorado County, CA, Greg R. Both have plenty of experience on this run and are great company.

Conditions have been fair to great thus far, and looking good for the remainder of the voyage. Weather, once again, courtesy of Lee Chesneau! In November we plan to continue north, back to our friends at Superior Marine Services, Wrangel AK for help with our topsides rust/paint issues. We were largely unsuccessful in our dockside DIY effort last year and this year, and it's time to call in the pros.

That will set us up for another summer season cruising SE Alaska 2014!

Recent milestones include DJ's first birthday in May (I was somewhere in mid-Pacific aboard MV Shearwater with David C and crew). Early July, home again to DE, the ever-lovely (and patient) Ms Dorothy, the R's -- Rusty & Rascal -- family and friends.

Dot and I did some semi-local traveling: down to Monterey to re-connect with Lisa E and Dave and, after too many years, Steve W (biologist emeritus) Later a drive up the Lost Coast to Shelter Cove and Eureka, good memories and a field trip for the Rs.

We just returned from a quick trip back east visiting with brother Tom, Fred & Valerie, Uncle Jim, Aunt Bea, cousins Pete & Jo's family, cousin Steve and Chris (who you may remember we last visited with in Dumaguete, Philippines) and finally cousin Tom & Tracey, Eleanor and Jack.

I turned 64... and Dorothy and I had our 45th wedding anniversary (surprised the heck out of me -- both that I'm still alive, and that Dorothy has put up with me this long. I am truly, sincerely grateful for both). Summer of 1967 -- first summer out of high school for me; Dorothy and I had started dating 1 January 67 -- the Beatles / Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was singing "will you still need me: will you still feed me..." So I guess the answer is yes, at least to the feeding part.

Thanks to the crew at Spud Point Marina -- Henry, John, Tom, the happy guy, Greg (not so happy), Noah and the ladies in the office, Will (great welding job -- mcdowellfab@gmail.com ) and especially to our great neighbors on A dock: Dale, Milt and Frank!