Under Way

We are finally under way with our new boat. We left Shipwright Marina in Deale MD at 10 am. Crossing the Chesapeake Bay had its ups and downs, but after sighting a bald eagle, swan and many Ospreys, we found a snug creek off the Choptank River. Marco and John inflated the dinghy while Gail grilled steaks. Virginia just finished the dishes and we are about to turn in.

On The Road Again!

Well, we are on the road again. Finally got away from Pensacola this morning with Marco and Virginia.

We had a very good travel day, and are staying at a delightful Hampton Inn in Salisbury North Carolina. It was an easy walk to an "Itchi Ban" Japanese resturant with a hibachi grill. We will be at the boat tomorrow afternoon. Of course our "workers" have been tardy once again and the boat isn't quite ready, but we should have enough done by Monday morning for a short sea trial and start of our week long cruise on the Bay.

John & Gail

99 and 44-100ths % done, She Floats!

Finally, Monarch is in the water. They launched her yesterday, and we are busy storing away the mountain of stuff we have put aboard for our 7 months cruise.

Felix and Kiri Anderson Cardegna visited us on the boat shortly after it was in the water and we opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate the occasion.

It looks like the weather will not cooperate for a Monday sea trial, so we may have to put that off until we return from Pensacola on about the 27th.

Monarch Lives!

We finally have the new name on the transom, and on the light boards as well. Looks great, doesn't it?

Monarch will be "splashed" tomorrow, and we can hardly wait.

Our schedule is to spend 13, 14, 15, and 16 making Monarch ship shape, and doing a sea trial. On the 17th we will start for Pensacola, returning to Deale on about the 26th.

Wicker Ahoy!

Well, I have new GPS, radar, sonar, and fuel flow computer being installed. More importantly, Gail has found the perfect wicker furniture for the sun deck. Now I ask you, what boat is complete without it's suite of wicker furniture?

Oh yeah, we arrived in Maryland and the next day peeked our the window and saw 1/2 inch of snow on the car. Nice start.

We celebrated Easter with Gail's old friend, father David Thayer, attending the mass he celebrated in St. Michaels Church in St. Michaels MD on the eastern shore. It later occurred to us that St. Michaels is on our itenerary while cruising the Chesapeake with Marco and Virginia later in the month. What a coincidence!

Tomorrow night dinner at the home of Kiri Anderson Candenga and Felix,two of Gail's old friends from Mt. Agnes. Later in the week we'll visit another old friend Carol Kennedy Mullen. What fun!

Mayberry RFD

Well, it has been a while since we have posted. Both Gail and I contracted a severe case of the flu on our last trip to Maryland, and were out of action for 3 weeks. We then spent the last days of his life with my recently departed father, and are recovering from both.

We spent last night with Sean and Kate in Atlanta, and are currently in the Mayberry Motel in Mount Airy North Carolina, childhood home of Andy Griffeth. Out front on Fife street sits Barney's squad car and Goober's truck. We enjoyed the reproduction of Mayberry in the down town district.

Tomorrow, back to the boat