Chris, you are The Man

: Hey, you're welcome, Mike. Glad it was painless for you. Or was it? You
: didn't really say. Did you get some photos of how you did the fianl
: installation? I'd like to see your technique.

I did and they are sitting in the didg camera in Dave's garage. I send them to you later.

: Sounds like it's rounding into a fine boat. With all the circumstantial
: distractions in SoCal this year, it's so good to be hearing of someone's
: dreams turning out for the better.

It was interesting having a heavy ashfall, orange skies so thick that you can look at the sun and see the sunspots, panicked neighbors, and a fire line a mile away. So we worked on the yak and drank beer and were the calming presence for the neighbors. Dave is getting a light wright high-tech yak without doubt. It coming out very well though we did have an issue with drinking too much and losing focus.

: My sister's neighborhood near your location was evacuated... twice! The fire
: made a second run at the same group of homes from a different canyon and
: she had to get her fanny out but quick.

Whereabouts? I have a little consulkting gig going on to trouble-shoot the responses. I'm always interested in personal histories and views. I'm going to guess and say it was either Poway, Scripps, Tierrasanta Norte or Santee. Close or am I so far off I'm lost?

: Some friends in Arrowhead, who used to be Forestry firefighters in the Skagit
: Valley, lost everything. It's just so hard to imagine what that feels
: like. I was thinking of building the family a new boat when I realized
: they needed so many more things of greater importance. We're sending them
: bedding instead.

I'm so sorry. "Our family" lost everything, too. I can take the material things that the adultslost that have been shared with us, and the stories around those lost material items, but their little daughter lost her little bear and the look she had in her eyes had me crying my eyes out. Rikki took the kids and Sara out to buy clothes and toys. I think I'll never get that look out of my mind for as long as I live.

: Glad you're safe and BTW, how's the sleeping in the marina?

Pretty good actually. I like the peace and quiet, the way the water moves the bed, the coziness and security. Remember when we were little dudes and made clubhouses and forts? Well, it's a slightly bigger version.