Working, working....

Sanding done, painting done (except for where the pads are to hold her up on the hard), most buffing done.....where are the sunsets and pina coladas? Where are the sandy beaches? The lobster?

I've been tricked again!!

Hard work on the hard

Miss Dippity is at Lee Spry Marina, a working boat yard. We've sanded, scraped, washed, and heat-gunned till our hands don't work. We're staying at the Victorian Inn in Iuka, Mississippi -- a quaint little place that has a gorgeous big white dog in the lobby and two friendly cats (one multiracial and one huge mostly Siamese). We couldn't stay on the boat because our refrigeration and our flushes are water-dependent (and it's a long climb down that ladder in the middle of the night!). We plan to splash on Monday, at which time we'll sport a new coat (or two) of bottom paint, a newly waxed hull, a newly replumbed emergency bilge pump, and hopefully a working oven....this may suck since the Admiral hasn't had to bake anything in the last 5 years! The fuel and water tanks will also be inspected and cleaned before we leave. We've had the use of a courtesy pickup truck, which makes it much easier to drive 20 miles to Iuka every night. Plans are to leave Tuesday morning for Bay Springs Marina, beginning our journey in the 30-mile divide cut canal of the Tom-Bigbee Waterway.

The Eagle has Flown!

We are SO gone! Finally, with frogs and turtles and cats and dogs raining down, we left Blue Springs on Friday, Oct. 9. The weather cleared as soon as we hit the channel, and October's beauty has been all around. We did freeze our fannies off for a day or two, and we did have some rain, but to quote William, it does not suck. We spent a few days in Chattanooga with two of our three children and our two sweet grandbabies, then headed south again. We're now in Florence, AL for a day or two, then will head to Lee Spry Marina for some boat work (new bottom -- unfortunately, for the boat and not the crew) before we traverse the Tom Bigbee Waterway. We've been through 6 of the 18 locks necessary to reach salt water, and have settled into the traveling life we knew before.

Second Postponement

Woodwork is progressing (because Ken Page and Bob Hunt are master craftsmen), wiring is done (because George Laggis is brilliant), engine is perfect (because Russ Jones is a genius)....awaiting deliveries from SailRite and MarineTex, then we hope to leave by Wednesday.

We're provisioned and ready (anxious) to leave, but the postponement lets us attend the Cheeseburger in Paradise party this weekend, so the wait isn't bad at all!

Rumor has it that Cuba may be open for visits in early 2010, so Jay is dancing around in the Cuban flag again...pix to be posted later...

First Postponement

Okay, things are out of hand---preventive maintenance on the engine became a partial rebuild (thank heavens for Russ ); the week of rain postponed lots of final woodwork (thank heavens for Bob); rewiring the inverter opened a new can of wire worms (thank heavens for George); and so on and so on....so the new departure date appears to be Sunday, Oct. 4.

We've been accused of postponing so we can continue the farewell parties, and that's not a bad idea. We've wined and dined several times with good friends we hate to leave. The obvious solution is for friends to join us along the way.

Beginning to begin (again)

Preparations are underway for Journey 2 on the mighty sailing vessel Serendipity. Wiring, woodwork, cleaning, repairs, provisioning.....the list goes on and on....

Hopefully October 1 will be the date of departure from Blue Springs Marina, where we will leave lots of good friends and good times. We'll spend a few nights in Chattanooga with youngest son Jesse and his fiancee Brittany, and hope to be joined by daughter Julie and little ones Madison and Micah, and oldest son John.