In the next half an hour Simon and I will be piling into the Suburu and directing our four wheel drive up North. We are going to Tacoma today for a short visit. I have a doctors appointment to make sure all of the African bugs that were in me have now died. What I'm really looking forward to is staying with Abby and Tim and seeing some very important friends. On the 2nd we head back to Portland for dinner with my Podge and my sister who is flying up from San Fran. She is coming up to join us on our boating adventure.

This is quite a pleasant surprise; getting to see my dear friends so soon again. When leaving for Africa I really didn't know when I would be home again. What a nice turn of events.

We are off to pack the car!