Well, It has been awhile since I wrote and a lot has been going on. We did our trip to Conception but never actually made it there. We tried twice and the farthest we got was 10 miles away. Very frustrating to say the least. We had a few major things go wrong but managed to overcome the problems and finally got the boat home after about 2 1/2 weeks. Let's just say we titled the trip" The Trip From Hell" and I'll just leave it at that. Enough said. We had great crew in Sam and Isabelle and Olaf and Samira. Everyone was a trouper and the going was tough most of the time. Samira and Olaf ended up heading out after our second attempt at trying to reach Conception. They were some of the best crew we have ever had and, even though they were new to the whole experience, Have earned a permanent crew position on Vltava! I have included pictures of both of them working on the boat, steering and Samira trying to catch the "big one." We never made it to dinner with the NoLS group but ran into friends who were camping on the beach when we returned to San Janico. We were able to connect with some of the groups in the Loreto area who work with kids and schools and some with whole communities. We even had some people hand over donations to our program. It was a great time to share ideas and listen to some of the people instrumental in creating worthwhile projects that not only help a community but also create great friendships. They were so far ahead of where we are but the sharing of ideas helped me to focus more clearly not only on what is lacking for the kids in some of these small fishing and ranching communities but also the adults. As their prime source of income and even their culture are dying out, due to lack of fish or the remoteness of the community, their need for new skills, so that they can compete in the changing times, is great. There are so many ways to help it is inspiring. Since we have been back from our trip we have spent the time cleaning and finishing projects we have let sit for too long. It is starting to get hot down here and it is hard to want to move much in the middle of the day. We learn to work early then siesta and then finish late. We have Tim and Tom's family here for a week and we are heading out to the islands for a few days. I can't wait to snorkle and kayak myself. The kids are doing well in school even though we were a little lax in watching our time for school and have been involved in so many different things this year that we find they are going to have to do school most of the summer. We are counting this as a learning experience and next year plan on being done early! Will arrived home yesterday and it is great to see him. He has made the varsity archery team and will get a cool leather "letter" jacket and a pin. he has also been chosen to be in the advanced creative writing program next year and has decided to build a boat for his senior project. He is very busy but also very happy. Isabelle has plans of jet setting around California, Oaklahoma, and the east coast, while finally ending up in Washington visiting Aunt Joanne and Uncle Bob. PHEW! Will has some friends we are hoping will make it to La Paz this summer to play in the sea on the schooner and Sam has plans to spend as much time with his good buddy Josh, on Theopholis, as he can. We will all be on the east coast starting on the 7th of August and are REALLY excited about having 2 weeks in the Poconos with Nonnie. Sam will be looking at boarding schools this year which should be a lot of fun. Not much else right now. I'll write more once Tim and Tom's family leave. Allison