Best Life

 We had a memorable last morning on the dock.  First, the sunrise was spectacular. Fred came to say goodbye. There were dolphins and pelicans and egrets.  We were able to clean everything and make trips to the car with breaks from the heat and humidity in the air conditioning.  It wasn't until we were filling the gas tank and emptying the holding tank that we started to really feel the heat.  With temps in the low 90s and the feel like temp in the low100s we were hoping for a quick haul out.  Not the case. Before we left for RI last week a "support" yacht pulled into the marina.  More than twice as big as our boat, it stored 4 "smaller" boats on the top deck for fishing, racing etc and apparently also housed a submarine!  Anyway, the "real" yacht pulled in today and was being hauled out.  It was a process requiring divers and railroad tracks to move it onto the hard.  So our haul out time was pushed back.  Without AC on the boat we ...

 It is a strange feeling knowing that after tonight we will not be sleeping on the boat.  I have come to enjoy the gentle rocking (and sometimes not so gentle!)  as I drift to sleep.  The quiet of early mornings, the sun rising and setting on the water, and the lapping of waves on the hull are all things I will miss dearly. I will miss seeing the dolphins, Fred, and the insanely nice people of the south.   The plan is to finish all the last minute things before we haul at at 1pm.  I have cooked chicken, fish, meatloaf and ribs.  All of which can be reheated as we meander our way back to RI.  The deck has been scrubbed, the floors vacuumed, the water tank filled and the dinghy gas emptied.   We had new tires placed on the car (a tear in one of the rear tires prompted our purchase).  The inside of the hatches have been pulled out so we can replace the screens and shades while in RI.  We have spoken to Craig who will captain ...

  Back in Thunderbolt, Georgia we are preparing to put Quiet Time away for hurricane season.  We have an appointment for Thursday early afternoon to be hauled out.  So we are trying to use our time wisely despite the heat.  99 today!  Yikes.  Thankfully most of the chores were inside where our AC is working perfectly! Thank you to Valerie and Jeff for the very valuable information and tips for ensuring our boat stays safe and dry while tucked away. Today we wrapped the sails in their bags so no high wind can catch them and destroy them. The water maker has been pickled.  This will ensure the membranes will not dry out and there will be no growth of unwanted organisms.  Located under the smaller guest bed, Paul had easy access. The guest rooms have been stripped.  The outside cushions are inside and positioned to promote air flow.  The clean blankets, pillows, towels etc are in vacuum bags. The pantry is empty and the few food items left ...

  Lincoln, Rhode Island to Thunderbolt, Georgia Leaving at 3:30am we arrived back in Georgia just about 10pm.  We found traffic in New York and Washington (expected as we hit the same on the trip north) which added 2 ½ hours to our trip.  We minimized our stops and snacked from the cooler.  Still, getting gas and taking quick breaks added another hour.  However, humor was found at one of our stops.  Kudos to them for taking a stand!  Wish they took the time to fix the men's room so we didn't have to share the women's! So, it prompts the blog for today.  Funny signs and sayings I have come across (and was quick enough with the camera).  And of note, all photos for the next few weeks, until we are back in Rhode Island, will be from my phone camera.  Because in the chaos of our quick weekend, I left my Canon in the rental car when we returned it to Green Airport on Friday.  Ugh!  Thankfully, after a phone call to the car rental an...

 Congratulations Rebecca (and Marissa)!  Thank you Christine and Richard for including us in your celebration.  We are soooo lucky to have Rebecca in our life.  It was fun to see the ACE family again and catch up with everyone.  ACE hardware is where Scott and Rebecca met as coworkers during high school.  The ACE family is loving, supportive and enjoy having a good time.  Despite the heat we had a really good time and glad we were home and could be there! The food, the people and best of all - the ice cream!  Thank you Gigi!!  What a wonderful gift!

 Today we celebrated Kevin and Isis' engagement.  Doug and Mo, Isis' grandparents, hosted a perfect party for the couple.  Warm and welcoming, they instantly became part of our family.  Thank you guys so much!  I have never seen Kevin smile as much as he did today.  Isis we love you and are so glad you are joining us! We loved being with family and the cooler weather was very enjoyable.  The rain even held off until the very end.  We drove up from Georgia on Thursday to surprise them.   The 16 hour ride was actually 19 hours after getting stuck in traffic both in Washington and New York.  So worth it though to be a part of the celebration! We have also learned that a new Calitri is joining us in December!  Congratulations Nick and Linda!  We wish you guys the best as you embark on the awesome journey of being a parent!  (Just remember everything is temporary.  The good, the bad, the ugly and the beauty - so embra...