Note: We will update their location each day, as communications by ham radio permits.

June 19, 2003--Launched from Ahsahka Boat Ramps on the Clearwater River about 11 a.m.

June 22, 2003--Launched from near Snake River mile marker 87 on Lake Brian between Lower Granite and Little Goose Dams.

June 23, 2003--Launched from near the mouth of the Palouse River below Little Goose Dam about nine miles below Lyons Ferry.

June 24, 2003--Launched from mile marker 30 on the Snake River.

June 25, 2003--Kate and Carl launched from the Columbia River about one mile from where the Snake River empties into it near the Tri Cities, WA.

June 26, 2003--This evening at 7:15, Kate and Carl were at river marker 253 on the Columbia River.

June 27, 2003--At 8 a.m. this morning, they were at river mile 251 on the Columbia. They made a stop at Arlington to pick up some tick powder for the two dogs, Bandit and Callie. The dogs are getting into ticks while on shore in the evenings.

June 28, 2003--This morning Kate and Carl were eight miles up the John Day River. The river is a tributary of the Columbia and they thought it would be quieter up there. Unfortunately, with the fishermen and people on personal water crafts, it isn't. They plan to go through the locks at John Day Dam on the Columbia today. The weather has been hot and, for the last two days, they have been buzzed by military jets.

July 2, 2003--For the last few days, the amateur radio operator has been away from town. This morning, Kate and Carl were a six miles up a tributary of the Columbia in Drano Lake. That is near Columbia River mile 162 in the area of Hood River.

July 3, 2003--For the first time on their trip, Ron Blakesley, the ham radio operator that has been following up on Kate and Carl for these reports, was able to have a conversation with Carl. Up until now Ron has been relaying through other operators in Utah and Arizona, particularly one of Carl's friends in Moab, UT. The radio on board the raft doesn't have much power. At 8 this morning, Kate and Carl were on the Columbia River at mile 152, Government Cove. Their plan was to go through Bonneville Locks about 9:30 a.m. during the recreational boat time. This is the last of the locks on their river journey. They said it is kind of scary going through the locks. Their trip is going well though they have been experiencing some recent problems with wind and waves. Some of the swells have been up to three feet.

July 4, 2003--This morning, Kate and Carl were at Beacon Rock State Park at Columbia River mile 141. They plan to stay at the west end of Government Island near Portland, OR tonight and watch the fireworks from the raft. Last night they found a phone and called the friends that gave them the idea to do this river trip. The friends came down and visited with them at the raft. They are now close enough to the Pacific Ocean to feel some effects of the tide. They have not had any more problems with the dogs getting ticks.

July 5, 2003--No transmission

July 6, 2003--On the evening of July 4, Kate and Carl stayed at Lemon Island near Portland, OR and watched a spectacular fireworks display from Vancouver, WA. There were a lot of people in the area for the festivities. Earlier in the day while at a refueling station Carl lost his wallet in the river when the raft was bumped and it fell overboard. Fortunately, he had already taken his credit card out. He didn't go after it with all the boat traffic and such. Kate still has her identification, money and etc.

Saturday, they went up the Willamette River a few miles to avoid the commercial boat traffic on the Columbia River near Portland. Friends had told them about the alternate route that goes up the Willamette to the Multanomah Channel and then back into the Columbia. They stayed at Coon Island Saturday night and planned returning to the Columbia Sunday. There is some concern about staying out of the way of freighters in the busy part of the river.

July 7, 2003--Kate and Carl spent last night on Martin Island at Columbia River mile 80. The island has a small lagoon where boats are able to go for the night. Besides the raft, there was also a sailboat and motor boat in the lagoon for the night. This morning, they were waiting until about 10 a.m. so they could take advantage of the tide's pull to take them down the river. The tide on the river is flucuating about two feet.

July 8, 2003--This morning, Kate and Carl were in Carol Channel near Columbia River mile 69.5. The tide is up to six feet and they are waiting for it to go out about 11 a.m. so they can take advantage of its pull.

July 9, 2003--They slept in today to match their later schedule following the tide, so there was no transmission.

July 10, 2003--Kate and Carl were at Benson Island near Columbia River mile 25 this morning. That is 10 miles from Astoria, their final destination for the river trip. They anticipate being in Astoria this afternoon. Again today, they are starting later to match the pull of the tide.