yep, yeasty ear infection...so medicine for that...almost two hours at the Banfield Vet in local PetSmart and $150 later and we are good to go....who said anything about a cheap dog??  But totally worth it to see him feeling better already.

Boat trial run went well and showed just a couple of things that need attention...like that chart plotter that doesn't "play well with others"...oh, and that small leak in our new impellor...we are already on the list so hopefully these things won't be a problem. Another stormy front is heading this way Thursday but things are on schedule to clear and be warmer for our Sunday departure.

For now, we are off on a road trip in our tiny rental car...up the way a couple of hours to reconnect with the folks who adopted us in the Spring of 2010 when we experienced one of our worst return to the boat adventures...Bob Jackson and Hilary Derby in Lottsburg saved us from being homeless..Floyd plans a foray into DC Wednesday for a visit to a Shrine Temple....Dakota and I are just gonna hang with Hilary while enjoying land water pressure and romping in a yard...

We plan to return here on Thursday ...when serious chores and prep for a Sunday departure into Norfolk Waterside Marina for that Looper Spring Rendezvous will be waiting....

Cool rainy days make it easy to complete those inside chores....but more than difficult to walk the dog! So Dakota is bored but the boat is cleaner! Floyd took off on Saturday to visit the Portsmith Naval Dockyard Muesum and attend a MTOA lecture about the history of Norfolk....Dakota and I enjoyed some home alone time, took a llloooonnnggg walk across the canal to a revolutionary battle site and then a short nap. Sunday we attended the Virginia International Tatoo at Scope Arena in Norfolk and had a delightful dinner at the Freemason Abbey restaurant. Today is laundry, test run, and Dakota to a vet day. His ears stink...and we know that means yeasty ear infection...so off to get that treated before it gets outta hand.  Stay tuned to see how all that turns out!

We arrived safe and sound on Monday afternoon...just as planned. And while I must say the boat wasn't where we had requested, they were quick to make that right. The process of unloading and exchanging of rental cars took until evening...we stayed in yet another LaQunita, had a great seafood dinner and tried to sleep. Sometimes the excitement of being so close makes it difficult...we have spent the rest of the week cleaning, organizing, double checking repairs, re-fixing repairs, and stocking those empty shelves. Oh, and entertaining the dog!!  All part of returning to the boating life. Parked behind us is INCH-N-ALONG....Mike and Lois crossed the gulf with us last January...we have reconnected with John and Dianne, TUTTO BENNE, who live in Williamsburg.  Their boat is at Deltaville Marina now and we hope to cruise with them sometime soon. They came down for dinner last night. We also plan to see our friends Bob Jackson and Hilary Derby in Lottsburg next week. They so kindly adopted us five years ago when boat return was at its worst!! This time the circumstances should be more pleasant.

 For now, it's time to chill a little...Floyd has ventured into Norfolk to tour another maritime museum and attend a lecture sponsored by MTOA...Dakota and I are going to complete a few projects and have some fun of our own...yes, blogging is now being checked off. Rain is predicted for tonight...but rest of the week looks good. We leave here next weekend to attend the spring Looper Rendezvous in the heart of Norfolk...then head North...it could start warming up about then.

We've spent one long year away from TUMBLEWEED...following Shocker Basketball and playing with friends, kids, grandson and dog...but we are anxious to get back to the boating life. We pick up the rental car on Saturday morning, April 18th, and head east ASAP...we plan to be living on board TUMBLEWEED sometime on Monday, April 20... Plans are to boat around to Lake Michigan and return to Kansas before daughter Kelli gives birth to grandchild #2 sometime the first of September...we have some other excitement planned as well. I'll try to get a 2015 itinerary posted...as I really have nothing to do for a while...HAHAHAH

We have definitely moved north too fast! Yesterday as we motored the last fifteen miles into Norfolk the temp started at 38....then warmed to 48 ....we were freezing...I even busted out the Ugg boots I had stored, wore a long sleeved t, a sweatshirt and heavy coat....driving from below through the bridges, lock, and busy port was not an option....Dakota even seemed to appreciate being covered by a blanket.

BUT...we arrived safe and sound...ten miles from Norfolk Airport....in the heart of downtown, so Floyd will have plenty of options while I visit Kansas for a couple of weeks. When I return this mostly empty marina will be filled with Loopers...and a rendezvous will begin!! Craziness !!!

Today we pick up a rental car and run a few errands...haul in supplies so Floyd won't go hungry. Nothing very exciting....but it's too cold to be doing any outside boat chores, that's for sure. Folks around here are in winter coats, scarves and ear muffs...but it beats shoveling snow!!

Wednesday plan is for Floyd to make arrangements with Atlantic Yacht Basin for storing the boat...we think TUMBLEWEED will be here for a year...it is full working ...big storage boat yard...and appears to have fresh water inside storage. He is excited to be able to keep the boat in the water.

Thursday we'll head into Norfolk proper...10 bridges and one lock...all timed to open on the hour or half hour...but it is a short 15 miles to Waterside Marina where we'll be for the next three weeks. I fly home on Sunday for two weeks, returning just in time to attend the Looper Rendezvous May 5-8 th.  Then we'll move back here and begin the process of leaving her for a year.

Can I just mention that this is the longest stretch of boating I think I've done....and I am certainly sick of these boating clothes...limited wardrobe for extended periods is not my idea...I'm ready for a real closet...and cute shoes! I'm seriously thinking about ditching most, if not all, boat clothes and starting from scratch in a year ....stay tuned to see how that works for me!

Our Saturday at SeaGate marina was lovely...Dakota ran and ran...lots of grass and open space...right off the boat! We planned our trip into Norfolk...short days...and hoped the weather would hold.

We left Sunday AM at o'dark thirty...hoping to beat the impending wind to cross Pamlico Sound...well, that didn't happen! It was rocky, rolly...and somewhere along the way we noticed a need for a pump out ....disgusting !! A quick call to the marina where we'd planned to stop was not reassuring! Seems their pump out station was NOT working and they had no plans to get it up and running! Our quick thinking Captain put the pencil to the map...and said, " if you can handle another 4 hours, we might as well venture on to Coinjock." . A quick call to that marina and we just kept on peddling...across Albemarle Sound and into the ditch that took us into Coinjock..rocky rolly, rolly rocky...wind coming from behind so driving from the fly bridge was okay..Coinjock Marina is just a wall on the ICW...and it appeared that everyone we saw that day was also attempting to beat the storm ... the place was packed and once again, TUMBLEWEED was the oldest smallest boat on the dock...a pump out (relief) ...and a geat little restaurant! They are noted for their prime rib...and was I ever glad I ventured over to reserve us some! The couple sitting  behind us was not so lucky....

Still the storm was approaching...it was all the other captains were discussing...leave early to beat it or wait and follow it??? At 6AM, Floyd's call was to wait...everyone else had already headed out...so we waited...and left around 1PM...not a bad choice! Crossing Cuttuck/ Coinjock sound was certainly more comfortable than we expected...but it was narrow skinny water so Captain doesn't get as much help driving as when it is deep and wide...and we made great time....Well, except for that one bridge that refuses to open between 4-6 PM....so we missed that by 20 minutes! Now waiting til 6.... But once through there we could see Atlantic Yacht Basin...another wall marina on the ICW. We slid right in....and at exactly 8PM, the wind shifted abruptly to the north...temp dropped 30 degrees in 40 minutes...and the rains came...and the winds blew!