Journey Gallery: View the photos outlining the South to Alaska journey from Arkansas to Alaska.

A Remarkable Journey from the Heartland of America to the Heart of a Dream

Journey Gallery: 10,000 Miles from Arkansas to Alaska

Note: Because photos are not available for much of the Red Dog's journey, I have included images courtesy of NOAA
where necessary in order to represent each of the Ports of Call between Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Ketchikan, Alaska.



Removing the Red Dog from Melvin's backyard.	Hauling the boat from Hartford to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Preparing to launch Red Dog near Fort Smith, Arkansas.	Launching the boat on the Arkansas River.

Launched and ready to go, Fort Smith, Arkansas.	Melvin piloting the Red Dog on the Arkansas River.

Cecil holding the boat away from wall of an Arkansas River lock.	Along the Arkansas River near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Port of Call.

Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Tennessee, Port of Call.	Galveston, Texas, Port of Call.

Cecil posing by the Red Dog docked at Galveston, Texas.	Port Isabel, Texas, Port of Call.

Progreso, Mexico, Port of Call.	Belize City, Belize (Formerly British Honduras), Port of Call.
RED DOG LOG - MARCH 27, 1973: Very rough going. Irving sick and scared witless... laying on couch and looking like a corpse. Thinks he is going to die. 8:00 p.m. hang out anchor and tires for sea anchor and wait for morning; winds must be 60 mph and waves 20 feet---Still no clouds---Very rough night.	RED DOG LOG - APRIL 17: Left 5:30 a.m.---Smooth along Nicaragua Coast---All very low and flat---Depth Sounder quit working yesterday---Left me feeling very low and blue---The moon came up full as soon as the sun went down---Seems like an old friend in a lonely world---Many things need doing but nothing seems so important right now as sleep and rest.

Colon/Cristobal, Panama, Port of Call.	Panama Canal, Panama.

Balboa, Panama, Port of Call.	Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Port of Call.
RED DOG LOG - APRIL 19: Left 5:30---Good day, little wind, easy going---Anchor 5:30 near Lim�n, Costa Rica---Very pretty---Mountains in back and hills coming down to the water---Rain showers and clouds hanging on the valleys like Alaska.	RED DOG LOG - MAY 2: Left 6:00 a.m.---Crossing Golfo de Parita---Wind and current with me most of day---Can�t keep bilge pump working---Quit trying and use fuel pump---Hole in exhaust leaking salt water---Must fix before starting in morning.

Manzanillo, Mexico, Port of Call.	San Diego, California, Port of Call.

Monterey, California, Port of Call.	Near Port Orford, Oregon, Port of Call.
RED DOG LOG - MAY 23: Left 6:00 a.m.---Crossing Bay of Petacalco---Water rough---Engine missing---Anchored in waves 1:00 pm to work on engine---Valves burnt on 2 cylinder---Won�t fire---A blue, miserable day and night	RED DOG LOG - JUNE 24: Sail boat with lone man next to me just arrived from Chile---Three months alone---Says he�s had it with sailing---Got his papers to stay in the U.S.A.

Bellingham, Washington, Port of Call.	Cecil rejoins Melvin aboard the Red Dog in Bellingham, Washington. Photo courtesy Bellingham Herald.

Melvin on the bow of the Red Dog, Wilkinson Channel, Inside Passage, British Columbia, Canada.	Ketchikan waterfront viewed from Melvin and Cecil's home on Pennock Island.
RED DOG LOG - JULY 19: Left Arch Cove 6:10 a.m.---Weather still fog and overcast-No wind--- a large Gray whale made a U-Turn around the boat, surfacing several times between the boat and the rocks of the cove---So close I could smell his bad breath.	RED DOG LOG - JULY 24: Left 7:15 a.m. after trouble with kelp---Snowy Olympics shining in back of me---Mount Baker ahead.

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