R Island: August 29 - September 25, 2014: Closing up shop for the winter.

After finding out the day before that the boat could not be pulled until the following week, we decided to get our car from Daytona Beach and utilize the long weekend to also visit Ger's sister Cath in Homosassa FL. We checked into a car rental to drive to DB, but the number got pretty big with the one-way drop charges, food, gas and a night in a hotel. So we got on line, and found a flight that including the airfare, taxi to the airport, and checked baggage was a big savings! A pleasant surprise. So the following day we caught a 7:00 cab to the airport and had the car in hand and driving away from the dealer where we purchased it (they stored it for us free of charge), by 3:00 in the afternoon. Footnote: never buy a car out of state - too much hassle with paperwork!

We had a nice visit with Ger's sister Cath, and headed back to AYB and the boat on Wednesday - a one day drive. Next day they pulled R Island (that is when we found the rope wrapped around the prop as seen in the previous blob entry).

They then directed us to a covered slip so we could do some work on the boat - but be out of the rainy weather. This is also where R Island will spend the winter- nice and dry, but cold at times! We spent the next 2 weeks touching up worn/damaged/faded areas on the exterior teak with 6 coats of varnish and then a two-part sealer over the everything.

This all got complicated by Ger slipping and falling down the steps to the master stateroom on the third day and badly bruising his ribs on the right side. No trip to the doctor, just self-medicated according to the instructions on the Mayo Clinic web site (probably stupid, but slowly getting better).

We also packed up all of our clothes and food and loaded them into the car. Also, due to the cold winters in that area, had to box up all the varnish, cleaning products, waxes, and anything else that would freeze and get it into the car. All got finished by the evening of the 18th. Then on the 19th, the boatyard winterized the engine, generator, a/c units, fresh water system, and waste system and we closed her for the winter and left to visit our son Gary and his family in suburban Washington DC. We were able to catch Sunday breakfast with Mike and Lois, our cruising friends from Inch-N-Along who were at Gangplank marina in DC.

Then on Monday the 22nd, we headed west for our 2355 mile trip home. We spent the nights in Nashville TN, Oklahoma City OK, and Gallup NM. The new Honda CRV was great and gave us a 30% increase in mileage from our 20003 CRV. Also a great music system and very nice ride.

We are planning to return to the boat and begin our 2015 adventures to Lake Champlain and the Erie Canal in late March next year. This blog will be silent till then. Hope you enjoyed sharing in our great adventure.....