Preparations continue...

Lone Wolf is now ensconced in Cap Sante marina, Anacortes. Great town, everything one could need , including a West Marine store, and a Japanese restaurant (I like Japanese) and all within walking distance. I am stocking up on essential gadgets such as binoculars, tools, spare parts, storage containers, walkie-talkies, sandpaper, and machine guns. I met Alaskan Dave today, who photographed the boat for his website (link in earlier post) and who looks at this blog. Dave, I liked the look of your huge camera- see photo above, taken today.

I have a flag now. Lone wolf is registered in the Cayman Islands, and the flag is a British red ensign, with a Cayman islands coat of arms on it, the motto of which reads: "He hath founded it upon the seas" How cool is that?

I am getting some help from a fellow called Bill Brodie, a well known local 'old salt' who really knows his stuff. he spends a lot of time in the engine room, and has so far fixed my wing shaft stuffing box, that was dripping at a too fast a rate (this is hard to reach) and installed a wonderful contraption that holds tools, and is made of canvas and is bolted to the wall, using space that would otherwise have been wasted. He has also bolted on a vice, (they call it a vise round here) and the engine room now looks to contain a professional workshop.

I am loving living on board, but it could be a different story when we are in the open ocean! The excellent Oleg and Donna are coming down to California with me, but after that, I am not too sure what they will do. Oleg is keen to cross the Pacific, but Donna has serious reservations about that, because she suffers badly from seasickness. They are a couple, and both qualified captains. Donna is also an accomplished cook, and seems to love cleaning (!) and will not allow even the smallest speck of dirt on board. Wow. All being well, we will go for a shakedown cruise in the San Juan islands on Monday, to make sure everything is working properly.