Mer Sea

Well, we are trying to get out of here. The Loop looms large in our future, and we’re eager to get started. (not to mention a bit apprehensive…). Because of strong winds and time constraints (as last year, an assignation in Baltimore!), we’ve decided not to begin the trip in the Keys, but to go across the Okeechobee Waterway as we’ve done twice in the past. We’re both a bit disappointed, but would rather cruise the Keys when we have all the time in the world, and aren’t worried about a date on the other end. Consequently, this first leg of the trip is going to be in familiar territory from start to finish, although we do look forward to stopping at some places we’ve missed in our previous trips. But it sure has made planning it easier, and we feel we know where the “problem spots” (read: shallow spots) are. It’s comforting to have some idea of what to expect.

 

In that respect, we’ve had the good fortune to have a new boat, Maha Rani, pull into the dock behind us, and they’ve just finished the Loop. We’ve had fun talking to them and getting some pointers from them. They are full of useful information, and happy to share it. That’s boaters! What a great community of people!

 

In preparation for our trip, we’re obviously getting Mer Sea as “ship shape” as possible. It’s amazing the amount of work and maintenance there is to do on even a relatively new boat. In the last months we’ve rebedded the four portals, which had been leaking since we’ve had the boat, (this was a tough and MESSY job, but thanks to our fellow American Tug dock mate, Al, it was accomplished), arranged and rearranged all the stored “stuff” on Mer Sea about 30 or 40 times, sold our heavy dinghy and motor and purchased and hung a new, lightweight, inflatable one, designed a cover for the davit motor and a mount for the new dinghy motor (thanks, Al) and had them constructed at a metal fabricating place in town, purchased and installed an additional battery charger, had yet another problem with the dreaded Onan repaired and got them to cover the cost of it (this was a problem that had been caused by the first problem we had: the short that caused the fire), performed battery maintenance, and purchased every chart, electronic chart, and cruising guide that we think we will need along the way (it’s an astonishing pile of reference materials!).

 

We managed all this in addition to visiting my bother and sister in California, spending a week in the British Virgin Islands (we flew down!) with our daughter and son in law aboard the charter yacht they operate (it was tough, but ya gotta do these things for the kids!), spending a week in Atlanta getting our taxes and other loose ends taken care of and getting a friend Bat Mitzvahed, slipping in a quick trip to visit my dad, and all the normal day-to-day stuff of living, including partaking with enthusiasm of the social activities on the dock. WHEW!!

 

Roy is, as I write, on a plane back from Atlanta, having driven up to leave the car. We plan to set off on Tuesday, the 28th, weather permitting. Our first target is Baltimore on May 13 for a 40th anniversary concert of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, with which I sang for 13 years. It will be a combination concert and reunion, and we’re really looking forward to it! We’ll spend some time in Baltimore and plan to be leaving the Chesapeake on June 1 for all new adventures! Keep an eye on the Journals and Float Plan pages for updates.