Arrived at Boat

Arrived at boat on Saturday. Found everything in good order.

We left home last Saturday. The trip that formerly took us 2 to 3 days now takes a week and it could have taken longer. There are just too many good friends to visit. But then again, you can never have too many good friends.

We visited Greg and Leslie  in Middletown, MD, then on to see Jim and Linda on Edisto Island, SC. They are really hard to get away from. Southern hospitality at the extreme. We had a day in Charleston with them and Bob Wilkens joined us for lunch. Had a wonderful visit. Too bad we missed his wife Linda who was in California working for 3 months to help a friend. Jim and Linda took us for a day tour of Savannah.  A very interesting city. We will need to come back and spend more time there. While in Savannah two Canadian marine boats came in and tied to the docks. Jokingly we said that Canada took the Port of Savanah without a fight. They even caught our lines.
Jim thought we should stay, saying we hadn't seen Atlanta yet. They do make it hard to leave, but leave we must. They should know better. The last time we stayed with them for over 6 weeks, when the engine for Deja Vu was being rebuilt at the nearby Rockville Marina. I think there may have been a family lottery for how long we would stay this time. Wonder who won?

We left Edisto and made our way to Zephyrhills, Fla to go to Martin and Kathy's new home and get some of our boating stuff that they brought with them and were storing. Unfortunately the car is absolutely full so there was very little we could bring this trip. The rest we will have to get when we return for William and Keri's wedding in February. Thank you Martin and Kathy. You have a great place there. We know you will enjoy it.

The boat is calling and we must make our way to Surona to see how she weathered the last year. More friends to visit, but that will have to wait. Arrived Englewood before noon. Quick lunch, then to the boat. Everything was in good order. Much better than last year when we found a window had broken out and let water in. Now what can we get done?

A boat looks so awful when you put it up for storage. Did we really leave it in such a mess inside?

Now what can we get done today, and where to start. We put the main sail on, to get it out of the way. Then got the dinghy off the front deck. Hmmmm needs some air, and definitely needs a good cleaning. Black mould as a result of being stored under the tarp. Then the dodger, Bimini, and connecting piece. Beginning to look more like a boat. The new floor boards need to be installed, but I would like to clean the Fiberglas under before the floorboards go on. Peter worked on the dinghy and had dinghy and motor hanging on davits while I scrubbed.

Not a bad day. Off to find a room for the night. This area has become very expensive. No more coupon rooms. They tell us we can stay on the boat overnight in the storage yard. We just need to make the boat ready. There are no showers in the yard so we will have to see what we will do about that.

Nothing is out of the car yet. Perhaps today.

Today is Superbowl Sunday. We will go to the boat for awhile and then we will get ready for Superbowl  Sunday Party. Some wings,  some drinks, a motel room, and we will be ready for the commercials. Some folks watch for the game, but we watch for the commercials. The best commercials for the year.





We first put the main sail on to get it out of the way.

Even tho they had been golfing on Friday, they had a wonderful meal to share with us. Martin shared some of his wine stores with us. Great visit, great hospitality.  William and Keri should arrive Saturday with baby Oliver. We tested the bed in the guest room and it is a good place to visit.  Thanks Martin and Kathy. Wish we could have stayed longer with you. You have a great place for the winter months. Enjoy.

There were more people we could have visited, but the cal of the boat was too strong. We arrived at the boat before lunch. Stopped for abide to eat in Englewood then to the boat. Met the new boat yard owners. The boat was in good shape had weathered the year well. Now to see what we could get done towards putting her back in order. A boat looks so sad when you have put it up for storage. And what a mess.

First we put the main sail on, to get that out of the way. Then we put the dodger, Bimini and joining panel on to get that out of the way. Got the dinghy off the front deck and got the mighty 4 hp motor out of the cabin and onto the dinghy. Needed a little air.Then he got them hanging on the davits. Dinghy is in need of a good cleaning. Lot of black mould after being stored under the tarp for the summer and fall