May 5, 2010 

 Erik started running a tug again (and then going home!) after his operation; he has been home for a month now and he still gets tired and it hurts a bit but he is up and at ‘em. Thanks to all who made this possible from the Group Health personnel (doctors, nurses, attendants, office force) and to those who helped cover his duties – his partner in crime Capt. Tom Bulson, Mr. Keegan and Big Al and especially to Erik’s very caring wife, Heidi, who covered the day shift and Margie who stayed nights in the hospital with him and did her regular office duties too (she’s in charge). Thanks to all of you who stopped up to see him and sent e-mails and cards. He really appreciated all the sentiments. It’s nice to have him back.

Capt. Towline Erik is all smiles on his first day back on the job.

  

  

 

   ERIK AND TOM COMING

    AWAY FROM THE PIER 

     WITH THE CAPE GREIG.

Both Dad and Erik are enjoying the moment.

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOHN MAGNUSON CAME VISITING FROM BAINBRIDGE ISLAND.

MARK AND RICHARD SEABORN WE GO SO FAR BACK WE ALL QUIT COUNTING.

Meanwhile, April has been a very busy month.  Our granddaughter, Marina May, turned all of 8 years old.  She had a big party with friends – make that 20 very energetic friends and a nice quiet party the next day with the 5 of us.  Then she was baptized & confirmed and then had her first Communion with most of her 2nd grade class.

What a fun day that was with a big family lunch out afterwards.  Then Heidi had her birthday with a yummy dinner out with family. All the nice stuff that makes great memories.  

  

ERIK AND MARINA MAY.

UNCLE DAN, HEIDI, MARGIE, UNCLE CHRIS AND MARINA.

MARINA WITH FRIENDS - SO SWEET!

 I have an aluminum skiff for the BLUEBERRY and I got to looking at and thought I would bring it by the yard and see if Tom thought that he could save it. Next thing I know, it is upside down getting a new coat of paint – thanks fellows.

   Now we have two men in Agate Pass: Ben Sias sends us a picture of the EXPRESS towing the DIAMOND Z down Agate Pass; my sources say that EXPRESS will tow her to the Bering Sea this spring. Then our friend Capt. Skip Lampman sends us a picture of the NORMAN MCDONALD on the beach in Keyport. The last engine she had was a 30 HP 2 cylinder Atlas and Commodore Whaley used to scare us by towing around some very big boats – like 150 footers – you know the old saying it’s the man behind the gun, he sure proved that out. Thanks fellows I need the photos.

  

  

 

  

 

NORMAN A McDONALD IN KEYPORT.  LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS BEEN GONE FOR A LONG TIME. PHOTO CAPT. SKIP LAMPMAN

 

 

 

 

 

NORMAN A McDONALD TOWING A TYPE OF YO. THE ATLAS IS PUFFING. 

 

 

 

 

NORMAN A McDONALD HEADED INTO MARINE POWER AND EQUIPMENT WITH YO TYPE IN TOW. 

 

 

 

 

  

 Probably the most interesting boat that Capt. Deep Sea Tom has been towing around is one of the new catamarans for San Francisco. They have a history of being hard to tow because of their configuration and being very light you just barely put it in gear and the boat just jumps. Capt. Tom just slides in under the bow and makes up push style; he had to tow it  up to the Foss Terminal from Pacific Fisherman and it works best if he just backs it all the way – looks strange and he warned the Ballard bridge that he was coming thru backing up so the bridge guy wouldn’t get upset.

 

 

 

 

EXPRESS TOWING TUG DIAMOND Z ALONGSIDE IN AGATE PASS PHOTO BY BEN SIAS.

 

 

DIXIE WITH SAN FRANCISCO FAST CAT FERRY.

 

DIXIE IN THE NOTCH.

DIXIE ALMOST FILLS THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO HULLS.

 Also they were down at the Foss terminal with the steam crane FOSS NO. 300. The 300 and a 500 ton Ness Crane rolled over this 150 ton new concrete house boat float so that it was right side up and it made quite a wave.

 

DIXIE WITH FOSS NO. 300.

FOSS 300 ROLLING OVER CONCRETE FLOAT.

BIG WAVE.

 Then they got to move the “Deadliest Catch” boat:  Sig’s NORTHWESTERN at Pacific Fisherman. I never miss a program! You know that whatever they make, they really earn it catching King Crab – fishing is not for the faint of heart.

DIXIE MADE UP TO SIG'S NORTHWESTERN AT PACIFIC FISHERMAN.

DIXIE BACKING OUT WITH DEEP SEA TOM AT THE BACK DECK CONTROLS.

CROWLEY ATB OCEAN RELIANCE JUST PAST BALLARD BRIDGE.

CROWLEY TRACTOR CHIEF, ALSO JUST CLEARING BALLARD BRIDGE.

 Ron Burchett, one of our men in Ladysmith BC, sent me more pictures – including a nice picture of him and his 2 boys Alan and Shawn –  than I have room to print but here goes. Ron drove back to Mystic with several radio controlled models and tug stuff for the new tug exhibit at Mystic Seaport. Margie and I have been thru Mystic and it’s a really fun & interesting place. I got invited to the opening but can’t make that – too many irons in the fire. Press release on Ron and Robert Allan’s new training tug BRatt which is a combination of his name and Robert Allan – famed Canadian tug designer. She will be just like a big tug except she is 26 feet long with twin diesels and Azmithing drives and cuter than a bugs ear; they really did a bang up job on her design. He and Art Anderson sent along a picture of the ferry to Texada Island bucking some really nasty weather but I could not make it print.

 

ALAN, SHAWN AND RON BURCHETT: NICE FAMILY AND GREAT GUYS.

RON BURCHETT AND ENTRANCE TO MYSTIC SEAPORT.

THREE BURCHETT TUGS; NOTICE THE SINGLE KORT NOZZLE.