Meet Francis Estrella, who showed up to teach me about freedom, kindness and happiness. While working up on the boat we noticed a man with a backpack that walked off the railroad tracks at sat down on the curb across the street to rest. Homeless are common on our street so other than the instrument case he fit right in. He gave us a friendly wave and waited till we took a break before he rang the bell at the gate. He said he didn’t want to take any of our time, but he had been watching our videos and had come by to give us a coin to place under the mast. After chatting a bit, I learned he had traveled well over 2000 miles from Oakland California to press a Buffalo Head nickel into my hand. Next time you see what you think is just another lost soul. Stop to consider he might be Francis. He’s not lost at all, and he is someone you should really meet. –Doug

More About Frances Estrella:

Oakland Resident Is a Rambling Man

Remember the Children Born On Our Streets

Alexis and Josh joined us this weekend.  They have studied, worked hard, saved, build a van and are now traveling the US in search for fertile soil to make a home and follow their dreams.  It’s the kind of fearless living that build this country and it’s inspirational.

Seeker Crew Rock!   Teachers, Sailors, Engineers, Pilots, Machinist, Fishermen, Students, Veterans, Welders, Hippies, Professors, Entrepreneurs, Truck Drivers, and now even a real Hobo.  We love them all.  We truly are The Boat the Internet Built.

Seeker Crew are Awesome!  Just look and see.

Would you like to help? Consider buying some overpriced stuff from our Junk Store. Or donate to the Scholar Ship fund to support a future researcher’s work on Seeker:  Junk Store

In between the rain and tornadoes, Seeker crew have been hard at work.  With a lot of help from Hollis who was up from San Antonio, Texas got the davits mounted on the transom.  These will lift the 15 foot aluminum tender from the water and suspend it behind the boat.  And we are enjoying Normann’s skills as apprenticeship trained industrial mechanic.   Apparently Germany still sees the value of training students to work with the hands as well as their minds.

Betsy has our first Junk Sail sewed up. Bart got a work table working and he and Peter got a good start on the fitting the deck tiles.  Wesley a surprise guest from Thailand welded in the  Sampson Post.  And I’ll show you a trick to welding where you can not see.    And thank you for watching and flooding us with suggestions and ideas.  We love it.  –Doug