first post

august 27,2009 well, here we sit in the marina. we are so ready, but Tim is still working on the dinghy davits and then needs to hook up the solar panels. we are going to try to get out of here before the weekend is over. so far we have added refrigeration, water maker, 4 additional wilderness batteries, a windlass with 250 ft of chain, an inverter/charger, a water heater (11 gal.) a new dinghy, a 9.9 mercury outboard, a new bbq, dodger, bimini. now we have proven the acronym for a boat....break out another thousand!!! the dogs (crewmates), max, maggie, and daisy have aclimatized to boat life very nicely. we seem to think they will do ok on our voyages. we are all stocked with the necessities of a long cruise at sea. plenty of seasick pills, ginger ale and barf buckets. we have said our goodbyes to family and friends, drank a toast or two with them and cried quite a few tears.. some of joy, some of sorrow. sorrow for missing everyone, but lots of joy for finally doing what we planned on doing when we retired. just think, no more housework, no more lawn mowing, no more of the dreaded yellowheads (dandelions), no more commute in traffic (no car or truck), no bills, no nothing but the sky above and the sea below. please enjoy our trip with us. rain and dan