Well it has been a long time between posts...that working thing sure gets in the way. The refit of Living Well is under way in earnest. Bill and Mara of S/V Puddlejumper drove up from FL. and got me started on the hard top, and we sure enjoyed the time we had together not even counting all the hard work they did. Bill really knows his stuff when it come to this fiberglass work, his pointers have made a overwhelming project possible for a rookie like us to complete in a reasonable time frame. I posted a couple of pics to facebook but they are pretty boring until the finished product. Steve on S/V Virginia Lee is here and helping also and with he background as a high school teacher teaching bodywork among other things his help has been very welcome. This week "more friends" helped carry the top down to the boat and place it on the boat to make some measurements and line things up then carry it back ashore to finish up the work. Many thanks to Adam (a canvas guy here at Lady's Island marina, good work and good prices), Will who works here at the marina and Steve for helping man-handle a 12' by 12' piece of foam/fiberglass that is starting to look like a hardtop. Bill once told me when it come to boat work an hour turns into a day and a day turns into a week and a week is a month before you know it...a very profound statement indeed.

From the quietest place to the noisiest place literally in one day. Well almost, again shipping the boat from Homma La. to DC.. I sailed from Port A. to Homma and spent 6 months helping a freind with his refit of a CT 54 while (Laura) went to work in DC. If you have not been to DC it is a must see and by boat even better. There is a great free anchorage and 2 marinas with dingy access, I recommend the Capital Yacht Club (say hi to Kelvin and JP for me) you will not be dissapointed. On a side note if you are not familiar with Active Captain check it out and read the CYC reviews. There is too much to see and do in one stay so pace yourself, it is the city and the helicopters, jets, sirens, and general noise is at frist diconcerting it will blend in and it is a great stop. Things to do: the dead presidents walk, start at CYC past the fish markets then Jefferson,Rosevelt,MLK,Korean,Lincoln,Vietnam,Enstien,WW-II,Washington and back to the CYC bar (Robb the bartender 5 stars). Do 1 Smithsoinian muesum per day then back to the CYC bar. Do you see a pattern yet? If you eat on the Mall try the American Indian Museum the food was great (I had the buffalo/duck burger). Way,Way to much to write about but if you are going drop me a line and I can give you more info. Dont forget to stop an anchor at Mount Vernon, sitting on the bow wih your coffee as the sun comes up on George's home is memorable. (Easily done but drop me a line and I will give you some of that ever important "local knowledge").
If your boat is under 18' air draft (sorry no sailboats unless you have a tabernackled mast like us) you can go noth of DC approx. 5+ miles to 3 sisters and anchor in the Potomac and not see any signs of the city, it is beautiful and hard to belive you are trully in the center of the DC area.

From Redondo Beach to Port Aransas Tx. by truck (still working to pay off the boat) I am not sure is it a working/cruise or crusing/while working. Port A. as the locals call it is just outside of Corpus Cristi and THE QUIETEST PLACE I have ever lived. We had a slip in the Moorings marina with no trees, no buildings, no other liveaboards (maybe 3), no roads, no airports, so NO AMBIENT NOISE!!. It was so quite you would be on the dock and hear a fish jump and look around and it would be 100 yards away. The fishing was great, great locals, had a day sail that had a dolphin swim along side for maybe a hour, it was there so long the whole side of the boat was wet from him spraying us when he took a breath. It was a very quick and relaxing year.