Last month, I wrote a story about a group of longboarders, led by UWT student Ben Warner, who planned to ride across the country to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.

Richard Crook, grandfather of rider Jerry Craker, just sent me this picture that was taken the day the team set off on its long, grueling journey. It was snapped by Samni Bell (Ben's mom) on March 21.

(Pictured: Back row - Mike Jones, Jerry Craker, Ryan Donahue, Ben Warner. Front — Stacy Donahue)

The team left San Diego at 10 a.m., and skated 50 miles the first day, Crook writes. They made it to Gila Bend, Ariz., today and expect to be at the Tuscon Boys & Girls Club on Saturday.

"They have made friends with the Border Patrol and are getting honks and waves when they pass them," according to Crook.

Shameless plug of the day: Check out the publication in Stacy's hands. That's right. It's a copy of the Feb. 27 edition of the News Tribune that featured their story on A1.

For more information on the team's historic trip, click here.

Okay. It's Friday.

Here are some just-for-fun recent YouTube videos from Tacoma.

Qannik showed more small signs of improvement today, officials with the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium said. He's less dehydrated, his white blood cell count is approaching normal and his kidney function is better.

"But he's not out of the woods yet," said curator Karen Goodrowe Beck. The 8-year-old beluga whale, who has been suffering from an unknown kind of infection, was less playful today than he was yesterday.

See Qannik when he was feeling his oats: