Arrived home safe and sound ...and right on SCHEDULE. Now settling into the daily Wichita grind, catching up with family, getting haircuts, etc...we are scheduled to do three presentations about our travels and adventures at the Shepard's Center...Sept 22, Oct 6, and Oct 20...guess we'll have to get those photos organized. For now our plan is to return to boating in April 2010. I try to remember to keep this blog updated as we make those plans.

We loved the folks at Coan River Marina. Gary, the owner, is an airline pilot. Needless to say, he and Floyd had tons to talk about...and not just boats. He and his crew was hard working and did their best to insure we were happy. I spent the day finishing laundry, taking photos and staying out of the way. Reagan, the dog, kept me company. We were ever so grateful that folks had suggested we use this facility...leaving for this long is hard enough...but it sure helps to know your boat is among friends.

Those haul outs are always amazing to watch....though if you are the owner/boat driver, it is a totally nerve wracking experience. Then we got to see what living in salt water since March does to the underside of your boat. After the power wash, the decision was made to repaint the hull. So for now, she's on the hard...due to be shrink wrapped for winter. We hope to return in Spring of 2010...man, that seems like a long time away.

Arrived Coan River Marina near Lottsburg VA at noon-thirty on Saturday, June 13th...managed to hitch a ride to Richmond for rental car. Air Tran flight to Wichita is booked for Wednesday AM...should be home around noon. We've been cleaning and getting ready for dry storage all day...I will take photos of boat at haul out and post...then that's it until we return next spring...soooo sad!!!!

I almost forgot...guess who greeted Floyd in the front head this morning...KERMIT the tree frog...we thought we had left him behind at Carolina Beach...6 days ago. Seems he not only was aboard, but inside!!!! Floyd kindly escorted him to the bushes alongside Midway Marina, Coinjack NC...hope he has a long and happy life...feel free to stop and see him if you are in the area...

Gotta love a man with a plan...he wrote it down and planned it out...and it worked...we left at 6 AM and I got to see sunrise over the water...a first!!!! The center photos is our chart book with a "you are here" green sticky and those pesky bridges with a pink posty...and that was just one page....we arrived in Norfolk before 2:00...plenty of time for me to enjoy the floating pool...this marina is HUGE...room for 300 boats and it seems like there are about that many here...several fuel docks...lots of activity. We are on schedule to arrive at Coan River Marina (our final destination for this leg) on Saturday. Weather looks like it could hold or turn bad...tough call...but with our luck so far we are expecting no problems. Hopefully will get everything ready and be able to fly back on Wednesday or Thursday. While I'm looking forward to being home, I know I'll miss this life...gonna be a long year...

We saw the cutest things at Dowery Creek Marina...bottle tree and a bottle bush...equipped with lights even...and then discovered that Frank aboard the PEACEKEEPER who we had seen at Green Turtle Bay and then met at Carrabelle stayed here last winter and made them....small world!!!