I am not sure if we have shared our long-term cruising plans. When I say long term, I am speaking of the next few years. Our Bahamas trip was planned as the "shake down" cruise. We spent nine months in 2009 preparing Anastasia and planning our cruising adventure. We were not naïve enough to think that we thought of everything needed. That is why we plan to head back North to the states for the summer. We hope to spend a week or so in the Chesapeake Bay in May doing quick re-fits and then continue on North. We really want to make it as far as Maine before turning back South. That is our "Northern Goal." The trip South will bring us once more to the Chesapeake Bay, this time for a bit longer.

On our "shake down" we have found a few things we want to add/change. We have figured out which stores we need and don't need, what we like to eat and don't like. I have already started my "Provisions" list. Whenever one of us says, "I wish we had..." I write it down. Also, there are a lot of things we are looking to shed.

In the Fall Anastasia will need to be hauled for a bottom job among other things. I would really like to get a hold on some of this bright work! I found that our 1000-watt Honda generator is not strong enough to power the heat gun, which has really blown out the flame of my motivation. I hesitate to use the sander alone as it distributes sandy, varnishy, nasty dust everywhere! I spend more time on clean up than the actual job. We plan to upgrade.

After the work is done, (loose term) we will once again say our goodbyes to family, friends and home in search of blue waters. The plan (again, loose term) is to cruise South via the Western Caribbean. Cayman Islands, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia are all possible destinations. Maybe this time next year, Cuba will be open to Americans and we will hit that too. Call your Congressman!

We hope to depart at least a month earlier than we did last year. We endured far too much cold weather for our liking. Sometime around early October is our goal.

We have learned so much on this trip and it is amazing to remember where we were last year at this time. We have grown together as crew and true teammates and are looking forward to the future, whatever it holds.