We are now "boat people"

Since moving the boat to Charleston in mid-March, we spent a couple of weekends getting organized, provisioning, etc. Jack retired on April 1st and Pia left her position the same week so we moved on the boat full time April 3rd. We have now spent 10 consecutive nights as "boat people" and we are both amazed at how well it is going. No question, some adjustment (clothes are always wrinkled) but we are doing great and looking forward to leaving on our trip soon. This first picture is "Still Busy" at her new temporary slip in Charleston.

Earlier this week, we attended a meeting in Charleston of a Loopers Rendezvous sponsored by the AGLCA, an association of current, past, and future looping boaters. Many good sessions on what to expect and what to plan for as well as the opportunity to meet many good people that are more than willing to share their experiences. We look forward to traveling with many of these same boaters in the coming months somewhere on The Loop.

While in Charleston, last weekend we attended Jack's grandson Garrett's, 4th birthday party. Watching twenty or so 4 year olds bowl is quite an entertaining event. Fun had by all!

This past weekend was spent with some great friends from home - all dock mates from Lake Norman - that traveled to Charleston just to celebrate the start of our trip. We will miss all of them and look forward to seeing them at the home port in a year. It is great to have such good friends.
On Monday, some more friends from Dallas, Bill and Nita Reeves, are traveling to Charleston to "see us off". Bill has been an avid boater for many years and I look forward to his advice as we plan the final days in Charleston.

Our plans are to leave Charleston on Thursday, April 16th, and travel to Georgetown, SC for one night before joining John and Sue Winter aboard "Just Relax" in Myrtle Beach. We plan to travel up the east coast with John and Sue as they leave for their trip on the Down East Loop. The Winters' completed The Great Loop in 2007 and have been a wealth of information and encouragement for us as we have prepared. We will benefit from their knowledge and experience.

We have enjoyed the time we spent in Charleston finalizing our plans but we are ready to leave on the great adventure. We will try to update the blog next weekend from Myrtle Beach and look forward to hearing from all of you in the coming days and weeks.