Today our good friend Rick Sampson visited us. Rick is from Newfane, our hometown, and we have known him since high school. He lives just north of Washington, D.C. and knowing we were in Annapolis came to see us. He took Bud to the grocery store and took us both out to lunch.

We also spent time talking logistics. I have to go help our daughter for a while. She needs to score well on the next part of her medical licensing exams to secure the residency she wants. With a house and 17-month old baby to take care of, she is not getting the study time she needs. So Mom is coming to the rescue. I can only do this because two of our friends have generously offered to come and help Bud continue to take the boat south. Rick Sindoni, our wonderful friend from Tuscarora Yacht Club, is coming tomorrow for a week. Rick Sampson is going to take the week after. We spent some time figuring out how to manage to get Rick 1 back home and Rick 2 onto the boat, and then eventually get Rick 2 back home also.

We're hoping after two more weeks the guys have been able to move the boat far enough south so Bud and Fuzzy can comfortably wait for me to get back for the final leg to Florida.

Just as Rick Sampson was getting ready to say goodbye for now, there was a knock on the boat. Jon and Arline had found us again! They were here with their son-in-law Jeremy who lives in Dover, Delaware. What a treat. They are leaving soon to drive to Florida and their boat, so the next time we see them we hope to be having those cocktails in their cockpit. This time, we had Jeremy take pictures, so I have a photo of Jon and Arline on the boat.

I didn't get a photo of Rick Sampson, though. I'll have to rely on Bud to take a picture while Rick's official crew.

It's going to be hard for me to leave. I was just getting comfortable with all of this. I will miss the adventure. On the other hand, I get to go play with my grandson and visit my daughter, and when I come back it will be to a port that is much warmer (I hope). In order for the blog to say more than "We sailed, we stopped, we drank beer", I'm going to call Bud every day and try to get as many details as possible from him and I'll write the blog.

So if all goes well, Bud, Rick Sindoni and Fuzzy leave Annapolis tomorrow for points south and Jill goes north to Detroit for a few weeks. I'll keep you posted.