Today must have been the day when the magic alarm clock went off and people decided to check in and see where the hell I am since I haven't written in over 3 weeks. Well, I am back in Saluda, VA where Kristinly is still on dry land (on the hard) after a 3 week trip to Vermont (to see Nikki, Jenni, Kristin, and friends, and enjoy one hell of a Halloween party - not to mention Nikki's birthday!), Kentucky (to see brother John and his wife Karen and kids Carson, Allysa and Amanda), South Dakota (to hunt pheasants with Dad, John, Uncle Larry and assorted cousins, nephews, and brother in-law, as well see Meredith, Aunts Joan and Rita, and other cousins, and also reunite with my friend Keith, whom I have known since we were 6 years old and his wife Diane), and Illinois (to see my sister Susan who just moved there to teach at Millikin College). It was a great trip.

I am now back at the boat and preparing to get back on the project list. You might recall my original plan was to quickly paint the hull upon my return and then get the hell out of here, as it is getting cold even this far south. But upon further review, I have a new plan that will allow me to return to VT for Thanksgiving and spend a lot less money doing so. Sooooo, I will stay here to work on the boat through 22 November, fly to VT on the 23rd, and return to the boat here at Saluda 2 December. Then take a couple of days to do the final bottom paint and off I go to warmer weather down south.

There - hopefully I haven't left anything out. Don't expect to hear from me much, if at all, until I get back underway around 5 December.