BS1 12 – It’s Time!

At the end of the year many people take a moment to reflect back on the year gone by and review the highlights, lowlights, and other memories in detail, seemingly bringing validation to the time that was by acknowledging it a second time. For some it also means making new years resolutions, good hearted attempts at forced change which are usually short-lived, no matter how good the intentions may be.

 

We’re not doing that. We don’t feel we need to relive the past year, because we lived it. It was hard. It was painful. Lessons learned, time gone. No resolutions needed. We’re moving forward without looking back.

 

It almost feels surreal to be ready to head South, but we’re eager to get going in the face of this cold burst of weather and leave the rest of winter behind . At this stage we’ve completed most of our major refit items so she’s well prepared to be self sustainable off-grid, and we’ve stocked her with enough provisions to last us a minimum of 16 weeks (maybe much longer, we shall see). This of course doesn’t account for any meals or other items we may acquire off the yacht, so we’re fairly sure we can easily make do without having to do a major shop again before we return North.

 

We’ve completed a lot of work on our new home, but we still have a few more projects we want to finish before we tackle any sizable crossings. Our new solar efficient water maker has arrived and is stored on the boat but not yet installed, as is my washer spinner, and I still need to decide on an auto-pilot and a life raft before we leave the states. We’ll complete these things easily within this season and be ready to set sail next season on the first of December 2023.

 

So where are we going? We had originally planned to head to the Bahamas, but the Northerly’s and the late stage of year has us thinking to keep stateside instead. I personally wouldn’t turn away from a cozy slip in St. Augustine if the weather is warm, but we could just as well end up on a mooring ball in Titusville or in an anchorage in Marathon Key, there is no real plan and we’re in no hurry which is what this lifestyle is all about!

 

Also we’ve decided that for this trip it’s best to head South down the ICW again so we’re more protected from weather, we can draw more experience with anchoring, and also we want to visit a few places again that are on the inside along the way. The ICW may be the long route but it’s never boring and it is always alive with wonderous sights to behold everywhere you look. A never ending kaleidoscope of nature’s beauty and exciting new adventures. I’m ready to leave the dock again, can you tell?

 

With all of that being said, it is truly time for last checks before we can get under way so I’m going to cut this post short. We’ll be back North in late Spring and we’re hoping to return to the Myrtle Beach area again to wait out the hurricane season, but we don’t know exactly where we’ll land when we return just yet. Like everything else, we’ll just have to wait and see!

 

Until next time, happy new year everyone, and fair winds!