I forgot to mention in part one that we HAVE a marina in Washington for Island Girl to live! Yes! Remember, we put our names on three different waitlists at Christmas, and had our fingers crossed that we’d have something come available by May. In mid January we got calls from two of the three marina within two days, saying they had a spot for us! The first call came from our first choice, so we took it! They actually had two slips available, so we got to choose. We picked the one that would be easiest to get into given the prevailing wind, current and approach. WHEW! Then, as it turned out, I was going up to Washington the first week of February to meet our newest grandson, so I was able to go sign papers, see the slip, and give Kenny a video-chat tour. At the marina, there is only one gangway from shore to the docks, and our slip was on the very farthest dock away! Oh well – it was such a relief to have a spot! I guess we could have taken the February shipping date with Cross Chartering after all!
We did our road trip to Washington, took two months to get there, and had a blast. While we were in WA we went to the marina so Kenny could see the slip in person. We were chatting with the marina manager and explaining that Island Girl probably wouldn’t actually be here in the marina until maybe July. (We have a few things planned whenever she finally gets there!) They said they had a nice slip just open up that was much closer to the gangway, right in good view of the marina office. The only catch was that at super low tide, it only has about seven feet of water. Seven? Heck – half the time we’re happy to be motoring in seven feet of water! No problem!! They said it was still available because all the boats on the waitlist are sailboats with seven or more foot draft. SWEET! We went outside and I pointed to it, and said to Kenny “it’s right there next to that white tug”. A fellow standing right there said “oh! are you my new neighbors?” We said yes, but not until July. We got to talking about our shipping saga, that we’d done the loop and were ready to do the Pacific Northwest. He said the same thing! As it turns out, they did the loop in 2018/19, and he actually had our boat card! YES! We met them in Columbus Mississippi! They live in Seattle, they did the loop and the Bahamas, then trucked their boat to Washington, and they keep Ceci Kay at our same marina in Tacoma! He was a really nice guy and knew some of the same loopers that we know! Well – if that didn’t seal the deal that we should be in that slip at that marina, I don’t know what would, right!?
Now – back to scheduled programming.
If you have a boat, chances are that you have boat stuff in your garage. Spare parts, old fenders, extra ropes, tables or chairs that belong on board but you don’t use, etc. etc. You don’t?! You’re kidding, right? 🤔. We did! LOTS of stuff. Part of that is because Kenny is a mechanic and doesn’t like to throw things away because there’s always a potential useful part remaining. And he’s right- he does find useful stuff out there. But – with Island Girl going to Washington, and our garage in Florida, everything that belongs to her needs to go with her. (I don’t know where we’ll put it all once it gets there, but we have kids that might owe us some storage space?) We had a big cleaning day and sorted out what goes with her and what just needs to go AWAY. I tell you what…. I can park my car in the garage now! I’m serious! Oh shoot! I totally forgot about a standard issue Bayliner chair that is in our house. Dang. We really don’t have room to put it on board, what with Stuart the dinghy strapped down on the flybridge, his motor strapped to the salon floor, two electric bikes, the two tables that belong on the boat, the extra board and cushion for the salon couch/bed, the extra carpet, all the furnishings like towels and stuff? And with the exception of Stuart, it ALL has to ride INSIDE and be secured. Sheesh! She already looks like the Beverly Hillbillies inside, and we still have to take down all of the windows and bimini canvas that has to ride inside for her high seas adventure. Oh well. Maybe we’ll have to take the chair along on next year’s cross country over-land adventure.
This week we’ve been loading stuff into Island Girl and strapping stuff down. It’s a little goofy, because we’re going to live on her for two weeks while we’re taking her to the east side. It won’t be quite as glamorous as usual HA!. 😉 And then, whatever we take for that two-week trip either has to continue with Island Girl on the ship, fly back to Washington with us, or get thrown away. So I’ve been trying to plan some food that doesn’t require much preparation or ingredients. Just some of these little details that can make your brain do whirlies. 🌪
I’ve been watching the weather and tides and planning when to make a break for it. I think it will be Monday, May 9. It’s kind of weird to think about boating and all that is involved when we’ve been completely away from all aspects for six months!
On Friday May 6th, we drove down to Safe Cove for our launch time of 9:30. The guys were just a little bit late, because they are actually busy pulling boats OUT of the water getting ready for hurricane season. By 9:45 Island Girl was off of her blocks and taking a ride to the launch well. I actually did a time-lapse video of her journey which is pretty fun to watch.
Just about 3 minutes after I took this picture, Kenny got an e-mail from Cross Chartering Yacht Transport. The important part that made us GASP was ”…due to technical reasons the performing ship is now MV AAL GENOA. (MV STAR LAGUNA will only call Port Everglades, Golfito Costa Rica, LaPaz Mexico and Ensenada Mexico.)” What is left out of that list? Victoria BC! So we’ve been shifted to another LATER ship!!
“MV AAL GENOA ETA Port Everglades 30May-05June. ETA Victoria 20-25June.”
Are you KIDDING me?! But, what can we do, I mean, seriously?! At least they think it’ll only take 3 weeks for her to get to Victoria. But why couldn’t that e-mail have come yesterday BEFORE we were already in the launch process? Now we need a new plan. AGAIN!
Back to scheduled programming…. She remembers how to float!
We got our Girl into the water and tootled her around to the dock. Captain was nervous that he hasn’t done this for six months, but he was awesome as usual. Once a driver, always a driver, whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle, semi trailer, boat…. he does it. We got all tied up and were happy to find 30amp power and potable water on the dock. We plugged in and tested all systems, as well as put some water on board and tested all those systems. All good!! We did some straightening and preparing for departure, but the next couple of days are going to be pretty yucky weather, so we’ll let her sit here for the weekend.
We talked about what to do next. We decided to stick with our plan and just take her over to Fort Lauderdale area over the next ten days or so. We’ll leave her in a marina there, rent a car, and come back home. We’ll hang out at home until it’s time to load her on the ship, and then drive back. (It’s a minimum five day trip by boat, but only a four hour drive by car!!) Not sure if we’ll drive our car over for loading, and come back home to fly to Washington, or if we’ll rent a car to drive back over there and just fly to WA from Fort Lauderdale. 🤷♀️ We have time to figure that out.
Now we’re REALLY kicking ourselves for not taking the February ship!! Who knew?! Where I was originally concerned about a possible April 1 shipping date has slid TWO months to June 1…. SO FAR! Shipping is not for the faint of heart, or something that people who need to be in control should ever attempt to do. There is no control.