WE DID IT

We actually left. The preparation for this trip has probably been one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Boat projects on top of boat projects, we did all in a record amount of time. The lists covered the headliner, and now that the chaos has shifted from the home port to the mobile home, they still continue. There is more to be done, but now we are on the move. WE ACTUALLY DID IT.

It has only been two days, but wow! So far we have gone under a drawbridge (twice), used the stove without lighting the boat on fire, gone under the Bluewater Bridge (at 1.5 knots, it took a while), peed in a bucket (small problem with the head), battled swans, made no friends (too tired and wired), and checked the oil many times. The weather has been alarmingly pleasant: sunny, calm, not too cold, but unfortunately no wind for sailing. The weather gods are giving us a good first week, and hopefully we won’t hit anything too exciting while we are on the lakes.

We are still settling in and spending a lot of our time organizing and stowing the gear that was thrown on the boat at departure. It’s a bit of a mess, and it feels like we have no idea what we’re doing. How do we talk to a harbormaster? Are we allowed to just anchor places? What do we do if the engine explodes? Can we dock here? How far can we go? Why doesn’t our stereo work? Everything is a question, and we are sort of completely winging it. But we haven’t hit anything, and it’s all still ok, so standby for more interesting stories once shit hits the fan. The most interesting thing that has happened so far is everything and not really anything at all and WE ACTUALLY LEFT (constantly running through my head).

Extra shout out to everyone who got us off the dock, with either a functioning boat (DAD AND MOM WOW), wildly helpful tidbits (Rich Marsh and Mr. Pomber and everyone at CSYC WOW), surprise cookie brownie magic in a pan (Waltons), excess amounts of rum, and any imaginable support from family, friends, sailing family, etc. This trip wouldn’t be possible without all of you, and words cannot express enough gratitude for everything we have been helped with. We will do our best to send stories and share our experience; we hope you enjoy.

We did it. We actually left. We motored somewhere. We docked. We made some good decisions. We made it under the bridge. We got to the lake. Ahhhh!!!! It’s happening!!!!!

#1 boat purchase

Fine dining with Emily

Cookies for breakfast

THE BRIDGE