I'm an acquisitions editor for Heyday, a book publishing company, and I run the magazine, News from Native California — all about California Indians. So, if you're writing a book...

Patrick and spent a couple of hours last night talking about how much we love Joel. There is no greater feeling of welcome than his raspy voice yelling, "Give me a hug," across a campground or boat launch. No one was an outcast when he was around. No one could escape teasing. No one was immune from his flirting. And his generosity is unbelievable. I've really admired how he's stayed with this community through the ups and downs of this illness. He didn't hide. He showed us how to cope in unbelievably difficult times with heroism and openness.

We love you, pal. And we're better for knowing you.

Craig and Linelle, thank you for all of the worry and time you put into making Albion possible for the rest of us. You are sooooooo appreciated!

Congratulations to the winners! You picked one swell day to prove your angling prowess. Nicely played.

After fishing lessons from the very patient Holy Toledo on tournament day, we had a sackful of fish (vermillion, black, blue, and one wee greenling that I wouldn't let HT use for bait) to bring home to cook for friends (a page from the Big Jim playbook), so we spent the rest of the weekend exploring. The floating cabins upriver seem untouched and way upstream we even tried the sea beans growing along the banks (they're crunchy and salty). We paddled around the cove on the flatter days to check out the places we might have overlooked and walked the trail up canyon past Schooner's Landing where is it always sunny and twenty degrees warmer.  Such a beautiful place!

I'm still recovering from all the fun.  My pants don't fit anymore, which may be because you are all incredible and generous cooks. Or it could be that my campmates shrank them  . I wouldn't put much past the pranksters O2B, Fishunter, Bird, Polepole, Jonesz, and HT. I think I pulled something laughing. Honestly, thanks for everything, guys — the fishing tips, the fish cleaning, abalone, scopase, the site, snacks, not doing all of the mischievous things to our tent that I heard you planning when you thought we were asleep, and the great stories.

The reports of everyones else's adventures, the art we brought home, and all these pictures are great reminders of a slammin' weekend. Thanks, pals.

Thanks for letting us try the Tandem Island, Chuck. And for the sailing lesson, O2B and HT. I'm not sure that much fun is allowed on school nights.

Any word about whether there will be gyotaku printing again this year? Ben? Maybe if I ask really nicely?

–Lindsie