It is a sailing tradition that the final entry in the ships log book be some type of poetry. We're a day late but here is our final log for 2010 recapping the adventures of the s/v Walk A-Bout and crew:


When we told everyone that we wanted to sail south on Walk A-Bout,
They all looked at us and said what in the hell are you talking about.

We quit working and made preparations to get underway,
Happy, sad, excited, scared were but a few thoughts on that last day.

As we sailed away on Lake Gitche Gumee,
Our intestines felt a little gloomy.

Through the Great Lakes, Erie Canal and Hudson River we did go,
With new places to see and new friends to meet we needed to go slow.

Our concern for transiting 37 locks on the Erie Canal proved nothing,
The flood on Catskill Creek was really something.

New Jersey was too shallow for Walk-About's keel,
So offshore overnight seemed the right thing we did feel.

The ICW was next up to confound,
Good thing TowBoat US was around.

Offshore again we went from Hilton Head,
Only to have our engine go dead.

The waves that night were a fright,
We both chummed the fish at first light.

Even though we did not arrive in Florida as we intended,
The Coast Guard and TowBoat US again we befriended.

A month in Telemar we did spend,
Walk A-Bout needed a good mend.

Off we went headed south for the Keys,
Warm weather we are seeking can we have some PLEASE.

Here we sit on a mooring ball at Garrison Bight,
Contemplating how to clean bird poop off the canvas each night.

2862 miles we have traveled,
Whatever the next phase might bring we hope we won't become unraveled.

Happy New Year to all our family, friends in Minnesota and Cruisers alike,
We wish to say thank you, fair winds and good night.