Steven and I rolled onto the ferry, and slept hard, from dock to dock…
Tater in the bilge!
Its a good thing because the next 2 days were a whirlwind.
We are next to the last slip. But like always, we appreciate what we work for. And work we did!
Over 20 trips from the Potato, with 200lb plus carts at low tide. Steven earned his keep ad impresses some local fisherman with his energy and good attitude.
The food pile. Minus perishables, which are in out of the sun.
I could not have been more proud of Steven.
The beginning of our food storage process. All the coal displaced and relocated. to make room for provisions.
we packaged and portioned food until 2 AM the first day and somehow got it all stowed. Every cabinet is flush with the lid.
Jason Wilson did an outstanding job in provisioning and I move forward confident that our dietary needs will be met.
Goodbye Propane, hello Alcohol!
The next day we set about pulling off unnecessary items and refitting the cookstove.
Steve and I have a deal. He cleans up and sells the old hardware. we split the cash. He sold this boat in 15 minutes by rowing and yelling “Boat For Sale” Good hustle Steve!
Steven cleaned up the old tender and took it on a sales mission. Shortly thereafter he returned with cash in hand, which we split down the middle. A trick my father taught me in matters of work ethic and fairness.
About that time, Marty Owen showed up on his tender and gave us a hand splashing Scarlet Letter.
Mary Owen helps splash Scarlet, and her hull is wet for the first time.
Marty and Mary Owen are fantastic people. I have enjoyed their company since the moment we met.
Marty took some sailing pics in the hint of a breeze we had. Scarlet is a joy to sail!
Steve and I shake at a pivotal long awaited moment.Steve minds the helm as I push us off the beachAll the rigging is tied temporary until the “Sweet spot” is found. Then it will be clapped on fast with Marlin.
Steve minds the helm as I push us off the beachThe face says it allScarlet seems to move faster than the wind! What a quick sexy craft.The Scarlet Letter glides in a mere breath of wind, with a responsive helm. Absolutely beautiful…Steve and I pick through a rusty recent past, buried just under the moss.An old abandoned home we discovered, just inside the woodsStevo had his eye on a small Island, where a rusty junk heap lay on shore. We sailed Scarlet to the beach and took a look see.Scarlet and Empi meet for the first time.Steve sits at the fireplace of an old Island home that rots beneath our feet. Steve and I agreed it was spooky.Stevo had his eye on a small Island, where a rusty junk heap lay on shore. We sailed Scarlet to the beach and took a look see.The face says it all
Lots to comment on, so we are going to cram it all in this comment block:
We can’t believe you managed to fit all of that food aboard Empiricus! I hope you aren’t forgetting anything…guess you can always get stuff in Nome (they have an Alaska Commercial on the edge of town – Bixler’s favorite rural grocery store).
Hooray for getting rid of propane!!! Glad to see someone else is embracing the old school alcohol stove!
Scarlett Letter looks gorgeous in the water and looks like she sails beautifully. What an iconic tender for the Northwest Passage. Love the very last picture of Steven, looks like he’s having a blast.
EMPIRICUS EMBARKS 
Lots to comment on, so we are going to cram it all in this comment block:
We can’t believe you managed to fit all of that food aboard Empiricus! I hope you aren’t forgetting anything…guess you can always get stuff in Nome (they have an Alaska Commercial on the edge of town – Bixler’s favorite rural grocery store).
Hooray for getting rid of propane!!! Glad to see someone else is embracing the old school alcohol stove!
Scarlett Letter looks gorgeous in the water and looks like she sails beautifully. What an iconic tender for the Northwest Passage. Love the very last picture of Steven, looks like he’s having a blast.