Saving the Big Ship
Wawona - 1897 - 2009: Rest in Peace

On March 4, 2009, the 1897 schooner Wawona was towed from its berth at Lake Union Park in Seattle to Lake Union Dry Dock for dismantling. As the old-time sailors used to say, she has crossed the bar for the final time. May she rest in peace.
Labels: breakers, dismantling, wawona
Wawona Book is Officially Launched!

Nearly two dozen family and friends joined me last night at the Uptown Espresso in West Seattle to celebrate the official launch of
Shipbuilders, Sea Captains, and Fishermen: The Story of the Schooner Wawona. Wayne Palsson, a board member at
Northwest Seaport, which owns
Wawona, gave an optimistic assessment of the vessel's future, and I read several excerpts from the book. And I sold a dozen copies! Woo hoo! There I am, in the photo, signing for a happy customer. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported me! (And thanks to Monica Evans for the photo!)
Labels: launch, readings, wawona
Review: HistoryLink Calls Wawona Book "Marvelous"
I've received the first review of my history of the
Wawona. HistoryLink, the Pacific Northwest's leading history website, called the book a "marvelous tale." You can read the review at the site's
Featured Book of the Fortnight page.
I'm also scheduling more readings. Check this blog frequently for more announcements.
Labels: historylink, review, wawona
This blog records activities related to the progress of my book about the 1936 voyage of the codfishing schooner Wawona. The entries describe volunteer time aboard the vessel, research, writing progress, and participation in the Seattle maritime history community.