Southern migration, a wedding, and relocation

We've seen at least a dozen cruisers come and go in the last week. Looks like folks are assuming this hurricane season is a bust, and they're getting a head start on their friends. Some people like to be the first one out of the gate. A few couples looked pretty laid back and relaxed, like they had all the time in the world. Other boat crews are a bit spastic, as if someone might be gaining on them. I wonder if last year people thought the same of us, as we were humping it down the coast before we ran out of vacation time. I'm sure I looked a bit spastic.

There was a smaller sailboat, about twenty five feet, that pulled in and as soon as they tied off, five people scrambled for the docks. Cozy. They all looked related, and they all looked miserable. They all lit up a cigarette as well and paced back and forth not saying a word to each other. The boat is still here, but no sign of life in a few days. I think they all found empty boats to sleep in, which is quite popular around here. We have one guy who leaves his fifty inch television powered up the whole time he is gone to keep the homeless away. The TV is in his cockpit (big power yacht). I expect soon I'll have homeless folks sitting around the docks munching popcorn, watching Monday night football.

We are getting prepared for the second phase of our southern migration. Relocating thirty miles south and getting some much needed boat work done involving a haul out, inspection and some tank removals and refits. We need extra energy generation, and a watermaker to survive out there off the grid. Debra will finally be supervising joining me in all this daily boat work so we can get moving. Unfortunately we will also be under a strict budget which will severely restrict my social calls to local drinking establishments. Bartenders may wonder "What ever happened to the little guy with the skinny legs and big head?"

We have a wedding to prepare for this weekend, so it's full on wedding prep all week. Plenty to do, but nothing too stressful. It will be a great time, and a happy one as well. Nicole and Jonathan make a great couple. My baby girl is getting married! Woohoo!

The Happy Couple

Afterwards we'll be getting underway on the ICW and maybe we'll bump into a few of you along the way to Saint Augustine. Short cruise. Once we're there and we can figure out how to get through the inlet without running aground we can finally do some of this:

Cruising Lake Ontario

Kicking Jims someone's ass on Lake Ontario :)  Still my fav photo Barb.

Cheers!
P