Departure - For Sure............!

Some Prep Work!
Hoisted up the mast to reconnect a flag line.  Fun!
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 Day after day we kept saying to each other "Are you ready yet?" First we were leaving on Saturday, the 13th, then Sunday, the 14th, and then Monday, the 15th. Finally, we could answer our own question - "yes, we are ready!" As usual we left home later than we wanted, but, we actually left the house! Arrived at the boat and finished finding places and cubbyholes for all the food both the canned and the fresh - miracle of miracles!
Provisioning for the long trip.

On Sunday, before we decided not to leave on Monday, our friends, Lynn and Justin, came to the boat to see us off. We had a lovely time visiting with them over dinner and wine.
Waiting for some of this beef stew!
 Justin gave me tips on how to fish. He gave me a few lures that are "guaranteed" to catch fish! The next day he came by our boat again and lent me a better rod with stronger line. I owe him a picture of the first fish I catch. We ended up not fishing because we were just too cold to deal with it! Justin then emailed me through Lynn that the fish aren't bothered by the cold!

Remember our newest passenger? Our Octopus friend was very happy to get underway! She went head over heals in excitement.
The only thing making her sad is she still doesn't have a name! Some of the choices are Octavia, Nautilus Rose Compass and Ollie. I like all of these, but would like to have some more variety! So please send in some more ideas!

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Our first breakfast on the 16th.  Felt good to be eating on the boat again!  Octopus agreed.
Bill and Octopus

On our departure day of Tuesday, Bill came by the boat to make sure we really meant what we said about leaving on the 16th. Hoping this is not a precurser of how things are going to be, Dolce Vita gave us her opinion about the cold morning. Ed couldn't get the engine started because she was cold. After quite a few attempts, the engine kicked over and off we went, waving our good-byes to Bill. We are hoping Bill will be able to join us at some point on our journal!

We stopped for gas at Maryland Yacht Club which finally opened after a long closure. Met a member on the dock who I enjoyed talking to about each of our travels. He already went to the Abacos, which is one of the places we are headed and he hopes to go to the Exumas on his next excursion. He has to wait for the youngest grandkids to get older and Grammy isn't babysitting anymore. It was fun hearing about the little people.



Can't believe we're on the "road" again!

No wind, so motoring was in order.  It got colder and colder as the evening approached. 




We anchored on the Rhode River and had a warm, nourishing soup for dinner. The carbon dioxide detector came on from the cooking so we had to lose our warmth and open up the hatches!  I made a chicken noodle soup with veggies and that hit the spot.

Fair winds to all!    (Don't forget to help name the octopus!)

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