We departed Windsor on Thursday after a slight delay. We had to see Dylan off to school one last time and crossed the border about ten in the morning. Our first stop was to Woolf Aircraft to pick up some pre bent 321 stainless elbows for the new engines exhaust crossover. I knew that it was one exit off of the I-94/I-275 exit but seeing as it had been six years since I was last there I chose the wrong direction but with a little help from Jeanne insisting that I ask someone… the guy at the gas station googled the location and we got our parts and were soon off heading down the highway. Next stop, North Carolina at Janice and Greg’s new mountain top home.

The last part of the drive was through the mountains along some winding twisty roads. The sign said speed limit of 50 but we were doing mainly 30mph in the dark along the “you better pay attention” roads. Greg met us at the turnoff for their road and led us up the gravel switchback access road to their place. In the morning the view was spectacular making the drive up the mountain worth the effort. Even seeing it start to snow Friday night was not such a hardship especially knowing that we’d gotten south ahead of the winter storm watch for Friday night.

So now with the wood stove fired up all is well as we take a break before the last part of our drive to Green Cove and the beckoning boat. Even last nights inch of snow doesn't bother us with Greg whipping up a pot of chili.

October 2014

It is now October and the summer in Canada is ending. To update what we have been up to the last year. All through the last cruising season we had issues with our Volvo diesel engine. We still managed to sail the Bahamas, Exumas, visit Long island. We sailed back to Black Point via George Town to meet friends from Windsor on Afeica who had the same transmission problem we had two years previous. we helped them repair a transmission, sail back to George Town where they helped us replace the first of a few broken starters. We sailed to Salt pond, Long Island then over to Conception for a few days. Broke starter number two on the way back to Long Island and spent a few rough days at anchor before sailing back to George Town to order and replace the starter. Then we sailed up the island chain and over to Eleuthra and visit a few spots I missed the first year with a broken strut. Then sailed up to the Abacos for the first time and visited several unique islands. Eventually we sailed back to the USA entering at Ft Pierce and made a slow trip up to Jacksonville to break another starter and replaced it with starter number three and find and buy a spare starter. Then to Green Cove to haul out and drive back home at the beginning of May six months after launching the previous fall.

We pulled the engine and took it home and after investigating the cost to rebuild all the deficiencies in the engine decided to buy a new 30hp Beta. With the deadline for ordering the engine closing in we discovered that Beta could not guarantee delivery in time and switched to a Yanmar 3YM30 which should be waiting for us when we arrive in Green Cove at the end of the month.





We will try to update this blog better than last year but will not always have internet access.
We are heading to Green Cove about October 29 or 30th and will post more as the time and work schedule permits.

We hope to meet up with many old friends and make several new ones this season. Life and adventure and new vistas and rewards beckon.

For those that have asked the greatest challenge to this lifestyle is untying that dock line the first time and turning the bow out to traverse the waters that you have never crossed before. Remember that many others are doing it and most are happy to help and answer your questions.
Sail Away my friends