Almost Done

Yes we are, almost done and that's a very good and exciting place to be.  We came down on Friday with our friend and house sitter Diane.  It was good to be able to share a few of Newports charms with her and it gave us an excuse to do some touristy things that we usually wouldn't indulge ourselves in.  

This is the view from the other side of Yaquina bay. It's a gorgeous bay and the run up the Yaquina River to Toledo is an unspeakably beautiful.  

No trip to Newport would be complete without a visit to the sea lion docks.  

They seem to be great nappers in spite of or perhaps because there always seem to be one sea lion who feels like barking and boy, they can really bark.



They are also world class snugglers.  This young one seemed both safe and comfy amongst his elders.  I say "his" because I've been told this is a colony of males that had just returned from visiting with the ladies in California.  No wonder they all are so tuckered out...

















Looking over our neighbor's boat down the docks we see row upon row of boats, some ready to head out and others that will probably be there for some time to come.

We got the last of our gear on board; two SUP boards, the dinghy & motor, the new gennaker sail and two folding mountain bikes which were bonus items.  Things we didn't think that we'd be able to fit on Malo but we did and, and, and not only were we able to fit them, the boat seems to be well stowed, shipshape, with good workability above and below. 



Now we just have to tidy up a few loose ends at home.  On or after September 1st is still our target for departure and the only thing we have left to do on Malo before we go it to top off the water tanks.  We've filler her propane, gas and diesel thanks.  We be watching NOAA, Passage Weather and my visual favorite Windy for a favorable weather window for Crescent City CA, our first stop heading south.