Looks like we're really going to do this!

As we scramble madly with final preparations, reality has hit me: We are really going to make this trip! WOW! You wouldn't believe how much we've accomplished in such a short period of time. Preparations easily could have taken a year or more, especially considering Wayne had to install all the equipment, including the auto pilot, GPS, radar, VHF radio, two air conditioning/heating systems, a generator, additional batteries, an inverter, a feathering prop, etc. He also installed a custom arch with davits for our dinghy and a place for mounting antennas, solar panels, and other equipment. Wayne did at least 95% of the work himself.

Our goal was to leave by today, but due to circumstances beyond our control (the delay of vital equipment, etc.) we had to postpone our departure until Tuesday, July 24. Experienced cruisers will tell you that a four day delay is nothing; four weeks, four months, or even four years is more typical. Originally we had planned to leave the beginning of August, but when we decided to take the St. Lawrence Seaway - an addition of approximately 1500 miles - we decided to move our departure up as much as possible. We want to allow plenty of time to enjoy the journey and stop along the way but still be headed south before the weather gets too cold. Because of those pesky hurricanes, the insurance company requires us to stay north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina until November 1 (hurricane season ends November 30). It will be a mad dash from there since we are expecting company in Punta Gorda the week of Thanksgiving.

After ten days at home, Wayne returned to Bayfield last night and is installing the rest of the electronics on Lena Bea while I wrap things up at home. He'll bring the car back on Sunday and Mom will drive us both back up the same day. We're expecting the final pieces to be delivered for installation on Monday, and if all goes smoothly (that would be different!), we will leave early Tuesday morning. Our first port of call will be Houghton, Michigan - a town familiar to us because that is where Michael, our oldest son, and his wife, Amy, went to college (at Michigan Tech).

Michael and Amy joined us the first time we had Lena Bea out on the water, the weekend of June 30; we were delighted with how well she sails. Good thing, huh?

The weekend of July 7 we had quite a boatful: Mom, our youngest son, Joey, my sister Bonnie, my sister Ricki and her husband Scott, my sister Andra and her son Justin, and my sister Jodi and her son Brandon. We had the best time! The weather was perfect and we got in two beautiful afternoons of sailing, as well as a visit to Madeleine Island.

The weekend of July 13 we drove down to Columbia, Missouri for one last granddaughter fix before our trip. The visit with Alex and Suzanne was too short, but we made the most of the time we had. Son-in-law, Brian, is enrolled at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virgina for ten weeks. Spending the weekend with Papa Wayne and Gramichele was a good distraction for Alex, who is very lonesome for her daddy.