Heads Up!
The Merry Sea is nearly complete and as the attached picture shows, Robin and Sue have done a fine job. Beginning today, you can follow Robin and Sue on their adventure at the following web site; www.backwardsfromketchikan.org Thanks to Keari Eggers for providing the creative skills to make this web site a reality!
Our Thanks also goes to Doug from the Feathercraft Kayak Co, for the generous donation of their water proof Sealskin fabric, to Steve Chapin and the Point Hudson Boat Shop for the Worm Shoe, to Ellen Falconer from On Deck Sewing & Design for the wonderful Canvas Covers, to Tom Mailhot for setting up the shop in the snow, Barbs rudder and for just being there for Robin when things didn't go just so, to Dewitt Whitman for setting up the RowWings and to Susan Kinne for the last minute change for backstays, to our friend Anita Bigelow from Portland, for her generous gift from JL, to Barbara Colvin for her work every Sunday on the beautiful bulkheads, to Dennis Droz for his work on the Solar Battery charger and bilge pump, to Nate Clement for hishelp during the early weeks, to Ann and Rita for your help and friendship, to Alan Randal for all the liquid refreshments, honorable mention goes out to Ben Hall for repairing Robin's bike when she needed it the most, and finally to Dale McKinnon for being so patient and answering all of our questions. Dale has done this trip twice before.
Least we forget all our families, friends and coworkers, who have wondered where we've been these past months, and to the those coaches who put up with all the missed practices, our Thanks.
A kick off party is planned for this Sunday, May 6th at 1:00 at Mathews Beach. There will be an opportunity to row the Merry Sea, good food and talk about rowing the Inside Passage and to say thanks to all those friends and family who have helped and contributed in so many ways to make their trip a success. Come see one of only three Merry Sea's in existence.
Trip preparations are nearly complete. Fresh Veggies are being dried, and all the food is being packed into numerous Bear Canisters, camping supplies have all being laid out, inspected and packed into dry bags. Charts have all be purchased, VHF radios, GPS, and Satellite radio made ready. All safety items and first aid kit have been assembled and packed into dry bags. They will be anchoring the Merry Sea away from shore at night, using a Fortress FX-7 4lb anchor, 10' 3/16" chain with 400' of anchor line and 400' of yellow poly pro retrieval line.
This weekend saw the Merry Sea begin her first water trials. I can report that she floats upright and tracks true. On two different rows, 15k in total including an afternoon row around the mid channel bouy, the rigging was adjusted and tightened.
Canvas and worm shoe should be complete by Thursday, and then she'll come back to Seattle for final (we hope) preparations for Sundays roll out party.
Several interested rowers/paddlers have expressed an interest in meeting up w/ Sue and Robin for parts of their trip. If you are one of these hardy souls, please get in touch with me and what area your interested inaccompanying them and when. Robin and Sue are also interested in findingour who might be willing to do a Hot Seat along the way, just in case!
They have their Alaska State Ferry Tickets, leaving Bellingham on the afternoon of May 29 and arriving in Ketchikan the morning of May 31. Rowing Goddess willing, they will begin their trip June 1.
