That is us ready for the off - and we really are ready to be off. The last week has been a bit of a slow slog getting through a steady list of things to re-commission on the boat and also getting a few upgrades done. The yard has been OK. How’s that for faint praise. Various of the things we asked them to do never happened and the last job was done one hour before cast off despite having 6 months to do it. But hey ho – we are all done and ready for the off.

Our time in the yard has been fairly sociable, getting to know some of the neighbours and also seeing GrayHound again – last seen in Culebra (Puerto Rica). Because of the location of the yard, some people are pulling their boats out for the winter having been cruising up in Maine and others, like us, are just going back in the water with plans to head south for warmer weather.

Over the weekend Kate took the opportunity to head over to Missouri to see sister Julia and brother-in-law Jack. Good to have a catch up. Kate now back after a much delayed flight.

So now we have food, fuel, gas, water and a boat ready to go anywhere (fingers crossed). We plan to start with a shakedown passage south down the Chesapeake and then head into the ICW at Norfolk. We are hoping to take the route through the Great Dismal Swamp – look out for reports in the next week.