Out & About

Steinbeck boat at Port Townsend

OUTWRITE – A vessel made famous by author John Steinbeck is sitting at a Port Townsend boatyard as the owner makes plans to move it to Salinas, Calif., for a museum.

Salinas businessman Gerry Kehoe brought the Western Flyer to Boat Haven after it sank twice at a moorage in Skagit County.

The boat is especially dear to the heart of anglers, sea-kayakers and other travelers who read Steinbeck’s “Sea of Cortez” during their journeys to Baja Mexico.

The boat is drawing attention from Steinbeck enthusiasts who walk up and touch the side of the boat.

The 72-foot fishing boat was built in 1937 in Tacoma and chartered in 1940 by Steinbeck and a scientist friend for a six-week expedition to Mexico’s Gulf of California. Among other things, Steinbeck told of the commercial shrimping that was plowing the ocean bottom and disrupting the ocean ecology.

Skiers, snowshoers to play best hands

OUTDEAL – Take a gamble on the hand you’re dealt to win prizes at the Panhandle Nordic Club’s 23rd annual Best Hand Fun Ski and Snowshoe event Saturday starting at noon at Fourth of July Pass.

Skiers will do an 8-kilometer course and snowshowers will trek the shorter Jeanette’s Jaunt route.

Cost: $10 or $5 for youths under 14. Family rate is $25.

Idaho Park and Ski Passes will not be required for participants in this event.

Methow cougars hit domestic animals

OUTPREY – Two goats, a dog, a sheep and several barn cats. That’s the minimum winter toll of domestic animals killed by cougars in the Methow Valley in separate incidents since Christmas. A second dog was also seriously injured in an attack this winter.

One pet was killed in downtown Winthrop.

The incidents resulted in four cougars being tracked down and killed to prevent continued problems.

Put some know in your GoPro

OUTSHOOT – A free clinic on editing the action video captured by the popular GoPro cameras is being offered by REI at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Preregister online: rei.com/spokane.