Our friend Alice arrived last night for our trip from Astoria to Newport. We'll leave at 10:30am to arrive at the Columbia River Bar at slack tide, about 12:30. The reports say it will be 8' at 9 seconds, with 2' wind waves and 8 mph wind from the north. About as good as it's going to get for this time of year. It will take us about 20 hours to get to Newport.

We'll stand 3 hour watches. Jeff will stand his alone, and Alice & I will stand ours together.

This morning is beautiful. Fluffy white clouds with hints of pink. No wind, about 59 degrees. We'll fuel up and take last minute showers, buy a new spotlight at Englund Marine, then be off down the river.